The use and effectiveness of mediation in forest and land conflict transformation in Southeast Asia: Case studies from Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand

The abundance and intensity of forest and land conflicts in Southeast Asia highlights the importance of sound and robust strategies in transforming the conflicts. This study aims to increase the understanding of the role of mediation in transforming these conflicts, examine the effectiveness of mediation, gain insights into the challenges as well as opportunities to improve mediation practices. This was achieved by analyzing six mediation cases in Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand. Various data acquisition methods were used including literature review, expert workshop, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. A conflict mediation analysis framework was also developed and applied. Our findings suggest that mediation has played an important role in facilitating the process of conflict transformation. It has facilitated the creation of a conducive environment for multi-stakeholder dialog, built trust among the conflict parties, as well as assisted problem solving processes, resulting in mutually agreed solutions, improved relationships, and commitment to long-term cooperation. The parties also felt that successful mediation has also contributed to the improved social, economic, and environmental conditions in the study sites. However, the study found that mediation is not a silver bullet and that mediation alone is not enough in dealing with the underlying causes of conflict, specifically the structural inequalities. Other challenges in the application of mediation have also been identified such as the capacity requirements, as well as the costs involved. In moving forward, the paper makes recommendations to promote mediation for conflict transformation at policy and institutional levels, and suggests how to promote mediation and raise awareness about the availability and effectiveness of mediation to conflicting parties and the general public.