best practices in sustainable land management (slm) theme on ...

OTHER SOURCE OF INFORMATION ON BEST PRACTICES FOR SLM IN
CPAS
Aside from the list of 20 <strong>in</strong> Table 1, there are other sources of <strong>in</strong>formation on vary<strong>in</strong>g
stages of <strong>best</strong> <strong>practices</strong>. Some of them are still young (newly developed but with
strong potential), some are mature and proven (many years of test<strong>in</strong>g).
The CBNRMLI is a source of <strong>in</strong>formation on potential <strong>best</strong> <strong>practices</strong> demonstrated by
communities that served as venue for action research of the concept of CBNRM.
The Cambodia Community Based Ecotourism Network (CCBEN) is a network of 30
<strong>in</strong>stitutional members who are promote and share knowledge on community based
ecotourism. At least 14 Community based ecotourism (CBET) sites are presently
<strong>in</strong>volved and at least 6 of them are covered or partially covered by CPAs.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
In pilot sites, relevant <strong>in</strong>terventions that were designed <strong>in</strong> collaboration with
communities and stakeholders are produc<strong>in</strong>g the desired results of natural resources
and biodiversity protection while at the same time contribut<strong>in</strong>g to poverty alleviation.
Value addition of NTFP based livelihood as well as community based ecotourism are
becom<strong>in</strong>g important sources of employment and <strong>in</strong>come.
The presence of both government and non government facilitators <strong>in</strong> CPA areas has
<strong>in</strong>creased the confidence of communities to implement measures <strong>in</strong> spite of some of
the uncerta<strong>in</strong>ties <strong>in</strong> the policy and regulatory framework for CPAs. However, to ensure
the susta<strong>in</strong>ability and rapid spread of the current and future effective actions <strong>in</strong> CPAs,
there is a need to accelerate efforts to address the rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g gaps <strong>in</strong> the policy and
regulatory framework. This would <strong>in</strong>crease the <strong>in</strong>centive level for local communities
and stakeholders to <strong>in</strong>vest their time and own resources for ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g CPAs.
KEY ISSUES
Protected Areas contribute to
ensur<strong>in</strong>g water supply and
irrigation, ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g
nutrient flows and regulat<strong>in</strong>g
flood events <strong>in</strong> adjacent
agricultural <strong>land</strong>s. At the
same time, they contribute to
the diversity of species some
of which support agricultural
concerns such as crop
protection (e.g. botanical
pesticides).
Community Protected Areas
(CPAs) help ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>
Protected Areas while at the
same time address<strong>in</strong>g poverty
alleviation. There are
challenges <strong>in</strong> CPA
implementation. As CPA
guidel<strong>in</strong>es have yet to be
formalized, there is
uncerta<strong>in</strong>ty <strong>in</strong> the process of
formulat<strong>in</strong>g CPA <strong>management</strong>
plans that ensure a balance
between protection and
poverty alleviation objectives.
Also facilitation capacity of
both government officials and
NGO staff to ensure effective
CPA establishment require
further strengthen<strong>in</strong>g.
Another challenge is
enhanc<strong>in</strong>g equity at different
levels: between the CPA comanagers,
community and
state, and amongst the CPA
members. Ma<strong>in</strong>stream<strong>in</strong>g
CPA <strong>in</strong>itiatives <strong>in</strong>to
development plans is needed
<strong>in</strong> order to ensure its long
term f<strong>in</strong>ancial susta<strong>in</strong>ability.
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