Declining forest resources is a problem which negatively  impacts the livelihood of people, particularly community stakeholders who live close to the forest. Ongoing political reform by the Royal Government of Cambodia provides an opportunity for local communities to participate in and manage natural resources through the establishment of Community Forestry (CF) programme. Natural resource management through community-based participation is the key strategy to prevent deforestation, forest land grabbing and the over-exploitation of forest resources.

The rate of village participation is high based on issues identified by contributions from the community. For example, through an initiative from thecommunities of four villages (Teun, Kambak, Taheuy and La In) the community forestry in Teun commune was established and provided with technical support from DPA.

The community forestry of  Teun commune consists of 1,011 members (401 women). This community forestry was recognized by the local authorities and there are many works it has accomplished such as:
- Preparation of agreement and contribution of CF’s statute
- Scaling a map of CF land that was recognized by the Forestry Administration (FA), authority and the Koun Mom district governor
- Setting up 150 poles on land measuring 2,327 hectares
- Preventing illegal logging and confiscating illegal logging material seven times and bringing it to the authorities for legal resolution.

One of the members of the community, Mr. Chum Sophal, aged 61, a Kreung ethnic living in Teun village, Teun commune, Koun Mom district, Ratanakiri province said “There are bad people who cut down some of the trees as they needed money for their own benefits. We all depend on these natural resources for our livelihood and if we lose them we have nothing”.

DPA has worked closely with the villagers and coordination with FA and Land Management and Administration Project (LMAP) included the provision of packages to the community and organizing trainings in order to strengthen and improve their awareness and capacity in CF management. These trainings included the following: Mapping, preparing the statute and ground rules of CF, CF’s agreement, Forestry Law and advocacy strategies. Presently, the community is posting boundaries in areas which are ready to be identified.

The communities have good collaboration with the FA’s official in monitoring illegal logging and forest land encroachment for their own benefits. At present, illegal logging and land grabbing have been notably reduced.