REDD+ in Prey Long, CambodiaREDD+ in Prey Long, Cambodia-more than just carbon-more than just carbon

Ida Theilade, University of CopenhagenHenrik Meilby, University of Copenhagen

Simon Bjarke Læssøe Lægaard, University of Copenhagen

BackgroundBackground

• Cambodia has a relatively high forest cover (~50%).• Few systematic collections of Cambodia’s flora. • Very few ecological studies on Cambodia’s complex

plant communities and vegetation dynamics. • To reverse the trend of forest degradation a logging

moratorium was put in place in 2002. All logging concessions (3.4 mill. ha.) remain at a halt. Lack of planning and management in large areas of the forest reserve.

BackgroundBackground

90 % of Cambodian households depend on forest resources to some extent (National Forest Programme 2010).Forest resources account for 15-30% of household consumption and income (PEN data 2012). Many forest dependent households are poor (The Atlas of Cambodia 2007).

Resin from dipterocarps an important forest product providing households an income of 600-1200 USD/year (Lægaard 2010).

Aim of the studyAim of the study

To estimate potential value of forests to local resin collectors by combining ecological and socio-economic surveys

Study AreaStudy AreaEvergreen forests in Evergreen forests in

central lowlands central lowlands CambodiaCambodia4 villages4 villages

Land use map Cambodia (JICA 2002)

MethodsMethods

Ecological surveys in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012. •Checklists of plants•98 plots of 50x10 m•Trees > 10 cm DBH

Socio-economic survey in 2010•Interviews with 32 households in 4 villages•Literature review on resin yields and prices•Participant observation and key informants

AssumptionsAssumptions

Trees >45 cm DBH

Minimum yield Maximum yield

Liquid resin 22.5 l/tree/year 31 l/tree/year

Solid resin 20 kg/tree/year 50 kg/tree/year

Price of liquid and solid resin

0.3 USD/liter

0.3 USD/kg

0.3 USD/liter

0.3 USD/kg

ResultsResults

Four types of lowland evergreen forest:1. Tall Dipterocarp forest (~ 25 resin trees/ha)2. ’Sralao’ (Lagerstroemia) forest (0 resin trees/ha)3. Riparian forest ( ~10 resin trees/ha)4. Freshwater swamp forest (<5trees/ha)

Abundance resin producing speciesAbundance resin producing species

0

10

20

30

40

50

Species

Mean d

ensity (

ha-1)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Species

Mean d

ensity (

ha-1)

Riverine forest

Tall Dipterocarp forest

Size of resin-producing speciesSize of resin-producing species

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Me

an

de

nsi

ty (

ha-1)

> 45 cm

30-45 cm

10-30 cm

Riverine forest Tall evergreen Dipterocarp

0

50

100

150

200

250

Po

ten

tial g

ross

inco

me

(U

SD

/ha

)

Minimum yields

Maximum yields

Potential income/ha by forest type/species (>45 cm)Potential income/ha by forest type/species (>45 cm)

Riverine forest (evergreen) Tall evergreen Dipterocarp

0

100

200

300

400

500

Liquid Solid Total Liquid Solid Total

Resin type

Pote

ntia

l gro

ss in

com

e (

US

D/h

a/y

ear)

Minimum yields

Maximum yields

Potential income/ha by resin type (>45 cm)Potential income/ha by resin type (>45 cm)

Riverine forest (evergreen) Tall evergreen Dipterocarp

ConclusionConclusion

• Prey Long heterogeneous complex of forest types. Vegetation maps based on satelite images needs to be field-checked.

• Vegetation types have different use values (not just carbon).

• Lack of data to calculate net household income• Understanding plant diversity and distribution and

forest incomes is necessary to deliver on REDD+ safeguard information systems (livelihoods and biodiversity).

The alternative to REDD+ ?The alternative to REDD+ ?

Land concessions have been the focus of allegations of land-grabbing by big businessmen tied to corrupt officials and triggered violent clashes when residents were forcefully evicted.

By 2012, more than 2 million hectares of land, mostly forest, granted by the government to private companies

Protected Forest REDD+ Land Concessions

Avatars protest in Phnom PenhAvatars protest in Phnom Penh

Thank youThank you

WWF WWF NovozymesNovozymes

Blue Moon FundBlue Moon FundConservationConservationInternationalInternational

andandPeople of Spong, People of Spong,

Dong, Kaes, Dong, Kaes, Choam SvayChoam Svay

Photo: Allan Michaud

Income from resin-collection (liquid)Income from resin-collection (liquid)

Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum

Trees (n) 124 153 88 153

For dbh>30 cm (ha) 16.5 20.4 11.7 20.4

For dbh>45 cm (ha) 19.8 24.5 14.1 24.5

For dbh>30 cm (ha) 16.8 20.8 11.9 20.8

For dbh>45 cm (ha) 39.3 48.4 27.9 48.4

Resin yield (l/tree/year) 22.5 22.5 22.5 22.5

Price (USD/litre) 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Income (USD/tree/year) 6.75 6.75 6.75 6.75

Income (USD/year) 837 1033 594 1033

Resin yield (l/tree/year) 31 31 31 31

Price (USD/litre) 0.3 0.3 0.3 0.3

Income (USD/tree/year) 9.30 9.30 9.30 9.30

Income (USD/year) 1153 1423 818 1423

Min

imu

m

yie

ld

Ma

xim

um

yie

ld

A household owns A household usesA

rea

of

Dip

tero

c

arp

fo

r.

Are

a o

f

Riv

eri

ne

fore

st

Source: Simon Lægaard 2010