A review of conservation area governance in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam

The countries of the Lower Mekong region, particularly Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, have experienced severe social, economic, and political disruption for over half a century (Wescott, 2001). These began during conflicts with colonial authorities while asserting their independence, followed by Vietnam’s war for independence and national unity, a conflict that also affected Laos and Cambodia. Cambodia went through significant civil conflict during the Khmer Rouge regime (1975-1979) that has had long-lasting impacts on its economic and social development. This was followed by twenty years of civil war, until 1999, when a functional policy, law and regulatory conservation framework began to be built.