Assessment of Drivers of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Phnom Tbeng Forest Based on Socio-Economic Surveys

background

Since the 1960s, Cambodia has lost over 20% of forest cover, with a decline from 13.2 million hectares to 10.4 million as a result of civil war, population growth, and migration patterns. This study seeks to understand the drivers of deforestation in Cambodia through the eyes of rural village residents in five different villages.

research goal & methods

Both quantitative and qualitative analysis was conducted for this study. A survey of forest cover change was paired with focus group discussions and stakeholder analyses with village representatives. Additionally, a household survey on socio-economic factors and forest awareness and dependency was conducted at 42 households from villages around the Phnom Tbeng Forest.

conclusions & takeaways

The study’s findings revealed a number of livelihood and forest use trends within the villages. The main source of respondents’ livelihoods was agriculture, followed by collection of forest and non-forest products. Firewood and timber were the main forest products collected by villagers. The main cause of deforestation cited by respondents was illegal logging, followed by clearing for slash and burn agriculture and plantations. 57% of respondents had cleared forest in the past. These data can be used to understand forest use patterns as well as deforestation perception of small village residents in rural Cambodia.