Cambodia Country Report: Communities Must See the Plus in REDD-plus

The Cambodia dialogue on REDD-plus readiness was convened on 1–4 November 2010, an exciting moment for Cambodia’s national REDD-plus movement. Coinciding with the dialogue, Cambodia’s REDD-plus readiness plan proposal (the national ‘REDD-plus roadmap’) was being finalized, and the country was preparing to seal a deal with UN-REDD for the first tranche of funding for its REDD-plus readiness strategy.4 The dialogue attracted 26 leaders from various local stakeholder groups, as well as 24 people working on REDD-plus-related issues in Canada, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam.

Dialogue participants visited Cambodia’s first REDD-plus demonstration project, which is located in Oddar Meanchey Province, and interacted with three local communities as well as representatives of local NGOs and local government. The ensuing two-day meeting built on the observations made and discussions held during the field trip and further explored the key issues to be addressed if Cambodia is to become REDD-plus ready. International participants shared their experiences and good practices, and all participants worked together in plenary and group sessions to explore REDD-plus readiness approaches that would work in Cambodia. This report presents the outcomes of the Cambodia REDD-plus readiness field dialogue. Chapter 2 captures the context and status of REDD-plus readiness in Cambodia, building on material prepared for the dialogue and presentations made during it. Chapter 3 highlights lessons learned from international and local experiences. Chapter 4 explores the key challenges and ways forward for REDD-plus readiness in Cambodia, as identified by participants.