Forests in Transition Multi-stakeholder processes and forest politics in Cambodia

1. Forests in Transition Multi-stakeholder processes and forest politics in Cambodia

3. early 1990s mid 1990s a few CFs ~ 40 CFs units in 2 nat’l agencies Network Working Group training team Community forestry nat’l MS platforms

4. early 1990s mid 1990s 2001 a few CFs -- int’l NGOs ~ 40 CFs -- int’l NGOs & IOs support units in 2 nat’l agencies Network Working Group collab. training team ~ 200 CFs (100,000 ha) many organisations & locations experience in MSP need to clarify policy Community forestry

6. Multi-stakeholder Process Result: success ! • draft Community Forestry Subdecree (national policy that recognised pluralism) • integrated CF & Forestry, overcoming ‘turf’ struggles • elevated MSP (policy formulation) • demonstrated MSP effectiveness for resolving contentious problems

7. Community Forestry Subdecree • Task Force ► Forestry Dept / MAFF • revised Subdecree -- important MSP agreements lost • many stakeholders opposed revisions • but the revised Subdecree was approved • the MSP had not succeeded

8. Why had the MSP failed? • Immediate cause RCG under pressure to demonstrate Forestry reform to donors, especially to the World Bank & IMF • General cause differences between CF & Forestry as ‘policy streams’

9. Community forestry aim: communities benefit from forests (CFs) main stakeholders communities NGOs, IOs, MoE Forestry Dept Forestry aim: improve large-scale forest concessions main stakeholders Forestry Dept / RGC donors / World Bank concessionaires Policy streams: CF & Forestry Some commonality, but different ‘centers of gravity’

10. early 1990s 1994-1997 logging escalated rapidly rampant corruption & logging emblematic of Cambodia’s problems Forestry

11. early 1990s 1994-1997 1998 - logging escalated rapidly rampant corruption & logging donors acted; World Bank took lead Forestry reform = improving large-scale forest concessions Forestry

12. early 1990s 1994-1997 1998 - logging escalated rapidly rampant corruption & logging donors acted; World Bank took lead Forestry reform = improving forest concessions marginalised Community Forestry Forestry

13. early 1990s 1994-1997 1998 - 2000 - 2003 - logging escalated rapidly rampant corruption & logging donors acted; World Bank took lead reform = improving forest concessions marginalised: CF “policy stream” IMF & World Bank conditionality: reform included new Forest Law RGC approved draft Forest Law (& ‘revised’ CF Subdecree) Forestry

14. Community forestry Forestry policy streams, MSP, & power MSP success MSP failure • differences between ‘policy streams’ • aims & priorities • stakeholders (center of gravity) • relative power

15. ‘Real-politic’ of forests Cambodia in the 1990s: • multi-dimensional transition • intense political struggles • leaders / factions: financial needs & desires

16. ‘Real-politic’ of forestsForests as ‘currency’ in power struggles

17. ‘Real-politic’ of forestsall leaders / factions: logging & log trade“mutual accommodation of elites”

18. ‘Real-politic’ of forestsRGC: promises vs. actions “public transcript” vs. “shadow transcript”

19. “Shadow transcript” policy: enabling logging & timber trade; controlling land main stakeholders elites / patrons networks / clients “Public transcript” ‘reform’ policy: improving forest concessions main stakeholders Forestry Dept / RGC donors / World Bank concessionaires ‘Real politic’ of Forestry

20. “Shadow transcript” policy: enabling logging & timber trade; controlling land since 1989, timber exported worth est’d $2.4 billion “Public transcript” reform policy: improving forest concessions 2004: no credible evidence of reform ‘Real-politic’ of Forestry

21. policy streams, power, & MSP Community Forestry Forestry Real-politic of forests public transcript (‘reform’) & shadow transcript commun- ities benefit from forests shadow transcript (forests as political currency)

22. MSP seminar participants?