Poverty reduction and forestry sector: towards the sustainable management of natural resources

摘要

Forests are crucial for socio-economic improvement and poverty alleviation in Cambodia. They not only provide food and raw materials, but also serve an important life support function by generating oxygen and regulating fresh water through preserving watersheds. As part of Cambodia's approach to using, protecting and managing forests for sustainable development, uses and threats need to be weighed against each other and managed appropriately. In Cambodia natural resources are in danger of being overexploited. The Royal Government of Cambodia has taken important steps in mitigating threats to forest through increased community management and good governance. The greatest challenge is lack of human resources and finances for implementing these forest protection measures. Sustainable management of forest resources ensures that commercial forest operations are carried out efficiently; preserves soil; identifies and protects sites of high traditional, historical and archaeological value; maintains the logging productivity of those sites designated for logging in perpetuity; identifies, maintains and protects a broad range of natural habitats with potential scientific and ecological values; protects water resources; allows continued exploitation of non-timber forest resources in a way that permits continued productivity with respect to these resources; ensures that forest activities arc carried out in a safe and legal manner; allows existing recreational uses as appropriate and minimizes the adverse effects afforest operations on people and environment. A possible solution to dealing with development and preservation of forests is through Special Management Areas for special purposes such as watershed or soil conservation, wildlife or biodiversity conservation, preservation of seed sources, historical or cultural sites, and areas to be retained in their pristine state and those supporting community livelihoods. The Royal Government of Cambodia and many international agencies have recognized the significance of Cambodia's tropical forest, and are showing increased interest in conducting activities that reduce forest degradation or depletion. Many activities currently being undertaken are concentrating on the important links between forests anil sustainable development, while at the same time encouraging the protection of representative components of Cambodia's forests through a system of protected areas. These approaches will help to ensure the ability of Cambodia to use, protect and manage-the forests for sustainable development and prosperity into the future.