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 5,030.51 ha of land in Tompoi village of Promouy commune, Kropeu 2 Leu village of Kropeu 2 commune, and Kandal, Krang Rongeang, Chomkar Chrey Cheung and Chomkar Chrey Tbong villages of Along Reap commune in Veal Veng district of Pursat province: 4,333.35 ha from Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, and 697.16 ha from ELC of MDS Import; Reclassifying 3,851.96 ha as state private land for donating to 1,263 families; Reserving 1,178.55 ha as state public land.

Cutting 463.92 ha of land in Busrar village of Busrar commune in Pech Chreada district of Mondulkiri province: 339.05 ha from Mondulkiri Genetic Resources, Plants and Wildlife Conservation Protected Forest, 29.46 ha from ELC of Sethikula, 81.88 ha from ELC of Varanasi, and 13.53 ha from ELC of Dak Lak; Reclassifying 446.54 ha as state private land for donating to 353 families; and Reserving 17.38 ha as state public land.

Reclassifying 749 hectares as state private land in Andong Meas district of Ratanakiri province for rubber plantation investment.

Cutting 4.0884 ha of land in Chan village of Puy commune in O Chum district of Ratanak Kiri province ELC of CRD company; Donating 3.8113 ha to 05 families; Reserving 0.2771 ha for physical infrastructure development; and Granting ownership to 05 private land parcels.

Cutting 4,418.46 ha of land in Dei Kroham village of Anlong Reap commune, and Cheuteal Chrum and Pchek Chrum villages of Promouy commune in Veal Veng district of Pursat province: 4,107.67 ha from Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary, and 310.79 ha from ELC of MDS Import; Reclassifying 2,977.49 ha as state private land for donating to 835 families; Reserving 1,440.97 ha for population growth and physical infrastructure development; and Granting ownership to 1,909 private land parcels, 1 pagoda land and 106 public land parcel.

Cutting 1,091.8231 ha in Ket village of Nharng commune in Andoung Meas district of Ratanak Kiri province: 405.6210 ha from ELC of Hoang Anh Oyadav, 225.7958 ha from ELC of DM Group, and 460.4062 ha from ELC of 7 Makara Phary; Donating 820.9471 ha to 162 families; Reserving 270.8760 ha for population growth and physical infrastructure development; and Granting ownership to 331 private land parcels.

Reclassifying 1,900 hectares as state private land in Malek and Nhang communes of Andong Meas district of Ratanakiri province for rubber plantation investment.

Cutting 633.9770 ha of land in Bor Nhuk village of Samki commune in O Chum district of Ratanak Kiri province ELC of CRD company; Donating 563.5452 ha to 151 [149] families; Reserving 70.4318 ha for population growth and physical infrastructure development; and Grating ownership to 206 private land parcels.

Cutting 2,238.80 ha of land in Choim village of Tar Sal commune in Aoral district of Kampong Speu province: 2,089.83 ha from Phnom Aoral Wildlife Sanctuary, and 148.97 ha from ELC of Great Field company; Reclassifying 1,887.39 ha as state private land for donating to 578 families; and Reserving 351.41 ha as state public land.