Microfinance in the Forest Frontier: Land and Livelihoods of the Bunong People in a Protected Area

Numerous studies, particularly in the lowland provinces of Cambodia, have shown that the practice of debt collection to ensure full repayment at all costs has had a devastating impact on borrowers throughout Cambodia. Given the prevalence of household debt and the numerous findings of its disastrous consequences, and the lack of studies on the impact of debt on Indigenous communities and deforestation in protected areas, this study aims to shed some light on the issue. This study, therefore, aims to explore the role of microfinance debt in shaping the land and livelihood security of Bunong households and the dynamics of deforestation in one of Cambodia's protected areas, the Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary (KSWS).

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