The Cambodian Land Law (2001) providesindigenous ethnic minority groups with a right to registertheir traditional residential and agricultural lands undercommunal title. To date, however, this right has remainedunrealized. While the government has been working on a pilotregistration process in three villages and draftingimplementing regulations under the land law, Cambodia'sonce remote highlands have become increasingly exposed tothe forces of state and market. The result: indigenouscommunities are being transformed; livelihoods change; andland is subject to deforestation, sales and grants ofgovernment concessions for mining and agribusiness. TheRoyal Government has included in its policy documents acommitment to the 'interim protection' ofindigenous lands prior to registration; however, to progresson this front has been limited. The review of the literaturecontained in this note is adapted from a study examining thepotential of community mapping to serve as an interimprotective measure.