Trucks loaded with timber wait at the Cambodian border post in December 1997. The World Bank has vowed to improve its much-criticized forestry program in Cambodia, after an internal review found the scheme failed to prevent illegal logging.(AFP/File/Stew Magnuson) PHNOM PENH (AFP) - The World Bank has vowed to improve its much-criticized forestry program in Cambodia, after an internal review found the scheme failed to prevent illegal logging.
The review also found that the Bank's program did not meet its own environmental standards, and failed to preserve forests that local communities prized for cultural or economic reasons.
"It is arguable whether and to what extent the project had a positive impact on what actually happened in the field," the report said.
When the Bank project was approved in 2000, over-exploitation of timber resources and illegal logging were threatening to exhaust Cambodia's forest resources in as little as five years, the bank said in a statement.
The five-million-dollar project focused on addressing the critical but difficult issue of preventing illegal logging, it said.
Ian Porter, the Bank's country director for Cambodia, vowed to improve the scheme, saying: "Many poor communities depend on access to forest products for their livelihoods.
"This is too critical an issue for the World Bank to simply walk away."
In a statement, the Bank conceded to many of the problems cited in the review and vowed to overhaul the project.
"But it acknowledged the (review) panel's finding that the project did not finance logging or directly cause the damages from unsustainable logging in the country," it said.
Since the late 1990s, instances of illegal logging have dropped in number dramatically and the total area under forest concessions has decreased during the life of the project, it added.
Global Witness, a British-based forestry watchdog, last year had accused the World Bank of condoning illegal logging for failing to reform the system that awarded concessions.
Illegal logging is a major environmental issue in Cambodia. Vast tracts of forest that had been protected by years of war are increasingly under threat since the fighting ended in 1998.
The review also found that the Bank's program did not meet its own environmental standards, and failed to preserve forests that local communities prized for cultural or economic reasons.
"It is arguable whether and to what extent the project had a positive impact on what actually happened in the field," the report said.
When the Bank project was approved in 2000, over-exploitation of timber resources and illegal logging were threatening to exhaust Cambodia's forest resources in as little as five years, the bank said in a statement.
The five-million-dollar project focused on addressing the critical but difficult issue of preventing illegal logging, it said.
Ian Porter, the Bank's country director for Cambodia, vowed to improve the scheme, saying: "Many poor communities depend on access to forest products for their livelihoods.
"This is too critical an issue for the World Bank to simply walk away."
In a statement, the Bank conceded to many of the problems cited in the review and vowed to overhaul the project.
"But it acknowledged the (review) panel's finding that the project did not finance logging or directly cause the damages from unsustainable logging in the country," it said.
Since the late 1990s, instances of illegal logging have dropped in number dramatically and the total area under forest concessions has decreased during the life of the project, it added.
Global Witness, a British-based forestry watchdog, last year had accused the World Bank of condoning illegal logging for failing to reform the system that awarded concessions.
Illegal logging is a major environmental issue in Cambodia. Vast tracts of forest that had been protected by years of war are increasingly under threat since the fighting ended in 1998.
3 comments:
Man! Man! Man! Is this what you called Western Institutions in action? So much for Western Institutions such as the World Bank and United Nations aiming to one job that is to improve the life million of Cambodian people! The world is looking at Cambodian problem as one shirt fit all! Why does it take so long for these Western Istitutions to admit that their policies had failing Cambodian people? What can I say! It is the Cambodian people who are continuing to suffer! Nobody give a fuck!
i told you so!!eeyore
Kab toeuv !!kab toeuv niss chea chhoeu daunta eng chea neak dam na a Kvack Hun Sen. Promaul ly oy ban chroeun toeu ter proyath ott phsar samrab chay luy. Pel Eng chanh eng leng ban chay luy nouss hoeuy, yok luy eng toeuv tukk srok yuon toeuv
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