Environment and natural resources

Koh Sralao, which has been selected to become Cambodia’s first carbon-neutral island, has taken another step towards sustainable development through a recent tour which saw environmental specialists exchange knowledge and best practices on community waste management and marine conservation, with the aim of preventing marine ...

Seven provinces have been hit by drought caused by El Niño, impacting 108,664 hectares of rice fields. While officials say the damage to crops is minor, farmers are being urged to conserve water as the extreme weather is forecast to continue. ...

Nearly 20,000 hectares of rice fields in Pursat province has been struck by drought conditions due to a mid-season dry spell, as El Niño continues to bring unusually hot weather and below-average rainfall across much of Cambodia, with conditions expected to persist until August 10.​ ...

The Ministry of Environment is preparing to introduce the cultivation of giant king grass (Napier grass) into protected area communities in Pursat province. The ministry has encouraged public participation in the initiative, claiming it will generate household income, while also strengthening environmental conservation.   ...

Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Rottanak has defended legally authorised sand dredging as essential to Cambodia’s navigation, energy security and infrastructure development, while acknowledging public concern over its potential impact on riverbanks, fisheries and communities. ...

Two garment factories in Phnom Penh face fines and other penalties after the Environment Ministry said inspections found they burned fabric scraps in boilers and emitted air pollutants above legal limits. ...

More than 500 stranded tourists have been evacuated to safety from Khnang Phsar Mountain after flash flooding cut off several access routes to the popular tourist site, in Kampong Speu province.​ ...

To mark this year’s July 9 National Arbor Day in Cambodia, the Ministry of Environment has announced that up to five million tree saplings will be distributed free of charge to the public over a three-day campaign beginning on tomorrow, July 10. ...

Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism has announced it will refine its newly introduced “Frog Out of the Well” tourism campaign after the slogan sparked widespread public discussion and differing interpretations. A ministry statement noted that it welcomes constructive feedback while reiterating its goal of promoting the ...

The Ministry of Environment has ordered the closure of a landfill in Preah Sihanouk province, after it was determined that the site had polluted a nearby stream and caused the death of multiple fish. ...

Cambodia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy has described a violent confrontation involving fishermen and a licensed sand dredging company near the Prey Veng–Kandal provincial boundary as unlawful, stressing that the company has legally held a sand extraction licence for the site since 2020. ...

Senate president Hun Sen has instructed the authorities of the four provinces surrounding the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary to strengthen their efforts to prevent illegal logging and forest encroachment, with a strict warning against allowing one of Cambodia’s most important forests to deteriorate into degraded ...

Mondulkiri authorities are investigating the deaths of six cattle found near an illegal gold mining site in Pu Tong village, Chong Phlas commune, Keo Seima district, amid speculation they may have been poisoned by chemical contamination. ...

The Ministry of Environment has reported that authorities carried out 5,953 patrols nationwide during the first half of 2026, leading to the suppression of 967 natural resource-related offences. ...

Prime Minister Hun Manet has instructed the armed forces and all government institutions to work together to suppress illegal fishing, including identifying and prosecuting the organisers behind such activities, in order to ensure stocks continue to recover, for the benefit of fishing communities and the ...

The Ministry of Environment has reported that it prevented more than 12.89 million cubic metres of wastewater from factories being discharged into natural waterways during the first half of 2026, helping to protect public water resources, the environment and public health. ...

A bright-eyed pileated gibbon, an endangered species, has been born in Siem Reap province’s Angkor Forest, bringing the total population to 15 individuals. The pileated gibbons, along with nearly 100 other native animals that were previously released into the archaeological park, play an important role ...

Authorities have reclaimed 14 of an estimated 18 hectares of illegally cleared state forest land in Kampong Thom province’s O’Chamlorng Tai area of Mean Rith commune, Sandan district. Legal proceedings are ongoing for the remining four hectares, with investigations ongoing to identify those behind the ...

Marine scientists warn that an approaching El Niño, combined with rising global temperatures, could trigger marine heatwaves, harmful algae blooms and oxygen loss in Cambodia’s coastal waters, threatening biodiversity, fisheries and the livelihoods of coastal communities. ...

The past week saw the Ministry of Environment bring a halt to large-scale forestry crimes in Ratanakiri and Pursat provinces, eve as it gears up to begin distributing five million free seedlings to the public as part of its “Green Shoots” campaign. ...

More than 50 of the 193 community-protected areas across Cambodia are now providing ecotourism services. ...

May saw officials interrupt 20 natural resource crimes across the five province’s Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountain range. ...

Cambodia has been flagged as a key hub in one of the region’s largest wildlife trafficking networks, according to a new investigation by US-based conservation organisation, Earth League International (ELI). ...

The Ministry of Environment has issued a reminder to the public that free saplings are now available, as part of efforts to encourage people to take part in efforts to increase green cover across the Kingdom. ...