Abstract
In this paper, we present an analysis of the change in household land use following a conservation-driven process of indigenous land titling reform in a Cambodian protected area. In each of the two study villages, we investigated how household land use had changed and the extent of compliance with both legal boundaries of titled areas and community regulations created to govern land use within these areas. A comparison of current household land holdings in each village with those at the start of the tenure reform process indicated a significant increase in household land holdings. Changing land use practices were also revealed, as households shift away from traditional subsistence based land use towards more commercialised agriculture. Household compliance was observed to be strongly correlated with total land holdings and participation in the tenure reform process, with compliance levels significantly higher in the village that had experienced lower levels of external land grabbing and immigration. Similarly, understanding and perceptions of the tenure reform process was found to differ dramatically between the two study villages. The importance of supporting local resource management institutions created through tenure reform, particularly in the face of strong external drivers of change, and of engaging with immigrant households are highlighted as key to the continuing effectiveness of participatory land use planning approaches.
Highlights
Populated, resource rich forest habitats have frequently been subject to exclusionist policies by national governments, repeatedly failing to recognise the rights of the people living inside such areas (Colchester, 2004)
We evaluate the implementation of indigenous land titling, a product of a participatory land use planning process, in two villages in the Cambodian uplands, investigating at the household level how land use has evolved following the initiation of this process
In O Rona, three additional focus group discussions were held, which separated participants who had been present at the time of the initial planning exercise and those who had not, as there is a strong distinction in rights between newly arrived and resident households
Summary
Resource rich forest habitats have frequently been subject to exclusionist policies by national governments, repeatedly failing to recognise the rights of the people living inside such areas (Colchester, 2004). Given the high biodiversity value of many forest habitats and often weak political representation of forest peoples, it is no surprise that this approach has brought conservation practitioners and forest inhabitants into conflict (Brockington and Igoe, 2006). From the 1980s onwards, there has been increased recognition of the customary rights of indigenous peoples, with both international resolutions and national legislation slowly moving to reflect this. This has been reflected within conservation, with article 8(j) of the CBD, decision 7.23 of the 2005 CBD Conference of the Parties and the CBD’s 2010 Aichi target 18 all requiring signatories to respect the rights and practices of indigenous and local communities. There has been increasing acceptance within conservation organisations that the rights of local communities must be considered, which has resulted in a movement towards the principle of ‘doing no harm’ as a minimum requirement (Adams et al, 2004)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
