Factors affecting forest area changes in Cambodia: An econometric approach

A journal article aiming to clarify factors affecting forest area changes. The authors analysed the relationship between various socio-economic factors on deforestation in Cambodia for the period of 2002 to 2010. They conducted a panel data analysis for 18 provinces. They tested time effects, cross-sectional dependence, serial correlation in idiosyncratic errors, and heteroskedasticity, and obtained robust variance matrix estimations to solve the problems of heteroskedasticity and serial correlation. The results showed that population, gross agricultural production and large-scale plantation development have negative impacts on forest area changes. The impacts of rice cultivation, gross industrial production, household income and house floor area by household were found not to be significant. Overall, the results indicated that forests in Cambodia still face pressure from increases in population, agriculture production, and the enlargement of land development.