Strengthening Forest Tenure in Cambodia, Nepal and Viet Nam
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Most countries in Asia and the Pacific are struggling to address issues related to forest tenure, above all inadequate regulatory frameworks and lack of institutional capacity. Systems of tenure define how people and communities gain access to land, forests and other resources. In the three project pilot countries (Cambodia, Nepal and Viet Nam) forest tenure systems are weak, not pro-poor, and contested. The access of forest-dependent communities to forest resources and land is not adequately protected by policies, policy implementation and laws. Unless this issue is addressed there is little hope for those communities to benefit from forests in the long term. The aim of the project was to strengthen the regulatory frameworks and institutional capacity of the pilot countries with regard to forest tenure, contributing to improving the livelihoods and income of forest-dependent communities.
What did the project do
The project conducted a national-level assessment of the status and progress of, and gaps in, forest tenure policies and institutional capacity. This involved a review of more than 130 policy documents and six multi-stakeholder policy dialogues in all three pilot countries, involving over 300 people. The policy assessment was validated through two further multi-stakeholder national policy dialogues and a series of consultations with key government officials, civil society and development organizations in each country. As a result of these consultations, national action plans to address forest tenure and institutional capacity gaps were formulated in all three countries and endorsed by their respective governments. Capacity was developed through six training of trainers courses and an exchange learning visit to China for government officials from pilot countries to study best practices related to forest tenure reform. An assessment was also made of institutional capacity, with 62 institutions in the three pilot countries being selected on the basis of recommendations of national stakeholders.Impact
The project’s activities strengthened the capacity of forestry departments, identified forest tenure and institutional capacity gaps in the pilot countries and contributed to the production of action plans for all three countries. Collaboration with key actors in pilot countries has been galvanized to ensure land tenure rights that focus on indigenous groups. Linkages with other national or donor-funded programmes, as well as partnerships with civil society organizations and non-governmental organizations and women groups, have been strengthened. The capacity and skills acquired by governments and key actors throughout the project will be an important driving force in the future.Activities
- Inception and national workshops held in all three pilot countries for over 200 people.
- Six multi-stakeholder national policy dialogues, involving over 300 key stakeholders, convened in pilot countries.
- 130 policy documents (29 in Cambodia, 37 in Nepal and 76 in Viet Nam) reviewed and a forest tenure policy assessment developed on the basis of this review.
- Forest tenure policy assessment validated through two multi-stakeholder policy dialogues and consultations with government officials, civil society and development organizations in each country.
- Training of trainers in forest tenure, governance and conflict management organized for 161 trainers.
- Exchange visit organized with China for government official responsible for forest tenure in pilot countries.
- 62 institutions selected on the basis of recommendations of national stakeholders (21 in Cambodia, 15 in Nepal and 26 in Viet Nam) for the conduct of an institutional capacity assessment.
- Short- and medium-term action plans developed for all three countries and endorsed by their respective governments