Politics of Natural Resource Use in Cambodia

Life, Fish and Mangroves : Resource Governance in Coastal Cambodia

“…Governance arrangements need to respond to an ever-changing resource base and "roving bandit" traders (Berkes et al 2006), in addition to adapting to both the common-pool nature of capture fisheries and the owner-operated nature of small-scale aquaculture (Chuenpagdee et al 2008). High poverty rates, limited tenure rights for fisheries resources and the general economic growth derived from natural resources (including fish) pose additional challenges for fisheries governance in Cambodia (Cox 2008;Un and So 2009). Finally, dealing with excess capacity and fisheries conflicts is proving to be particularly hard, even with major policy reforms and donor support on these issues.…”

“…Significant fieldwork in the area of community forestry had been promoted since the mid-1990s, and there were early signs of success (Un and So 2009). The timing was also right in terms of promoting local involvement in the management of a resource within another resource sector, namely fisheries, particularly since fishers were beginning to mention stock declines and conflicts over access to the fishery were flaring up (Evans 2002).…”

“…Political consolidation has been strengthened by governance reforms emphasizing decentralization, with the ruling party having a firm grasp on rural politics (Hughes 2008). The prime minister is portrayed as an authoritarian strongman, strengthening his support through strategic interfamily networks (Slocomb 2006), and Cambodia's political elite has generated much of its wealth through seizing public assets, particularly forest and land resources (Un and So 2009). On the other hand, infrastructure has greatly improved, a large number of primary and junior high schools have been built, political stability has been conducive to development and investment and tourist dollars continue to flow.…”

“…Cambodia has experienced economic growth averaging 7 percent per annum since the mid-1990s (Un and So 2009), with agriculture (i.e., rice, timber, fish and rubber), trade and manufacturing playing a major role in this growth. Poverty rates have also decreased, from 34.8 percent in 2004 to 30.1 percent in 2007, although this period of falling poverty has also been associated with rising levels of inequality (World Bank 2009).…”

“…Within certain regions of Cambodia, particularly in areas that were further from state penetration, there have been serious moneymaking opportunities from natural resources both for business entrepreneurs and, in some cases, local villagers. High levels of resource extraction began with deforestation and overfishing but have since moved to include other natural resources including land-claiming, oil and gas exploration and mineral extraction activities (Le Billon 2000; Un and So 2009;Cock 2010).…”