Mobilising support example:
Recognition of the spiritual forest lands of Indigenous People (Kuy people) in the Kanseng Veal Community Forestry

Summary

It is a global problem: indigenous peoples use the land on which they live and earn their livelihood from generation to generation, but nowhere is it established that this land is their property, leaving them powerless when others appropriate their land. This also happened to the Kuy people in Cambodia. The solution is to advocate for formal recognition of indigenous land rights by the local government. And that is exactly what Action for Development Organization (AFD) did after completing a Change the Game Academy training course in Mobilising Support. This is the story of their success.

Problem analysis

Over the past decade, the religious sites of the Kuy indigenous people have nearly disappeared due to forest encroachment, degradation, and logging. This loss stems from the fact that these areas have not been clearly identified or officially recognized by village and commune authorities, and no legal documentation exists to affirm their ownership by the Kuy community.

As socio-economic development progresses, indigenous cultural traditions, beliefs, and forest conservation practices have significantly declined across the district. The lack of institutional support further exacerbates this issue. While legal frameworks exist, their implementation remains weak, and protective mechanisms for indigenous communities are insufficient. Existing policies are often untimely and discriminatory.

Most indigenous religious forest conservation areas have been exploited by outsiders and investment capitalists, as these lands remain undefined and unrecognized by local authorities.

Solution analysis

To address these challenges, Action for Development Organization planned to collaborate with the Kuy indigenous people of Kansaeng Veal Community Forest in O'Krouch village, Salavisai commune, Prasat Balangk district, Kampong Thom province. The goal is to negotiate with the commune authorities for formal recognition of these areas as belonging to the indigenous community.

These activities involve collaboration with key stakeholders, including the village chief, commune councilors, forest administration officers, and community forestry representatives.

• Village Chief and Commune Councilors: Local authorities will certify and approve the Indigenous People's (IP) spiritual forest land.
• Forest Administration: Responsible for demarcating the IP spiritual forest land and installing maps.
• IP/Community Committee: Develops a roadmap for the IP spiritual forest land and participates in the demarcation process.

Stakeholder analysis

Which stakeholders (NGO’s, government, private sector) did you identify as allies and how did you involve them?

Community forestry management committee (CFMC), IP (Indigenous Peoples) committee, IP member, village chief.

Which stakeholders did you identify as neutral and how did you mobilise them?

Commune councilors, Forestry Administrative

Which stakeholders did you identify as opponents and why were they opposed?

Private sector, rich men. They want to claim those lands for themselves or to invest and make a profit.

How did you involve your beneficiaries in the stakeholder analysis/campaign?

The beneficiaries were involved right from the start and participated in all activities.

Short description of the organisation implementing the action/campaign

Action For Development (AFD) is a non-government, independent, not affiliated to any religious, political or individual ideology organisation, established on February 23^rd, 2004. AFD’s work covers several provinces, including Kampong Thom, Preash Vihear and Kampong Cham. AFD focusses on management of natural resources and environment, livelihood and food security, good governance and gender equality, capacity development, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation activities. Their activities are mainly targeted at the vulnerable poor, young women entrepreneurs, women with disabilities and youth that lack skills and knowledge, but also at strengthening communities as a whole.

Action period

2022

Objectives

1. To determine the boundaries of the Faith Forest Conservation area.
2. To identify 3 conservation areas within the Faith Forest.
3. To map the designated protected areas.
4. To post and publish the map for the general public to comment on, before the council takes a decision.

Action results

1. The boundaries of the Faith Forest Conservation area have been determined.
2. 3 conservation areas have been identified.
3. AFD has supported the Forest Administration to draw a map of the protected areas.
4. The map has been posted and published, the council has taken a decision. The villagers are now officially allowed to use the land.

Description of preparatory activities

1. Organise a meeting to determine the boundaries of the Faith Forest Conservation area with the Community Forestry Committee / Indigenous Peoples of Kuy and 25 village elders, 10 women; duration: half a day; objective: to draft the designated area on a flipchart (draft map). 
2. The committee made a request to the commune chief of the school to organise a commune working group to determine the area.
3. Organise a one day meeting to identify 3 conservation areas, with 30 participants, 15 women, including youth and elders, forest authorities and representatives of organisations.
4. Support the Forestry Administration to map the three protected areas.
5. Post and publish a map showing the indigenous forest faith conservation area to the public for 30 days to receive their comments or objections, before submitting to the commune council for approval.  

Description of implementation

1. Participated in meetings with commune councils to make a large map to advertise in public places and conservation areas.
2. Created a working group to determine the area, formed with members from the commune council in charge of environmental affairs.
3. 3 conservation areas have been identified by stakeholders and commune council. 
4. Traditional land that the villagers are officially allowed to use has been identified and mapped.
5. AFD will continue to make banners to put up in the community forest and demarcate the community forest boundary for the public to see.

Description of time investment

3 months

Costs

Estimated at USD 2.500,00.

Follow up

AFD will continue to make banners to put up in the community forest and demarcate the community forest boundary for the public to see.