Cambodia Surges Full-Speed Ahead With Land Concessions

The government has already granted roughly 300,000 hectares in economic land concessions (ELC) so far this year, according to data released by a local rights group yesterday. The figure, which amounts to 40 percent of the total land concessions granted in all of 2011, has refocused concerns by land rights groups over the speed at which concessions are being granted and the impact on the nation’s poorest. According to figures released by Adhoc, more than 2.5 million hectares are currently leased as ELC, and as of the end of 2011, 225 private companies had been granted concessions. Last year alone, 751,882 hectares were awarded, two-thirds of which were located within protected areas, said Thun Saray, Adhoc president. …