Fast-wood Plantations, Economic Concessions and Local Livelihoods in Cambodia

Under the development paradigm of ‘Economic Concessions’ increasingly large areas of Cambodia’s land have been given over to establishing fast-wood plantations in recent years. Whilst proponents have argued that plantations are necessary for Cambodia’s economic development, opponents have argued that overall the rural poor do not benefit and that, in addition, there are numerous other negative social impacts and environmental consequences. Many economic concessions are at an early stage of development in Cambodia, and therefore it is important to objectively evaluate whether ‘economic concessions’ are an appropriate approach that can achieve equitable and just development in Cambodia. This report presents the results of field-research conducted by the Environmental Forum Core Team between September 2004 and April 2005 in four economic concessions, namely: Green Rich Co. Ltd, Koh Kong province; Cambodia Haining Group Co., Kampong Speu province; Pheapimex Co. Ltd, Pursat and Kampong Chhnang provinces; and Wuzhishan LS Group, Mondulkiri province. A fifth field trip was conducted in Prey Veng and Svay Rieng Provinces where communities grow some fast growing trees to supplement their income and access to natural resources. Field-based research is based mainly on interviews with local community members (n=283). Desk-based research is also presented that identifies international experience of fast-wood plantations, and significant trends and recent events in Cambodia’s fast-wood plantation development process. The aim of this research is to determine the likely benefits and disadvantages of economic concession development on local people’s livelihoods. It is our hope that this report will seriously contribute to policy discussions on whether economic concessions can make a significant contribution to pro-poor development. It also raises the question as to whether an alternative development approach is needed which responds much more readily to village-level needs and livelihood strategies and the relationship between villagers and their surrounding environment. Given the government’s current commitment to the establishment of economic concessions, the report makes a number of recommendations on how to ameliorate their more negative environmental and social impacts. These recommendations may be found in the Recommendations sections of the Executive Summary, in both English and Khmer.

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