In recent decades, formal community-based forest management has gained significant attention, particularly in developing countries, where a large proportion of forest areas have been transferred to local communities. However, substantial changes in people-forest relationships have been reported following this formalization, driven by both internal and external shifts in the social-ecological systems in which forests and forest-dependent communities are embedded.
Our study explores how community forestry has influenced people-forest relationships within the evolving context of the Prey Lang Extended Landscape in Cambodia, which has undergone profound changes over the last five decades. Between March and August 2024, we conducted interviews with community forestry stakeholders, including representatives from the government, civil society, and local community members—such as community forest leaders, elders, forest-dependent individuals, the poor, and youth—across 20 sites in the landscape.
Our findings reveal that over the last five decades, changing social, economic, and political conditions have significantly impacted local communities' engagement with forest commons. Prior to the 1990s, no formal community-based institutions existed in the landscape to manage forests. However, the political, economic, and social changes increased pressure on forests and land—key resources for local livelihoods—sparking a surge of interest in community forestry during the 1990s and early 2000s. This led to high participation in the establishment of community forests, many of which were formalized starting in 2007 with the introduction of appropriate legal frameworks. Despite community forestry generally meeting expectations for forest protection, interest in collective action has waned in recent years. As economic opportunities have expanded and the nature of pressures on forests and land has shifted, the opportunity cost of participation for community members has increased. In many cases, forest protection responsibilities now rest with only a few committed individuals.
Our observations suggest that in rapidly changing contexts, especially in developing countries and post-conflict regions, the goals of community forestry must align with the evolving social, economic, and political landscape for its sustenance. A robust program design alone is insufficient; periodic reviews and adjustments are essential to ensure the program remains responsive to existing and emerging challenges, leverages new opportunities, and delivers equitable benefits to all community members.
