This study seeks to answer the following questions:
1. What are the impacts of the rubber plantations on people’s livelihoods in Tum Ring commune in Cambodia?
2. How can negative impacts be minimized?
The purpose of the study is (i) to identify the impacts of the rubber plantation on the local people; (ii) to uncover issues and constraints in the project implementation; (iii) to identify whether the rubber plantation is economically profitable; and (iv) to identify options and recommendations on ways to minimize negative impacts of the rubber plantation.
Different methods and tools were used in the study, including: a review of available secondary data; key informant interviews (Tum Ring commune chief; village chiefs; the Director of Rural Poor Family Development (RPFD) working in the commune; rubber company officials); a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA); and a household survey.
The findings show that the rubber plantation is causing economic, social and environmental problems in Tum Ring commune. Forests have been cleared without regard for local people living in the commune, whose livelihoods have traditionally depended on shifting agriculture on forestland plots and NTFP collection. Many villagers had traditional claims to high-value resin trees throughout the surrounding forest. Livelihoods have changed rapidly since the arrival of the rubber plantation into the commune.
In more detail, findings show that the rubber plantation in Tum Ring was established in an inappropriate location, where mature forests were the basis of local peoples’ livelihoods for generations. The rubber company used a top-down approach to implement the project without serious consideration of consultation with and participation of local people. People have been deprived of forest resources and their lands; they have had to take risks and to rely on uncertain returns from a long-term investment in rubber. The project, aimed at promoting villagers’ planting of ‘family scale rubber’, is poorly organized. Villagers have not been given any training on rubber plantation and have not been given land titles. There is no formal or written agreement between the rubber company and the local people on family scale rubber plantation, and no alternative livelihood for people during the pre-latex production period. As a result the implementation of family scale rubber plantations is compromised, and is not living up to the Prime Minister’s promises during the opening ceremony.
Further environmental impacts of the rubber plantation have included more pressure on forest resources and wildlife habitats inside and outside the area. Valuable forests were cleared and converted to rubber plantation. Forest areas and numbers of wildlife have declined dramatically since the rubber plantation arrived. People migrating in and out of the commune are another cause of deforestation and land conflicts.
The cost-benefit analysis shows clearly that the costs have exceeded the benefits of the project, and the net present value (NPV) is negative. This shows that the project is not profitable; the development should not proceed because the large forest area yet to be cleared would incur more costs than benefits. Limiting the plantation to its current size and protecting the remaining forests would be the only option to prevent excessive negative impacts on the local people and the environment. As a result, focusing on rubber plantation in the area that has already been cleared, and addressing current issues in the commune is very important in order to minimize the negative impacts of the rubber plantation.
The recommendations below are made to minimize the negative impacts of the rubber plantation in Tum Ring as well as to improve future planning of rubber plantation development in Cambodia.
Keep the remaining forests
• The remaining forests should be protected and managed by the community with the cooperation of related government agencies.
Local NGOs can play an important role in establishing community forestry.
• There should be proper land-use planning in the commune so as to minimize impacts on the local people and forested areas.
• The future market for resin trees and other NTFPs should be investigated.
• The rubber company should provide training to and share information with local people on community forestry management, land law,
forestry law and human rights.
Improve implementation of the family scale rubber plantation on the cleared area
• The rubber company should decrease the planting area on the industrial side and concentrate on getting the smallholder section of
the development operating properly.
• The project should include different components or issues, namely land titling, agreements, long-term credit, technical assistance,
marketing support services, alternative livelihoods activities and farmers groups or associations.
• The rubber company should provide Tum Ring villagers with trainings and exchange visits to family rubber plantation projects in other
areas.
Improve the planning of rubber development in the country
• A proper environmental and social impact assessment procedure should be developed before establishing rubber plantations.
• A clear plan of a rubber plantation project should be developed in order to prevent a repeat of the mistakes in Tum Ring.
• Local people should be allowed to participate in developments that impact strongly on them.
• Other models of smallholder rubber development should be investigated and implemented, e.g. rubber agro forests mixed with fruit
trees etc.
• The future market for rubber should be investigated and a rubber development plan should be developed for the country.
• The profitability of existing plantations should be investigated, with a concentration on improving the profitability of existing
plantations rather than clearing forest for new plantations.
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