Title
Protected area downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement in Cambodia: Enabling conditions and opportunities for intervention
Author(s)
Nuttall, Matthew; Olsson, Erik; Washington, Harri; Ung, Vises; Bunnefeld, Nils; Merriman, Joel; Griffin, Olly; Hobson, Keziah; Diment, Alex; Kroner, Rachel Golden
Published
2023
Publisher
Conservation Science and Practice
Published Version DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12912
Abstract
Protected area (PA) sustainability is challenged worldwide by legal downgrading, downsizing, and degazettement (PADDD). National and local case studies of ecologically destructive PADDD events provide useful insights that may help respond to or prevent future events. Using information from legal documents and expert input, we identified 37 PADDD events that affected two adjacent PAs in northeastern Cambodia differently despite similar economic, environmental, and social conditions. Important differences in local context led to the eventual degazettement (100% loss) of one PA and downsizing (10.49% loss) of the other, the rest of which remains protected. This case study confirms the contribution of secure Indigenous land tenure to durable conservation governance and demonstrates the importance of investing in site-level capacity to ensure that social and ecological conditions are monitored and proposed PADDD events can be successfully challenged.
Keywords
economic land concessions; indigenous land titling; Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary; Order 01; PADDD; Snuol Wildlife Sanctuary; social land concessions

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PUB35948