Legal Analysis: An Examination of Cambodia's Environment and Natural Resources Code

With the promulgation of Cambodia's 2023 Environment and Natural Resources Code (ENR Code), there have been changes to the legal framework governing protected areas (PAs) and community protected areas (CPAs) in the Kingdom. Reform of the Protected Area Law -- initially planned as a separate amendment -- has been incorporated into the ENR Code. The ENR Code now stands as a primary legal instrument governing PAs and CPAs.

ClientEarth's "Legal Analysis: An Examination of Cambodia's Environment and Natural Resources Code," provides an assessment of the ENR Code, focusing on governance of PA and CPA management and changes wrought through the ENR Code, concentrating on a select number of topics deemed to be of high interest to affected stakeholders.

Developed by lead author Yena Kwon, International Environmental Law and Policy Consultant, and co-author Kanyara Sath, Independent Consultant based in Cambodia, for ClientEarth, this analysis may be useful to civil society, governmental authorities, and other stakeholders involved in protected areas (PA) and community protected areas (CPA) management to any degree, who are interested in understanding and evaluating the impact of the ENR Code and challenges that still remain.

The 5 key topics focused in this analysis that relate to the ENR Code and governance of PAs and CPAs are:

1. Responsible authorities
2. Land tenure
3. PA establishment and zoning
4. CPA establishment and management
5. Ecotourism development

Read the legal analysis:

English

Khmer