Cambodia

Overview of Forest Sector

Forest resources of Cambodia have a key role in protecting the environment, are of critical importance to socioeconomic development, and have always been connected to the culture and livelihood of the people. The management of forest resources in Cambodia is under the general jurisdiction of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) [1].

The Forestry Administration is the governmental authority under supervision of MAFF mandates in managing forests and forest resources according to the National Forest Sector Policy and the Law on Forestry. Based on geographic location and species identification, the forests in Cambodia are classified into 13 categories, i.e., evergreen forest, semi-evergreen forest, deciduous forest, flooded forest, regrowth forest, bamboo, mangrove, rear mangrove, pine forest, pine plantation, tree plantation, oil palm plantation and rubber plantation. Cambodia’s forests are mainly composed of mainly deciduous forest (17.65%) and evergreen forest (15.41%) [2].

Half a century ago, Cambodia had forest cover areas of almost three-quarter of the country’s total land area which favored this country as one of the few places on Earth blessed with abundant natural diversity. Cambodia has the largest contiguous block of natural forest remaining on the Asian continent’s mainland and is an important constituent of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot [3].

Over the past decade, forest cover in Cambodia have been gradually changed. During the review period, Cambodia’s forestry sector remained state-owned and managed. The GDP share of forestry and logging decreased slightly from 0.8% in 2017 to 0.7% in 2022. In 2021, forests covered approximately 44.8% [4] of Cambodia’s total land area, including rubber plantations, palm oil plantations, and other permanent crops. In 2022, forest cover remained at 40.10%, not including rubber plantations, palm oil plantations, or other permanent crops. This represents a decrease from 44.8% in 2021 [5]. Cambodia is experiencing deforestation and degradation driven by factors including demand for expansion of agricultural land (EAL), Social Land Concession (SLC) and Economic Land Concession (ELC).

The forestry sector in Cambodia is a dynamic field with ongoing efforts to balance development and conservation. The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) has been formulating policies and implementing programs to address the causes of forest destruction and forest degradation.

In 2023, the RGC of the Seventh Legislature of the National Assembly initiated the Pentagonal Strategy Phase I with the strategic goal of, among other things, reducing environmental impact, promoting sustainable forest resource management, and contributing to the reduction of global climate change by maintaining a forest cover of at least 60% by 2050 through ambitious green initiatives and the planting of over a million trees annually. The most recent forest related strategy – Circular Strategy on Environment, 2023-2028 – aims to protect and conserve natural resources while enhancing local communities’ livelihoods by promoting the implementation of agroforestry and climate-smart farming to generate additional income for local communities. Undergoing few institutional reforms since the Law on Forestry 2002 was promulgated, a new law on forestry is now being formulated to adapt the recent trend of forestry sector as well as to enhance implementation of sustainable forest management.

[1] National Forest Sector Policy, RGC 2002

[2] Cambodia Forest Cover 2018, MoE 2020

[3] Cambodia’s fifth national report of the CBD, RGC 2014

[4] World Bank Group. Forest area (% of Land area)- Cambodia. Link

[5] MAFF’s Annual Report, 2023

Updated: 2024.11.13

Forest Policy Archive

DATETYPETITLEENGLISHNATIONAL LANGUAGE
2017-2026Strategy/PlanNational REDD+ StrategyLink
2017-2026Strategy/PlanAction & Investment Plan for the implementation of the National REDD+ Strategy of CambodiaLink
2014-2023Strategy/PlanCambodia Climate Change Strategic Plan 2014-2023 (CCCSP)Link
2010-2029Strategy/PlanNational Forest ProgrammeLinkLink
2020Strategy/PlanCambodia's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the UNFCCCLink
2020ReportGlobal Forest Assessment Report 2020 (Cambodia)Link
2018ReportCambodia Forest Cover 2018Link
2016Strategy/PlanCambodia's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP)Link 
2005LawSub-Decree on Economic Land Concessions (2005)LinkLink
2003LawSub-Decree on Community Forestry Management (2003)Link
2002LawLaw on ForestryLinkLink
2000LawSub-Decree No. 05 on Forestry Concessions ManagementLinkLink
1999LawSub-Decree No.72 on the Environmental Impact Assessment ProcessLinkLink
1996LawLaw on Environmental Protection and Management of Natural ResourcesLinkLink
1993LawRoyal decree on Establishment of Natural Protected Areas (1993 )Link
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