Participatory Development of Management Plans
for Protected Areas in Cambodia

Executive Summary

Introduction

This manual describes the participatory process for the development of five-year management plans for protected areas administered by the Ministry of Environment in Cambodia.

The role of the management plan is to guide the managers of a protected area towards a vision for the site in a structured way. The management plan, if properly structured and used, can be the most important document a protected area possesses and, together with its supporting documents, should form the basis for all management actions and decisions.

The process of developing the plan (management planning) is critical for producing a plan that will ensure the effective and efficient management of a protected area. Planning is a linear process while the management system within which it operates is a cyclical system involving the interaction of three key processes: Planning - Implementation - Evaluation. This manual covers only the planning stage: the remainder of the management cycle (which includes implementation, monitoring and evaluation and re-planning) is not covered.

Management Plans

“… a management plan is a document that sets out the management approach and goals, together with a framework for decision-making, to apply in the protected area over a given period of time.” (Thomas and Middleton 2003, p. 1).

The management plan (MP) forms the framework for the management of the protected area. Supporting and related documents are necessary to guide the implementation of the MP, such as more detailed Zone Plans, Operating Guidelines, Visitor and Business Plans, Memoranda of Agreement and Strategy Documents.

The process used in plan preparation should be participatory, involving the stakeholders affected by the management of the protected area.

Protected area managers should aim for management by objectives, a proactive and results-oriented approach, emphasising accomplishments and outcomes. The plan must allow for adaptive management, a continuous process of actions based on planning, monitoring, evaluation, and adjustment.

Management Planning Process

The planning process involves 13 stages. The entire process will take a minimum of 10 months. This period can be extended if necessary, but should not exceed 15 months to avoid “participation fatigue”.

1. Planning Team Selection

The objective of this step is to identify the multi-disciplinary groups of people who will be responsible for producing the management plan and to identify one person who will lead the process. Three teams should be identified: the core team, the full planning team and the financial planning team.

2. Orientation Workshop

An orientation workshop should be held to familiarise the core team with the planning process. After this meeting, all members of the core team should be familiar with all aspects of the development of management plans and should understand all the key principles of management planning. At the workshop the team leader leads the core team through the following steps:

• Overview of planning process
• Overview of the key principles for the writing of management plans
• Planning for background information gathering and field reconnaissance
• Selecting the members of the full team

3. Background Information Collection

The core team needs to collect all available background information. The team leader should delegate the collection of background information to team members and one person should be designated to be the repository for this information. Core team members will be largely responsible for collecting information most closely associated with their field of expertise or management responsibility.

4. Field Reconnaissance

The core team should carry out a field reconnaissance, familiarising themselves with the protected area's significant features, pressing issues, threats, and potential opportunities inside and adjacent to the area. This involves field visits to all park infrastructure, sites of ecological and cultural significance, sites of community related issues, habitats of rare and endangered animals, unique vegetation types and landforms, major archaeological or historical sites, major cultural sites, features of worldwide recognition and known and potential tourist attractions.

5. Scoping Workshop

The objective of this step is to develop and document a clear direction for the management of the protected area. The scoping workshop is attended by the core team only and has the following steps:

• Review of background information
• Identify values and significance of the protected area
• Identify the purpose of the protected area
• Formulate mission statement
• Compile a list of issues and opportunities
• Develop protected area management objectives
• Develop a management zoning plan
• Plan stakeholder consultations

6. Key Stakeholder Consultation

The objective of this step is to present the outcome of the scoping workshop to all key stakeholders for their comments and to gather further information from the stakeholders on the issues and opportunities. The management of the protected area will be responsible for the key stakeholder consultations at village, commune, district and provincial levels. The protected area director has to delegate the tasks to his/her staff as was decided in the scoping workshop. Support from the Ministry of Environment and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will be necessary to carry out the national level consultations. As many stakeholders as possible must be involved during the consultations. This will ensure broad acceptance of the future management objectives.

7. Planning Workshop

The objective of the planning workshop is to develop the management activities and formulate a draft management plan. The full team participates in this workshop, facilitated by the team leader, who should ensure that the views of all participants are heard. The workshop comprises the following steps:

• Review outputs of the scoping workshop
• Rank issues and opportunities
• Identify and prioritising activities

8. Writing the Draft Management Plan

The objective of this step is to compile the outputs of the planning workshop into a draft management plan. This task is the overall responsibility of the team leader. Writing of sections of the plan may be delegated as appropriate to other team members. The draft management plan must include, as a minimum, the following chapters:

• Executive Summary
• Background Information on the protected area
• Purpose and Mission Statement
• Issues and Vision
• Zones
• Management Programmes and Actions
• References

9. Developing a Financial Plan

The financial plan should provide a broad estimate of the costs for the implementation of the management plan, which will include a summary of the budget scenarios identified.

The team leader drafts the financial plan with help from the protected area administrative staff. The team leader consults with the financial planning team during the financial planning meeting. The role of the financial planning meeting is to reach agreement on the financial plan.

10. Public Consultation on the Draft Management Plan

The opportunity for the public and stakeholders to review the draft plan and provide comments is a vital step in the management planning process. This second round of stakeholder consultations ensures that the final plan accurately reflects the values and issues generated through the participatory process. The objective of this step is to ensure transparency of the management planning process and give the public and the stakeholders an opportunity to review the draft management plan and provide comments. Good practice requires that both written comments received and those noted at public meetings, should be recorded and considered.

11. Revision of Draft Management Plan

The objective of this step is to ensure that the views of the stakeholders and public are incorporated into the final management plan. The draft management plan should be revised, taking into account comments received from stakeholders and the public. This step also includes an internal review by relevant departments of the Ministry of Environment. Even if not incorporated into the final version, it is important for the team leader to summarise each comment received and include these in a synthesis and evaluation document.

12. Approval of Draft Management Plan

A final draft of the management plan, together with stakeholder comments and the financial plan, all in Khmer, must be presented to the Minister of Environment at the earliest possible opportunity. Presentation of the draft management plan to the Minister will be the responsibility of the Director of the Department of Nature Conservation and Protection and the Protected Area Director. If the Minister is satisfied that the management plan is within the general policies, vision and views of the Ministry of Environment, the Minister should sign the document and approve it for implementation.

13. Typesetting, Printing and Distribution of Management Plan

The objective of this step is to have printed copies of the management plan available for distribution to stakeholders and members of the public.

Management Plan Contents

All protected area management plans should follow the structure outlined below:

FOREWORD

APPROVAL PAGE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LIST OF TABLES

LIST OF FIGURES

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ACRONYMS

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

PART ONE: BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON THE PROTECTED AREA

A: Introduction

B: Description of Protected Area

PART TWO: THE PLAN

C: Purpose and Mission Statement

D: Issues and Vision

E: Zones

F: Management Programmes and Actions

G: References

APPENDICES