Community-based Production Forestry
The Community-based Production Forestry (CPF) is an innovative form of forest management that is currently being piloted in the Seima landscape in eastern Cambodia. The system combines aspects of commercial forest management with community forestry and aims to demonstrate that a community-based enterprise, in partnership with the Forest Administration, can responsibly undertake commercial management of part of Cambodia's forests.
The proposed target area for piloting the CPF model is in the buffer area of the Seima Protection Forest (SPF). First designated as a conservation area in 2002, the SPF aims to combine biodiversity conservation with the maintenance of local livelihoods. The SPF consists of a core area which is the focus of activities to conserve biodiversity, and buffer areas, where suitable development activities can occur. The CPF project is conducted in this buffer area.
The model proposes that community-based forest enterprises (CFEs) be set up at the village level, and these CFEs are then awarded timber harvesting rights. Harvesting and marketing activities will be carried out by contractors and other organizations. Income to the Royal Government of Cambodia will be through timber royalties and other taxes.Communities will benefit financially through direct employment in forestry operations, and profit sharing. Communities will benefit additionally from increased tenure security, and continued access to non-timber forest products.
