Cambodian women’s networks transform lives while boosting community forestry and protected areas

Chhean Savry says she used to conform to a stereotype of what a rural Cambodian woman should be: As a mother of three children in the village of Phnom Jerng Leang in Kompong Chhnang Province, she lacked confidence to speak up about issues that mattered to her and thus avoided public events. She was afraid her views were “incorrect” and that people would discount them.

Now she is the village chief with a passion for public speaking.

Savry is one of dozens of Cambodian women whose lives have been transformed after joining female networks that RECOFTC facilitated to promote community-based natural resource management: one on community forestry and one on community-protected areas. The two networks have strengthened their members’ knowledge and skills, boosted their confidence and elevated their standing in their communities.

“Participating in the community protected areas women’s network gave me opportunities to see things beyond my community,” summarizes Savry. “I have travelled a lot to other provinces. I went to meetings with the Ministry of Environment to share my community’s experiences and needs.”

Community forests and community protected areas are two mechanisms through which the Cambodian government delegates responsibility for managing forests and their resources to local communities. Yet even though these approaches are empowering communities across the country, women are still marginalized and underrepresented in decision-making bodies.

Two models empowering communities

Cambodia’s community forestry model enables communities to manage areas designated as production forest. These areas are under the authority of the Forestry Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The communities can use and sell non-timber forest products from their community forest. They can also sell timber from trees they have planted in this community forest.

Woman planting trees in Cambodia

Cambodia’s community forestry model enables communities to manage areas designated as production forest. These areas are under the authority of the Forestry Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The communities can use and sell non-timber forest products from their community forest. They can also sell timber from trees they have planted in this community forest.

Cambodia’s community protected areas model enables communities to manage parts of protected areas, such as national parks. These areas are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment. The communities can use and sell non-timber forest products from their community- protected area. They also can provide ecotourism service and have rights to use, but not sell, timber.

In both models, communities have rights to exclude outsiders. By patrolling their allocated forests and reporting illegal practices, they help to protect Cambodia’s forests and natural resources. In both cases, communities must follow a management plan that the relevant authorities have approved. Tenure lasts for up to 15 years and is renewable.

Sou Sunnary presents the steps to establish and formalize community protected areas on 14 December 2022 in Cambodia.&nbsp;

“That’s why it is important to have networks specifically for women, to promote their participation in natural resource management in production forest and protected areas by building up their skills and connections with other women,” says Hou Kalyan, Director of RECOFTC Cambodia.

“Each of the two women's networks is a platform, a place and a support system through which women can learn, share and build their connections with each other,” Kalyan explains. “Women need more support. These networks provide a safe space for them to speak up and voice their concerns.”

Bringing women together

In September 2019, RECOFTC collaborated with Cambodia's Ministry of Environment’s gender working group to set up a network for women who are members of community protected areas. The network now has 30 members from 20 community protected areas in 15 provinces.

The community protected areas women’s network has an important role in nurturing women’s abilities in terms of community protected area management and development, gender equality, leadership and soft skills and in providing a space for them to express themselves and share their practices, says Ly Sophorn. She is is Deputy General Director of General Directorate of Administration and Finance in the Ministry of Environment and one of the gender leaders in RECOFTC’s Weaving Leadership for Gender Equality (WAVES) program.

“Women’s rights are human rights, and women’s voices must be heard and given equal importance to men’s,” she says, adding that the women's network is empowering its members to participate fully in community development and the management of their community protected areas, including in leadership roles.

The second women's network for women participating in community forestry was set up under the RECOFTC-led Partnership for Forestry and Fisheries Communities in Cambodia – Phase 3, in collaboration with the Forestry Administration’s gender working group. The network first came together in April 2022. It now has 33 members from 30 community forests in nine provinces.

With continued support from the Partnership for Forestry and Fisheries Communities and engagement from their respective government ministries in the country, each network meets two to four times a year to discuss members’ progress and challenges. They agree on steps for enhancing their group’s performance and strength. They also have occasional visits to a member’s community forest or community protected area to learn about their management approaches. Between meetings, the members use a messaging app to stay updated on their activities.

Boosting women’s knowledge and skills

RECOFTC provides training to the two women's networks. Topics have included forest-related laws and regulations, forest management, how to formalize community forests and community-protected areas, how to use information and communication technologies and how to record and report forest crimes.

“Our training has improved the facilitation, communication, conflict resolution and leadership skills of the members of the two women’s networks,” says Onn Chansreyleak, RECOFTC Cambodia’s Communication Officer. “We have also focused on improving how to write reports and minutes. Overall, these trainings strengthen the community-based institutions responsible for managing local natural resources.”

RECOFTC selects “champions” from each network to represent the members and promote support by showcasing their activities to the public and the government. Some network representatives have joined meetings with government decision-makers to advocate for the needs and priorities of their communities.

“The community protected areas women’s network gave me opportunities to express myself without judgment and take part in meetings at the ministry level, planning meetings and forums,” says Phork Hong, who heads the committee overseeing the Prasat Phnom Kreal Community Protected Area in Preah Vihear Province.

Impacts on members and their communities

“It’s important to have a network specifically for women because it provides a space for them to learn from each other by sharing their experiences and knowledge in the meetings,” says the Forestry Administration’s Deputy Director-General and gender working group chief, Vong Sophanha, who is another gender leader in RECOFTC’s WAVES program. “They share and at the same time they learn.”

Bou Khamtong presented the role and women engagement in their Community Forestry

Bou Khamtong explains women's engagement in their community forestry.

By voicing their opinions in meetings, the women have overcome their shyness. By growing confident, they have become role models for other women and girls in their community.

“The community forestry women’s network changed me, from a person who wasn’t willing to speak up to one who speaks for others, it has changed my perspective and opened my eyes to see the importance of women in community forestry.” - Keo Vannai, a member of the Tropaeng Prey Community Forest in Kompong Thom Province.

Another woman whose life has changed is Sou Sunary, a member of the Pou Chrey Community Protected Area in Mondulkiri Province. Previously, she thought the community protected area network had nothing to offer her, but a friend encouraged her to take part.

“Participating in the women’s network provided the knowledge and opportunities for me to get to know and communicate with other organizations and local authorities,” she says. “It has improved my capacity. I am so proud of myself.”

“Being a member of the network also provided me with opportunities to use my talents and show what I can do with confidence,” she says. The village leaders saw her potential and encouraged her to seek election to the commune council, which turned triumphant for her.

As the network members improve their knowledge and skills, they also influence their family members and their wider communities in positive ways, helping to improve their communities and protect their local forests in the long term.

“The other women in the community also have a chance to learn from the network,” says Bou Khamtong, a member of the Champich Community Forest in Steung Treng Province who is also a member of the district council. “Whenever I return from meeting with the network, I share knowledge, information and photos with them.”

By empowering their members, the networks encourage other women to participate in the management of community forests and community protected areas and then to join the networks. This process contributes to the gender-equality goals of the Ministry of Environment and the Forestry Administration.

Looking to the future

RECOFTC Cambodia Country Director Hou Kalyan emphasizes four steps to build on the networks’ achievements.

“First, we need to focus on ensuring that the networks are strong and independent,” she begins. “Second, we must ensure that some members can represent the network or take on roles as focal points for building up the capacities of other women in their network and their community.”

“Third, the networks need support from and close collaboration with the gender working groups in the Ministry of Environment and the Forestry Administration,” she says. “And fourth, we need funding to implement activities promoting women’s participation in the forest and environment sector.”

The government agencies responsible for community-protected areas and community forestry are committed to the networks.

“The Ministry of Environment maintains its support in providing advice and other administrative or legal function for the community protected areas women’s network,” says Ly Sophorn. “If needed, capacity building will also be provided with the collaboration of related stakeholders.”

Adds Vong Sophanha of the Forestry Administration, referring to the forest sector’s gender-inclusive ambitions for 2021–2025: “We will need to support the community forestry women’s network by providing technical support as well as improving women’s capacities.”

Keo Vannai of the Tropaeng Prey Community Forest is also looking ahead. “My hope for the community forestry women’s network is to support more young women in the network because they are the future leaders.”

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This story is produced with the financial support of the Partnership for Forestry and Fisheries Communities in Cambodia (PaFF) - Phase 3. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) are co-funding the third and final phase which runs from July 2021 to June 2023. A consortium of four organizations is implementing PaFF: RECOFTC, the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme Asia (NTFP-EP), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Culture and Environment Preservation Association (CEPA). For more information visit www.recoftc.org/en/cambodia/projects/paff

RECOFTC’s work is made possible with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).