RRI Tenure Region Asia
Forest Tenure in Asia
RRI’s Tenure Tracking Data assesses global advances and setbacks regarding Indigenous Peoples’, Afro-descendant Peoples’, local communities’, and the women within these communities’ legally recognized rights to forests, land, and natural resources. Explore data from Asia.
Change in Distribution of Forest Tenure in 13 Countries in Asia, 2002-2017

RRI’s Forest Tenure Database tracks the statutory distribution of Forest Tenure going back to 2002. Under RRI’s typology, all forest area in the countries studied are classified as either: (1) Government Administered; (2) Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities; (3) Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities; or (4) Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms. To read more about the methodology underpinning this classification, click here.

Bundle of Rights in Asia

For 10 countries in Asia, RRI maintains detailed qualitative data on the strength of Forest Tenure rights legally held by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and local communities. Learn more about RRI’s Bundle of Rights Methodology here.

Source: RRI. 2017. Depth of Rights Database.

Distribution of Forest Tenure by Country in Asia, in Mha

Explore country-level data on the distribution of Forest Tenure over time in Mha. Click on the country name to learn more about the legal frameworks recognizing community-based tenure, including the rights of Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and community women.

Country

Government Administered

2002 2017

Designated for Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities

2002 2017

Owned by Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant Peoples, and Local Communities

2002 2017

Privately Owned by Individuals and Firms

2002 2017
Australia: Australia
2002: 93.96
2017: 83.30
2002: 0.00
2017: 9.10
2002: 20.87
2017: 12.11
2002: 14.01
2017: 20.24
Bhutan: Bhutan
2002: 2.60
2017: 2.65
2002: 0.001
2017: 0.08
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 0.004
2017: 0.001
Cambodia: Cambodia
2002: 11.16
2017: 7.73
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.46
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
China: China
2002: 76.06
2017: 75.20
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 103.06
2017: 124.30
2002: -
2017: -
India: India
2002: 56.02
2017: 59.28
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: 1.11
2002: 9.37
2017: 9.77
Indonesia: Indonesia
2002: 97.69
2017: 85.36
2002: 0.22
2017: 0.79
2002: -
2017: 0.01
2002: 1.49
2017: 4.86
Japan: Japan
2002: 10.43
2017: 11.06
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 1.05
2017: 0.28
2002: 13.39
2017: 13.09
Korea, Republic of: Korea, Republic of
2002: 1.89
2017: 2.08
2002: 0.03
2017: 0.005
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 4.50
2017: 4.25
Lao PDR: Lao PDR
2002: 16.53
2017: 18.74
2002: -
2017: 0.02
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 0.00
2017: 0.00
Malaysia: Malaysia
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
Mongolia: Mongolia
2002: 12.89
2017: 8.94
2002: -
2017: 3.35
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
Myanmar: Myanmar
2002: 34.23
2017: 28.88
2002: 0.02
2017: 0.16
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
Nepal: Nepal
2002: 4.63
2017: 4.54
2002: 1.02
2017: 2.07
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 0.002
2017: 0.002
Papua New Guinea: Papua New Guinea
2002: 0.90
2017: 0.84
2002: -
2017: -
2002: 29.20
2017: 27.01
2002: 0.03
2017: 0.03
Philippines: Philippines
2002: 13.84
2017: 9.46
2002: 1.97
2017: 1.64
2002: 0.04
2017: 4.71
2002: -
2017: -
Thailand: Thailand
2002: 17.01
2017: 15.87
2002: -
2017: 0.48
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
Timor-Leste: Timor-Leste
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
2002: n.d.
2017: n.d.
Viet Nam: Viet Nam
2002: 11.78
2017: 13.25
2002: -
2017: 1.13
2002: -
2017: -
2002: -
2017: -
Subtotal, Complete Case LMICs in Asia (16 countries): Subtotal, Complete Case LMICs in Asia (16 countries)
2002: 355.35
2017: 330.75
2002: 3.24
2017: 10.16
2002: 132.29
2017: 157.14
2002: 10.90
2017: 14.66
Total, Asia (18 countries): Total, Asia (18 countries)
2002: 461.63
2017: 427.19
2002: 3.27
2017: 19.27
2002: 154.22
2017: 169.53
2002: 43
2017: 52.24

Highlighting in gray indicates Complete Case Countries.
Dashes (-) denote situations in which the tenure category in question is not legally possible under national law.
n.d. = No Data
Source: RRI. 2018. At a Crossroads: Trends in Recognition of Community-Based Forest Tenure from 2002-2017.

Women’s Rights to Community Forests in Asia

RRI’s Gender Database builds on RRI’s Bundle of Rights methodology to assess the extent to which the same countries’ legal frameworks recognize Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and local community women’s specific rights to community forests, and whether or not those countries are meeting their obligations under national and international laws. Learn more about RRI’s Gender Methodology here.

Not Applicable Case by Case No Credit Partial Credit Full Credit
Regional Forest Tenure Data
Country Forest Tenure Data
Select Country
Angola
Argentina
Australia
Belize
Bhutan
Bolivia
Brazil
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Central African Republic
Chile
China
Colombia
Costa Rica
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Ecuador
Ethiopia
Finland
Gabon
Gambia
Guatemala
Guyana
Honduras
India
Indonesia
Japan
Kenya
Korea, Republic of
Lao PDR
Liberia
Malaysia
Mali
Mexico
Mongolia
Mozambique
Myanmar
Nepal
Nigeria
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Republic of Congo
Russia
Senegal
South Sudan
Sudan
Suriname
Sweden
Tanzania
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Togo
United States
Venezuela
Viet Nam
Zambia
View Data