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forests
the forestry reform process
Thnong tree
As part of the country's forestry reform process, all logging companies have been required to produce Sustainable Forest Management Plans and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments. These plans were originally due by 30th September 2001, however the deadline was extended by a year following pressure from the Department of Forestry and Wildlife. A logging moratorium was imposed by the government on 1st January 2002 and is due to remain in place until the plans have been accepted. Global Witness found the Malaysian company, GAT International, conducting logging operations during this moratorium and the company's timber-harvesting licence was revoked after intense diplomatic pressure from the donor community.
The Sustainable Forest Management Plans cover access to the forest, access to non-timber forest products and the provision of community forests. Three million Cambodians live within 30 kilometres of a logging concession and it is vital that forest-dependent communities are engaged in meaningful consultation during this crucial phase. Public disclosure of the plans for community consultation is a legal requirement and has been linked by the World Bank to the release of a $15 million Structural Adjustment Credit.
The plans were finally released on 11th November 2002. World Bank consultants had stated that six months would be needed for meaningful public consultation over the content of the plans. The government initially allowed only 19 days, but, in the face of heavy criticism, subsequently extended the consultation period. While allowing sufficient time for consultation is important, the overall quality of the consultation process is much more critical.
On the basis of a thorough examination of the Management Plans and Environmental and Social Impact Assessments submitted, Global Witness believes all to be wholly inadequate and supports the commissioning of an independent review of the plans by a panel of experts.
There remain significant additional threats to Cambodia's forestry reform process. These include the arbitrary and non-transparent allocation of annual cutting permits in production forest outside the designated forest concessions. Other damaging practices include the granting of non-forestry land use concessions in forested areas. These are frequently used as a pretext for commercial timber harvesting.
The legal framework for land use planning in Cambodia has yet to be completed. Further regulatory provisions are needed to cover the entire forest production area system and the establishment of community forests as well as other issues.