ITTO-BMEL PROJECT (PP-A/54-331A)
"PROMOTING QUALITY TIMBER PRODUCTION
IN SMALLHOLDERS AND COMMUNITY-BASED TEAK AND
OTHER VALUABLE SPECIES PLANTATIONS
IN THE TROPICS"
Cambodia boasts a forest cover of 42.34% of its land area, equivalent to 7.69 million hectares as of 2022. Over the years, the population has increased from 12.71 million in 2002 to 16.77 million in 2022, driving up demand for wood and non-wood forest products continue to increase. To address this, the Royal Government has implemented a number of enabling policies and regulations for the promotion of private forest plantations and tree plantation development in Cambodia like a 50% reduction in export fees for products from forest plantations and complete fee exemptions for furniture and processed goods derived from forest plantations.
The Forestry Administration of Cambodia has actively engaged both legal private entities and individuals in investing in small- and medium-scale private tree plantations, while also initiating large-scale forest plantation establishments through public-private partnerships. Teak plantation in Cambodia dates back to 1936, with the first reforestation attempt intercropping teak with cotton and maize in Han Chey commune, Kampong Cham province supervised by French (Pierre, 1947). The majority of teak plantations have since been established by a private investor in Economic Land Concessions (ELC’s), contributing significantly to Cambodia’s main wood supply from tree plantations.
Recent studies highlight villagers’ desires to plant tree species with sufficient market demand to increase profitability, resilience and inherent tolerance to drought and flooding, and contributions to genetic conservation of indigenous tree species, providing multi-purpose products for food, medicine, and fuelwood, aiming to meet subsistence needs. The preferences for tree species vary among individuals, with some prioritizing short-term benefits like wood products, while others focus on long-term gains.
PREVIOUS ACTIVITIES
The ITTO Project PP-A/54-331 focused on “Enhancing Conservation and Sustainable Management of Teak Forests and Legal and Sustainable Wood Supply Chains in the Greater Mekong Sub-region”, provided an opportunity for Cambodia to showcase key activities establishing demonstration plots, raising public awareness about teak plantation benefits, and producing a Technical Report on “Effect of silviculture and best practice on teak – Tectona grandis; growth performance in Kampong Cham and Kampong Speu province”. Target beneficiaries encompassed forestry administrations, teak plantation owners, and local communities, both in public and private sectors.
The current project “Promoting Quality Timber Production in Smallholders and Community-based Teak and Other Valuable Species Plantations in the Tropics” aims to build sustainable forest management capacities in Cambodia. It involves conducting further research on genetics, agroforestry, and silvicultural practices, alongside enhancing technical capacity for quality timber production and efficient processing. The goal is to increase livelihood opportunities for local residents while reducing pressure on forest resources. These areas include:
- Conducting further research on genetic conservation of teak and techniques for improvement of teak cultivation, agroforestry and silvicultural practices, plantation management, market and value chain, and development;
- Enhancing technical capacity of human resources related to sustainable management of plantation resources, quality timber production in longer rotations, efficient timber processing and timber products, cooperation to increase livelihood enhancement for local residents and reduce pressures on the unsustainable use of forests.
