CDRI PUBLICATIONS

Special Report 3:
Focusing on Cambodia’s High
Value Forests: Livelihoods and
Management
Bruce McKenney, Yim Chea,
Prom Tola, and Tom Evans
High value forests (evergreen and semievergreen)
are one of Cambodia’s chief
national assets. Compared to other
forests, evergreen and semi-evergreen
tend to offer greater commercial
potential for logging interests, hold
higher levels of biodiversity, and provide
higher proportions of forest product
income to local communities. Given their
commercial value, it is not surprising that
evergreen and semi-evergreen areas face
a greater threat of deforestation than
other forest types. Indeed, commercial
logging has sharply reduced the amount
and quality of these forests across much of Southeast Asia.
With a focus on high value forest areas in Preah Vihear, Kompong Thom,
and Mondulkiri, this study examines the magnitude and characteristics of forest
dependence, the status of key forest resources and competition for these resources,
and the relationship between actual local use/management and official rules and
regulations. In addition, a number of management scenarios are analysed to shed
light on how different approaches affect the amount and distribution of timber rents
and other logging impacts. The study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of
these livelihood, resource, and management issues as a basis for developing more
effective strategies for achieving poverty reduction and rural development.
SR3 in English, 120 p. Overseas: $26.00 Local: $10.00
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C D R I Publications Catalogue 2011