Environment and natural resources

Most forest communities serve as a frontline defence for protecting natural resources by helping prevent crimes and reducing total dependence on forest resources through the development of alternative livelihoods. However, some community members are acting contrary to this mission and are now facing legal consequences. ...

The Dauntri Dam Development Project, which aims to supply irrigation water to communes in Battambang and Pursat province, is on track for completion this October. ...

Environmental activists and communities launched a campaign urging the government to revoke a sub-decree that allows a private company to build a cement factory on 99 hectares of protected forest in Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary. ...

Another company has been identified by the Ministry of Environment as discharging contaminated wastewater into a public waterway, bringing the total to 29 since 2024. ...

Cambodia launched a $90 million wastewater treatment project in Kandal Province, bringing the total number of wastewater treatments to 14 nationwide. The initiative was welcomed by a civil society organization, which praised the government for ensuring environmental sustainability and public health. ...

A $20 million ASEAN–South Korea Cooperation Project on Methane Mitigation (AKCMM) has officially been launched. The project aims to help Cambodia tackle methane emissions — one of the most dangerous greenhouse gases contributing to global warming. ...

Prime Minister Hun Manet has ordered the suspension of operations at any factory or enterprise that lack proper wastewater treatment systems and cause pollution to public water sources, especially near rivers and the sea. ...

Around 120,000 mixed-species trees are being planted in the Antung Ang area (better known as “Phnom 1500”) on over 200 hectares of land in Pursat province’s Veal Veng district. ...

Around 4,000 logs of a valuable species of hardwood, classified as a Type 1 luxury timber, were seized by a joint force in Mondulkiri province over four days at the end of April. The logs were illegally felled and removed from a protected natural area. ...

The protected “Zone 3” lands of the Tonle Sap Lake serve as the lifeline of the Kingdom’s largest body of water, and deliver economic benefits of around $2 billion annually to the people. ...

In a move aimed at protecting Cambodia’s environmental future, Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth has committed to eliminating all companies that cause widespread environmental destruction. ...

A rare example of the Preah Trahoeng giant orchid, the world’s tallest orchid, is blooming for the third time within the Kingdom. ...

Cambodia witnessed a rare and surprising weather phenomenon over the weekend, as hailstones hit several parts of the Kingdom during heavy storms. ...

With global concerns around climate change intensifying, Cambodia’s approach reflects a commitment to addressing the climate crisis in a way that is inclusive, sustainable, and equitable for all, especially women. ...

Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Thor Chetha has once again emphasised the necessity of cooperation in sharing data, technology and knowledge to address climate challenges. ...

Five jailed activists from the environmental group Mother Nature appeared at the Supreme Court on Wednesday seeking provisional release nearly a year after they were sentenced to six to eight years in prison for plotting against the government and insulting the king – charges widely ...

Chi Phat, a renowned ecotourism community nestled in the Cardamom Mountains of Koh Kong province, is facing a challenge which it shares with so much of today’s natural world, plastic waste. ...

Recent prolonged cold weather has not affected the quality of Cambodian cashew nuts, while the harvest from three modern agricultural communities has reached over 55%, according to an April 21 statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. ...

The authorities are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, tomorrow, to discuss finding a solution to an issue which has arisen in the Tonle Sap Lake. ...

The invasive species Mimosa pigra, commonly known as Vietnamese thorns, has been cleared from more than 100 hectares of the Boeung Prek Lpov landscape protection area in Takeo province. ...

The Ministry of Environment is working with national authorities to identify a group of heavily armed poachers who engaged in an April 5 shootout with rangers in a Mondulkiri wildlife sanctuary. ...

For the past three years, Ly Senserey has not yet made a profit from his Koh Kong province eco-tourism business. ...

Members of forest communities have expressed growing concerns about the continued loss of Scaphium affine trees, which are felled for their fruit.  Known as Samrong, or malva nut trees, their fruit is widely used in traditional medicine across the region. ...

Hun Manet has announced the allocation of 70 hectares in the capital’s Kob Srov area for a new public park, emphasising the importance of green spaces and encouraging all provinces to dedicate similar areas for public use. ...