Economic Land Concessions

An economic land concession (ELC) is a type of land lease that the Cambodian government grants to private companies for the development of agro-industrial plantations. ELCs are supposed to promote economic growth, create jobs, and improve food security in the country. However, ELCs have also been criticized for their negative impacts on human rights, livelihoods, and the environment.

According to the Land Law of 2001, ELCs can be granted for up to 99 years and cover a maximum area of 10,000 hectares per concession. The concessionaires are required to conduct environmental and social impact assessments, respect the rights of indigenous communities, and comply with the land use plan and contract terms. However, many ELCs have been granted in violation of these legal requirements, resulting in land conflicts, displacement, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity.

As of 2015, the Cambodian government had granted 289 ELCs covering over 943,000 hectares of land, mostly in rural areas. About 36 of these concessions were given to foreign investors or politically connected individuals. In response to public outcry and social unrest, the government issued a moratorium on new ELCs in 2012 and initiated a review process to revoke or downsize existing ones. As of January 2015, 23 ELCs had been revoked and 66 had been downsized.

ELCs are a controversial issue in Cambodia that involve trade-offs between economic development and social justice. While some ELCs may have positive effects on the national economy and local communities, many others have caused serious problems for the people and the environment. Therefore, it is important to ensure that ELCs are granted and managed in a transparent, accountable, and participatory manner that respects the rights and interests of all stakeholders.