Overview of Forest Sector
In Cambodia, the forestry administration is the government authority under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, in managing forests and forest resources according to the National Forest Sector Policy and this law. National Forest defines forest as the unit of the natural ecosystem or plantation in the forms of wetland, lowland and dry land which covers by natural stands or plantation trees with a height from 5 meters on an area at least 0.5 ha with a canopy of more than 10 percent. The plantations such as rubber, oil palm, teak, acacia and eucalyptus and other kinds of trees which fall under the above criteria will also be classified as forests. Cambodia’s forests are mainly composed of mainly deciduous forest (17.65%) and evergreen forests (15.41%).
Cambodia, one of the countries with huge forest land covers in Southeast Asia, has lost more than 600,000 ha of forest, recording an unprecedented annual loss rate of 1.2% over the past five years. As of 2018, Cambodia’s forests, which were 59% of the total land area in 2006, have decreased to 46%, and now have 8,510,807 ha of forests, including rubber plantation, palm oil plantation, and other permanent crops. High demand for firewood and charcoal, illegal logging, unsustainable cycles of cultivation and weak law enforcement drive this rapid deforestation and degradation which is leading to a loss of biodiversity and land erosion, while flash floods could occur frequent. Conversion of land is primarily caused by commercial agriculture and extraction industries, adding pressure on Cambodia’s forestry sector. Currently, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has taken measures to address the issues by implementing policies and laws, and by joining the REDD+ initiative under the UNFCCC.
The National Forest Programme will be guided, among others, by the Cambodia Millennium Development Goals for poverty reduction, environmental sustainability and attainment of 60% forest cover by 2015. The National Forest Programme would serve as an appropriate mechanism and provide a transparent and participatory process for planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and coordination of all forestry activities.
Forest Policy Archive
DATE | TYPE | TITLE | ENGLISH | NATIONAL LANGUAGE |
---|---|---|---|---|
2017-2026 | Strategy/Plan | National REDD+ Strategy | Link | |
2017-2026 | Strategy/Plan | Action & Investment Plan for the implementation of the National REDD+ Strategy of Cambodia | Link | |
2014-2023 | Strategy/Plan | Cambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan 2014-2023 (CCCSP) | Link | |
2010-2029 | Strategy/Plan | National Forest Programme | Link | Link |
2020 | Strategy/Plan | Cambodia's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the UNFCCC | Link | |
2020 | Report | Global Forest Assessment Report 2020 (Cambodia) | Link | |
2018 | Report | Cambodia Forest Cover 2018 | Link | |
2016 | Strategy/Plan | Cambodia's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) | Link | |
2005 | Law | Sub-Decree on Economic Land Concessions (2005) | Link | Link |
2003 | Law | Sub-Decree on Community Forestry Management (2003) | Link | |
2002 | Law | Law on Forestry | Link | Link |
2000 | Law | Sub-Decree No. 05 on Forestry Concessions Management | Link | Link |
1999 | Law | Sub-Decree No.72 on the Environmental Impact Assessment Process | Link | Link |
1996 | Law | Law on Environmental Protection and Management of Natural Resources | Link | Link |
1993 | Law | Royal decree on Establishment of Natural Protected Areas (1993 ) | Link |