by Jan-Peter MUND, Ralf SYMANN, and Teang Peng SEANG
While Cambodia is still primarily a rural country, it is changing fast and urbanization is exceptionally rapid over the last years. With an annual growth of urban population by 8.4% according to the ADB the rate is probably among the highest rates in the world. This high rate primarily results of permanent large-scale migration from rural areas into Phnom Penh as well as some secondary towns, since the Paris Peace Agreement of 1991. Since 1970 due to three decades of civil unrest and war individual ownership of land was banned, cities emptied and people were forced to live in communes that engaged massive irrigation projects in rural areas. Nowadays the escalating growth in urban population has led to accelerating deficiencies in urban infrastructure and efficient planning for urban services and development concepts. As a historical consequence, today land use planning and urban land management are among the most pressing development issues in Cambodia. Based on regional land assessment and local development plans, this paper presents conceptual as well as technical approaches to effective participatory land use planning in two Cambodian cities (Kampong Speu and Battambang).
According to the 2004 inter-censual population survey, the urban population in Cambodia is about 1.9 million of which 58% live in the capital, and dominant city, Phnom Penh (NIS 2004). Despite high urbanization rates, the current level of urbanization is still very low. About 17% of Cambodians are living in urban areas and Cambodia’s level of urbanization is expected to increase to 24% of its population in 2015, when the urban population is forecast to total four million people (NIS). About 20 percent of the urban population in Cambodia is squatters. The lack of basic urban infrastructure and land tenure are the most threatening issues. Squatter settlements have traditionally been considered illegal and families denied tenure and access to most basic services. The flattening of land records in the past also contributes to poor families being particularly vulnerable.
According to the 2004 inter-censual population survey, the urban population in Cambodia is about 1.9 million of which 58% live in the capital, and dominant city, Phnom Penh (NIS 2004). Despite high urbanization rates, the current level of urbanization is still very low. About 17% of Cambodians are living in urban areas and Cambodia’s level of urbanization is expected to increase to 24% of its population in 2015, when the urban population is forecast to total four million people (NIS). About 20 percent of the urban population in Cambodia is squatters. The lack of basic urban infrastructure and land tenure are the most threatening issues. Squatter settlements have traditionally been considered illegal and families denied tenure and access to most basic services. The flattening of land records in the past also contributes to poor families being particularly vulnerable.
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