“Safeguarding customary forest tenure in the Mekong Region: a legal analysis” is an article published in the Journal of Land Use Science, a peer-reviewed academic journal that covers a wide range of topics related to land use, land management, and sustainable development. The article by Sophie Rose Lewis and colleagues explores the legal frameworks related to customary forest tenure in the Mekong Region and argues that customary forest tenure provides significant ecological and social benefits and should be recognized and protected by law.
The article examines the legal frameworks of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, identifying gaps in the recognition and protection of customary forest tenure. The authors recommend legal reforms to strengthen the recognition and protection of customary forest tenure, such as involving local communities in decision-making processes and ensuring that legal reforms are compatible with customary practices. They also emphasize the importance of effective enforcement mechanisms in ensuring respect for and protection of customary forest tenure.
The authors highlight the need for a better understanding of local customs and practices and for local communities to actively participate in decision-making processes. They argue that legal recognition and protection of customary forest tenure can help to improve the Mekong Region’s sustainable and equitable forest management. This article is part of RECOFTC’s work as part of MRLG’s Regional Customary Tenure Recognition in Forested Landscapes Workstream in Phase 2. Read full article here
