Germany's ambassador to Cambodia, Joachim Baron von Marschall, yesterday cautioned against too much optimism in the land sector in the face of ongoing disputes and forced evictions.

“Cambodia is developing its land policies, but some obstacles still exist, which require attention and urgent solutions,” he said. “Those include land disputes in the Boeung Kak area, the increasing cost of land in Phnom Penh while people keep coming to live in the city, human rights in the land issue and migrants.”

The ambassador made the comments at a workshop on sustainable land policy in the capital, where speakers from several Asian countries traded ideas on improving land use.

Land Management Minister Im Chhun Lim said the government was preparing to publish a white paper on land, without providing further details.

“Land is the basis for food production and food security. [It’s] related to the environment, natural resources and economic and social development,” he said.