Improving Mid to Long-Term Planning

Both Community Forestry sites have benefited from development projects in the past, but they lack an up-to-date Community Forestry Management Plan. To create one, a detailed stock take of infrastructure, current tourist numbers, revenue streams from products, forest-related activity, natural resources, assets needed, and challenges faced must be compiled.  Typical challenges include the lack of infrastructure, illegal logging, and climate-related threats like forest fires, droughts, and deforestation. The Community Forestry Management Plan should also incorporate conservation, ecotourism, and sustainable forestry objectives for the mid- and long-term. Local communities’ leadership and ownership of this process is critical for implementation success with support by development partners, and active inclusion of women, youth, and other groups who risk of being left behind.

Rebuilding Trust to Improve Local Governance 

Untransparent management, unequal benefit sharing, and membership fees were cited as reasons for the reluctance of some members of the Teuk Chob Khna Po community to participate in previous and ongoing projects implemented in the community. To address and prevent this, organizing regular meetings between local authorities and the Community Forestry Management Committee can be an effective method to improve relations and build trust. Stakeholders at higher risk of being excluded from these processes, such as poorer households, women, and youth should be actively involved for the plan to reflect the needs and be agreed upon by the whole community. A fair benefit-sharing mechanism should also be implemented in order to share profits equitably and transparently.

Boosting Ecotourism Through Infrastructure and Capacity Development

Developing infrastructure and capacities for ecotourism is vital for the success of both sites. Chankran Roy offers an observatory site for rare cuckoos and other birds, a waterfall, medicinal herbs, local fruits and meals, rich biodiversity, and hikes through the forest. Visitors can also enjoy meals prepared by the community. 

Teuk Chob Khna Po features a lake, a freshwater mangrove forest with impressive biodiversity, and a well-maintained wooden walkway across the unique freshwater mangrove forests. 

Despite these advantages, both Community Forestry sites lack a business plan and critical infrastructure, such as water, electricity, washrooms, and Wi-Fi, hampering extended tourism stays. Developing an ecotourism business plan aligned with the Community Forestry Management Plan can help increase the sites' attractiveness. While elaborating the business plan, five critical stages should be considered from the perspective of a tourist: i) decision to visit, ii) entry on-site, iii) activities on site, iv) departure, and v) recollection of visits and organic referrals. Assessing strengths and weaknesses, setting clear goals, collecting tourist feedback, and mapping of existing local capacities can help inform the business plan and ensure its effectiveness. Developing or updating an existing communication strategy can help increase the visibility of the sites and attract more visitors.

Protecting and Expanding Forests and Other Natural Resources

Pressures on natural resources are threatening the livelihoods and attractiveness of the sites, especially under the increasing impacts of climate change. Forest fires are a particular concern for Teuk Chob Khna Po and water scarcity is one of the main challenges at Chankran Roy. Therefore, a hazard prevention management plan should be developed to protect natural assets. This would include regular training and sharing of educational materials, in addition to leveraging existing forest patrols conducted by residents. To expand the availability of natural resources and diversify income streams, afforestation activities, tree nurseries, and the cultivation of additional crops, fruits and medicinal herbs could cover short-term and long-term needs as part of the management plan.