Community Consultation on Oddar
Meanchey CF REDD Project
Provincial Hall, Samraong, Oddar Meanchey
25 November,
2009
I. Background
The 13 communities involved in the Oddar Meanchey CF REDD project were solicited
to provide public comments on the CCB PD that was submitted for validation.This
step follows two years of engagement which has included awareness raising workshops,
consultations, and drafting and sighing of Community Forestry and Carbon Conservation
agreements with the Forestry Administration.This report documents a summary
of the one-day meeting held to facilitate public comments on the CCB Project
Document (PD) for the project.The consultation was held in the Samraong Provincial
Hall in Oddar Meanchey on 25th November from 8:00 am until 5:00
pm.The consultation was conducted in Khmer.Minutes were taken and the entire
proceedings were taped on voice recorder.
II. Facilitators and Participants
The meeting was jointly facilitated by two project staff from Pact, one Central
level Forestry Administration official who is the project focal point, and
the director of the project's local NGO partner Children's Development Association
(CDA).
All 13 communities were represented in the meeting, with two community leaders
attending from each.Women were strongly encouraged to attend.In total there
were 33 participants including 29 community leaders (17 male, 9 female), 2
local Forestry Administration staff, and 2 local NGO staff.
III. Proceedings
The proceedings began with an introduction to the objectives of the consultation:
1. Ensure that communities are sufficiently informed about the Oddar Meanchey
CF REDD project as described in the PD along with their expected role and responsibilities,
and to verify that communities are willing to take on these roles and responsibilities.
2. To confirm whether or not communities feel that they have been sufficiently
consulted on the project and to address any questions or concerns raised.
3. To develop a participatory plan for ongoing project consultations and participation
in the project monitoring required for carbon.
The introduction on the objectives was followed by a review of the climate
change concept and Oddar Meanchey REDD project concept.Next, the project approval
process was introduced and a PowerPoint presentation in Khmer covering the
highlights of the Project Document was presented.The facilitator focused on
topics of relevance to local communities.First, he gave an overview of the
Table of Contents of the PD.He reviewed the project objectives in the PD and
gave an overview of the project timeline.He also reviewed who the project partners
are.Concepts that were explained and discussed included leakage, the legal
framework, the drivers of deforestation and strategies to address these drivers,
benefit-sharing, potential risks to communities, the need to protect biodiversity,
and project monitoring.
Throughout the workshop, the facilitators organized small group discussions,
plenary sessions, and passed out blank paper for comments for posting in order
to encourage open and free discussion.Below is a listing the issues and responses
or suggestions raised during the meeting.
Table.Issues Raised and Solutions Proposed
Issues Raised
Solutions Proposed
There haven't been consistent regular visits by the project staff
to explain the project.The local NGO partner CDA has been a strong
supporter but there are mixed reviews for other partners (Pact, FA,
local authorities) who are not consistently meeting with communities.
Hold more regular meetings with all stakeholders.(This will be easier
when there are revenues to cover costs.)Make sure FA responds quickly
to requests for support on enforcement.Have a clear workplan to work
with communities.
Also, make sure CF REDD is part of the commune development plan, have
community leaders attend commune and district meetings.
Some CF leaders have faced a challenge in getting all their members
to understand and participate in the activities.
Conduct regular meetings at the village level.Distribute copies
of the project video to all community leaders.
Communities need financial support for the forest protection activities
and they would like to know when this support will be available.
There will be financial support for the activities but the amount
of support and timeframe is not clear.It depends on when the sale of
carbon takes place and how much is paid per metric ton.
Communities lack capacity to implement some of the activities
Project partners will provide technical support and training for
tree planting, fire protection, etc.
Some community leaders are afraid that their members now have too
many high expectations for carbon revenues.
The community can get sustainable benefits from the forest such
as NTFPs.The carbon revenues should be viewed merely as a supplement
to existing income sources.
Two of the 13 CF sites have not yet received tenure agreements.The
government is debating whether this land should be used for resettling
soldiers of if it should remain with the REDD project.
We need to wait to see how the government decides this issue.
There is concern in some sites that villagers will be prevented
from using existing agricultural land which is inside the CF boundaries.The
Ratanak Ruka CF leaders are especially concerned since approximately
2,000 hectares is affected.Some communities would like the CF area
to be re-demarcated.
2002 is the baseline year.If the villager established the agricultural
field after 2002, then there will need to be a negotiation on the use
of this land.We will need to facilitate this process and get their
agreement.There should be an agreement not to expand these fields.We
don't have the right to make a decision on this now.We also can not
yet give an answer about providing land in the CF area to new villagers.We
must decide these questions based on the actual situation.The FA Division
needs to work with the local authorities to provide a report up to
the next level.(A report has already been sent).
There are new migrants in Romdoul Veasna area.How can this issue
be solved?
The Government has granted the community management rights to the
forest and the community has responsibility to take action, either
by writing a report to authorities and following up, or cracking down.The
community is now responsible for solving this problem.The CFMC has
a big responsibility.The CF members need to understand about the challenges
of the CFMC and understand that the CFMC will take the blame for their
actions.
Communities are not clear about who is responsible to protect the
forest in the leakage belt.
All stakeholders should be involved in the protection of forest
in the leakage belt.The community will need to make sure that its members
do not cut forest in this area.The FA will help with enforcement and
woodfuel saving strategies like improved cookstoves will be introduced.
The Sangkrous Preycheu CF has been forbidden to build a patrol post
near the boundary of their forest.The local FA has insisted that the
post must be located 2kms within the forest.
Try to solve this issue through negotiation but if there is no agreement,
then make a request to the FA Cantonment office.
Communities are intimidated by armed loggers.
Boundaries need to be reinforced to reduce this problem.
Communities request support for livelihood improvement including
provision of livestock, tractors, and credit systems.
Vehicles and cows have an impact on the climate and could reduce
credits, so new vehicles should use biofuels to reduce impact on climate.Solar
power can be considered.
IV. Additional Community Input
Community representatives were given an opportunity to analyze and comment
on the proposed strategies for controlling drivers of deforestation, as listed
on page 46 of the PD.The participants expressed their support for all of these
strategies; however, they emphasized the need for financial and technical support
for implementation.They did not have ideas for strategies other than those
suggested.
Communities were also asked to give feedback on how they envisioned their
role and responsibility under the REDD project.They made the following points:
Protect the forest and prevent illegal activity
Communicate closely with local authorities
Mobilize community members to protect the forest
Replant the forest
Develop the community such as clean water, health clinic, nursery school
Track and follow up all the issues in the community
Take time to involve in all activities
CFMC needs to lead the implementation of all activities
Conflict resolution
Develop activity plans
Organize monthly meetings to discuss issues in the CF
Protect carbon stocks
Disseminate to villagers on the benefits
Financial management
Community representatives were also asked how women's participation could
be encouraged.A short discussion emphasized that women should be involved in
leadership, decision-making, planning, and forest management activities.
With regards to benefit-sharing, the communities requested a transparent system
where everyone is invited to meetings to discuss how income will be used and
consensus is built.The use of funds and the achievements should be made public.
The group decided that there should be project coordination meetings at the
provincial level on a bi-annual basis and district level meetings on a quarterly
basis.
The consultation concluded with an evaluation of the consultation, whereby
all participants were asked to write down their comments.The participants strongly
praised the workshop because it provided further clarity for them on the project
and was well-facilitated.
Comment 1
Community Consultation on Oddar Meanchey CF REDD Project
Provincial Hall, Samraong, Oddar Meanchey
25 November, 2009
I. Background
The 13 communities involved in the Oddar Meanchey CF REDD project were solicited to provide public comments on the CCB PD that was submitted for validation.This step follows two years of engagement which has included awareness raising workshops, consultations, and drafting and sighing of Community Forestry and Carbon Conservation agreements with the Forestry Administration.This report documents a summary of the one-day meeting held to facilitate public comments on the CCB Project Document (PD) for the project.The consultation was held in the Samraong Provincial Hall in Oddar Meanchey on 25th November from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm.The consultation was conducted in Khmer.Minutes were taken and the entire proceedings were taped on voice recorder.
II. Facilitators and Participants
The meeting was jointly facilitated by two project staff from Pact, one Central level Forestry Administration official who is the project focal point, and the director of the project's local NGO partner Children's Development Association (CDA).
All 13 communities were represented in the meeting, with two community leaders attending from each.Women were strongly encouraged to attend.In total there were 33 participants including 29 community leaders (17 male, 9 female), 2 local Forestry Administration staff, and 2 local NGO staff.
III. Proceedings
The proceedings began with an introduction to the objectives of the consultation:
1. Ensure that communities are sufficiently informed about the Oddar Meanchey CF REDD project as described in the PD along with their expected role and responsibilities, and to verify that communities are willing to take on these roles and responsibilities.
2. To confirm whether or not communities feel that they have been sufficiently consulted on the project and to address any questions or concerns raised.
3. To develop a participatory plan for ongoing project consultations and participation in the project monitoring required for carbon.
The introduction on the objectives was followed by a review of the climate change concept and Oddar Meanchey REDD project concept.Next, the project approval process was introduced and a PowerPoint presentation in Khmer covering the highlights of the Project Document was presented.The facilitator focused on topics of relevance to local communities.First, he gave an overview of the Table of Contents of the PD.He reviewed the project objectives in the PD and gave an overview of the project timeline.He also reviewed who the project partners are.Concepts that were explained and discussed included leakage, the legal framework, the drivers of deforestation and strategies to address these drivers, benefit-sharing, potential risks to communities, the need to protect biodiversity, and project monitoring.
Throughout the workshop, the facilitators organized small group discussions, plenary sessions, and passed out blank paper for comments for posting in order to encourage open and free discussion.Below is a listing the issues and responses or suggestions raised during the meeting.
Table.Issues Raised and Solutions Proposed
Issues Raised
Solutions Proposed
There haven't been consistent regular visits by the project staff to explain the project.The local NGO partner CDA has been a strong supporter but there are mixed reviews for other partners (Pact, FA, local authorities) who are not consistently meeting with communities.
Hold more regular meetings with all stakeholders.(This will be easier when there are revenues to cover costs.)Make sure FA responds quickly to requests for support on enforcement.Have a clear workplan to work with communities.
Also, make sure CF REDD is part of the commune development plan, have community leaders attend commune and district meetings.
Some CF leaders have faced a challenge in getting all their members to understand and participate in the activities.
Conduct regular meetings at the village level.Distribute copies of the project video to all community leaders.
Communities need financial support for the forest protection activities and they would like to know when this support will be available.
There will be financial support for the activities but the amount of support and timeframe is not clear.It depends on when the sale of carbon takes place and how much is paid per metric ton.
Communities lack capacity to implement some of the activities
Project partners will provide technical support and training for tree planting, fire protection, etc.
Some community leaders are afraid that their members now have too many high expectations for carbon revenues.
The community can get sustainable benefits from the forest such as NTFPs.The carbon revenues should be viewed merely as a supplement to existing income sources.
Two of the 13 CF sites have not yet received tenure agreements.The government is debating whether this land should be used for resettling soldiers of if it should remain with the REDD project.
We need to wait to see how the government decides this issue.
There is concern in some sites that villagers will be prevented from using existing agricultural land which is inside the CF boundaries.The Ratanak Ruka CF leaders are especially concerned since approximately 2,000 hectares is affected.Some communities would like the CF area to be re-demarcated.
2002 is the baseline year.If the villager established the agricultural field after 2002, then there will need to be a negotiation on the use of this land.We will need to facilitate this process and get their agreement.There should be an agreement not to expand these fields.We don't have the right to make a decision on this now.We also can not yet give an answer about providing land in the CF area to new villagers.We must decide these questions based on the actual situation.The FA Division needs to work with the local authorities to provide a report up to the next level.(A report has already been sent).
There are new migrants in Romdoul Veasna area.How can this issue be solved?
The Government has granted the community management rights to the forest and the community has responsibility to take action, either by writing a report to authorities and following up, or cracking down.The community is now responsible for solving this problem.The CFMC has a big responsibility.The CF members need to understand about the challenges of the CFMC and understand that the CFMC will take the blame for their actions.
Communities are not clear about who is responsible to protect the forest in the leakage belt.
All stakeholders should be involved in the protection of forest in the leakage belt.The community will need to make sure that its members do not cut forest in this area.The FA will help with enforcement and woodfuel saving strategies like improved cookstoves will be introduced.
The Sangkrous Preycheu CF has been forbidden to build a patrol post near the boundary of their forest.The local FA has insisted that the post must be located 2kms within the forest.
Try to solve this issue through negotiation but if there is no agreement, then make a request to the FA Cantonment office.
Communities are intimidated by armed loggers.
Boundaries need to be reinforced to reduce this problem.
Communities request support for livelihood improvement including provision of livestock, tractors, and credit systems.
Vehicles and cows have an impact on the climate and could reduce credits, so new vehicles should use biofuels to reduce impact on climate.Solar power can be considered.
IV. Additional Community Input
Community representatives were given an opportunity to analyze and comment on the proposed strategies for controlling drivers of deforestation, as listed on page 46 of the PD.The participants expressed their support for all of these strategies; however, they emphasized the need for financial and technical support for implementation.They did not have ideas for strategies other than those suggested.
Communities were also asked to give feedback on how they envisioned their role and responsibility under the REDD project.They made the following points:
Community representatives were also asked how women's participation could be encouraged.A short discussion emphasized that women should be involved in leadership, decision-making, planning, and forest management activities.
With regards to benefit-sharing, the communities requested a transparent system where everyone is invited to meetings to discuss how income will be used and consensus is built.The use of funds and the achievements should be made public.
The group decided that there should be project coordination meetings at the provincial level on a bi-annual basis and district level meetings on a quarterly basis.
The consultation concluded with an evaluation of the consultation, whereby all participants were asked to write down their comments.The participants strongly praised the workshop because it provided further clarity for them on the project and was well-facilitated.
Pact Cambodia
abradley@pactcambodia.org
November 27, 2009