Land and resource conflicts in India have deep implications for the well-being of the country’s people, institutions, investments, and long-term development. These conflicts reveal deep structural flaws in the country’s social, agrarian, and institutional structures, including ambiguities in property rights regimes and institutions. In 2014, a study focusing primarily on reports in the national media reflected the gravity of these conflicts.

India’s ambitious development agenda involves facilitating investment for economic growth, infrastructure development, and social progress. Yet, thousands of investment projects have been stalled to date, raising red flags for the health of the country’s financial regulatory systems, public sector banks, and investment community. While official reasons given for stalled projects remain opaque, deep contestation leading to conflict on public (and private) lands must be better understood as a substantive risk to investments.

In May 2010, the Cambodian Government approved a circular on "resolution of temporary settlement on land which has been illegally occupied in the capital, municipal, and urban areas" (Circular 03). The aim of this report is to highlight some of the issues arising from Circular 03 as a policy document, and draw attention to the opportunities and risks arising from its implementation.

Cutting 1,300.21 ha of land in Pu Tit village of Busrar commune in Pech Chreada district of Mondulkiri province: 1,045.31 ha from Mondulkiri Genetic Resources, Plants and Wildlife Conservation Protected Forest, 61.61 ha from ELC of Sethikula, and 193.29 ha from ELC of Varanasi; Reclassifying1,248.22 ha as state private land for donating to 419 families; Reserving 51.99 ha as state public land; and Grating ownership to 611 private land parcels.

Cutting 876.42 ha of land in Kreal Pong village of Tar Sal commune in Aoral district of Kampong Speu province: 743.23 ha from Phnom Aoral Wildlife Sanctuary, and 133.19 ha from ELC of Great Field company; Reclassifying 664.69 ha as state private land for donating to 206 families; and Reserving 211.73 ha as state public land.

Cutting 198.5918 ha in En village of Tarlao commune in Andoung Meas district of Ratanak Kiri province from ELC of Hoang Anh Oyadav; Donating 180.6482 ha to 63 families; and Reserving 17.9436 ha as state public land.

Cutting 165.4029 ha in Lom village of Malik commune in Andoung Meas district of Ratanak Kiri province: 48.9604 ha from ELC of Veasna Investment, and 116.4425 ha from ELC of Jiang Ly; Donating 141.9664 ha to 32 families; Reserving 23.4365 ha for population growth and physical infrastructure development; and Granting ownership to 39 private land parcels.

Cutting 996.01 ha of land in Pu Luh village of Busrar commune in Pech Chreada district of Mondulkiri province: 474.83 ha from Phnom Namlea Wildlife Sanctuary, 107.98 ha from Mondulkiri Genetic Resources, Plants and Wildlife Conservation Protected Forest, 5.82 ha from ELC of Sethikula, 379.66 ha from ELC of Dak Lak, and 27.72 ha from ELC of K Peace; Reclassifying 874.10 ha as state private land for donating to 352 families; and Reserving 121.91 ha as state public land.

Cutting 451.31 ha of land in Romangsor village of Tar Sal commune in Aoral district of Kampong Speu province: 34.27 ha from Phnom Aoral Wildlife Sanctuary, 330.27 ha from 2002 Forest Cover, and 88.77 ha from ELC of Great Field company; Reclassifying 280.02 ha as state private land for donating to 92 families; and Reserving 173.29 ha as state public land.

Cutting 1,300.0267 ha in Ka Te village of Malik commune in Andoung Meas district of Ratanak Kiri province from ELC of Veasna Investment; Donating 1,095.0226 ha to 78 [49] families; Reserving 205.0041 ha for population growth and physical infrastructure development; and Granting ownership to 84 private land parcels.

Cutting 664.02 ha of land in Pu Char village of Busrar commune in Pech Chreada district of Mondulkiri province: 93.28 ha from Mondulkiri Genetic Resources, Plants and Wildlife Conservation Protected Forest, 176.05 ha from ELC of Sethikula, 18.73 ha from ELC of Varanasi, 360.37 ha from ELC of Dak Lak, and 15.59 ha from ELC of K Peace; Reclassifying 628.35 ha as state private land for donating to 283 families; and Reserving 35.67 ha as state public land.

Cutting 516.31 ha of land in Anlong village of Kroyar commune in Prasat Balang district of Kampong Thom province: 258.18 ha from Beoung Per Wildlife Sanctuary, and 258.14 ha from ELC of Mekong compnay; Reclassifying 494.44 ha as state private land for donating to 141 families; Reserving 21.88 ha as state public land; and Granting ownership to 251 private land parcels and 1 public land parcel.