Environment and natural resources

Civil society organisations working on water management in Cambodia have expressed concern that Laos’ proposed Luang Prabang hydropower dam project and the existing upper Mekong River dam project will potentially cause more transnational impacts on hydrologic flow, movement of fish and sediment. ...

Members of the indigenous Bunong tribe and civil society organisations on Wednesday filed a complaint against local authorities in Mondulkiri for illegally clearing 300ha of protected forest. The cleared land is located in O’Raing district’s Pou Les village. ...

The Ministry of Environment on Tuesday slammed a report by a local organisation which claimed the Prey Lang forest has lost 40,000ha in the last 18 years. Ministry of Environment spokesman Neth Pheaktra called the report by the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) “politically motivated” ...

Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam yesterday reiterated concerns over Laos’ proposed Luang Prabang hydropower dam project and urged the country to conduct more studies on potential environmental and social impacts. The proposed project would be built in Houygno village in the province, approximately 25 kilometres from ...

Minister of Environment Say Sam Al thanked and praised forest rangers on Tuesday for protecting natural resources and in turn aiding the sale of carbon credits. Sam Al was visiting rangers atop Mrech Kangkeb Mountain in Koh Kong province’s Thma Bang district when he made ...

The Sorng Rukhavorn Forest Community in Oddar Meanchey province has issued a call for all to take part in the protection and conservation of forests and wild animals. At the 19th anniversary of establishing the central headquarters for the Sorng Rukhavorn Forest Community on Sunday, ...

The Prambei Mom Forest Community in Kampong Speu province’s Thpong district has raised concern over a spike in illegal hunting within the forest. Community forest chief Soeun Lay said on Thursday that he and his community members patrolled the forest from January 25-27 to combat ...

The National Committee for the Prevention and Crackdown on Natural Resource Crimes said forestry crimes have largely decreased, with 59 suspects arrested and sent to court throughout last year. The committee also confiscated 9,215 cubic metres of mixed timbers and 491 items used to commit ...

The City Hall today announced that people can now have their waste collection fees paid via multiple electronic payment systems from February 1. Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, deputy chief of city hall Keut Che said people can pay for their rubbish collection ...

Two wildlife NGOs yesterday issued separate statements calling on citizens to cease the trade and consumption of illegal wildlife amid fears stemming from novel coronavirus. The Wildlife Alliance in its statement said the virus, which infected more than 7,700 people in 18 countries, has been ...

Cambodia will observe the World Wetlands Day in Poychar commune, Phnom Srok district, Banteay Meanchey province on Feb 6, the Ministry of Environment said. Organised by the Ministry of Environment in cooperation with Banteay Meanchey provincial administration, the forthcoming celebration will be held at Sok ...

The World Wide Fund (WWF) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have expressed support for the Chinese government which has imposed a ban on wildlife trade as it is suspected of being behind the outbreak of the deadly coronavirus infection. The WCS also called on ...

Government officials and civil society organisations in Ratanakkiri province report a significant decrease in the number of forest crimes, noting that perpetrators are no longer using large vehicles to transport the timber. Ratanakkiri provincial Department of Agriculture director Soy Sona said that, on the surface, ...

Mondulkiri Provincial Court on Tuesday charged a man who allegedly set traps resulting in the deaths of several species of wild animals in Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary. Deputy prosecutor Mam Vanda yesterday identified the accused as Hok Vann, 19, from Koh Nhek district’s Nang Khy lik ...

The Battambang provincial Department of Environment is continuing to search for the owners of nine illegal charcoal kilns that were destroyed by forest rangers on Monday at the Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary. Department director Kort Boran said on Tuesday that seven rangers at the wildlife ...

The government is formulating a new policy on urban garbage collection to strengthen waste management and protect the environment better. Neth Pheaktra, Environment Ministry spokesman, said at a press conference yesterday the policy is being formulated following termination of Cintri (Cambodia) Ltd’s licence to collect ...

The Ministry of Environment said it plans on acquiring 15 particulate monitors, which can measure air particulates with 10 and 2.5 micrometres in diameter (PM10 and PM2.5), for installation in the provinces. Meanwhile, Ministry secretary of state and spokesman Neth Pheaktra said on Monday that ...

The Siem Reap provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said it will offer a 10 million riel ($2,500) reward to those who provide information regarding the suspects responsible for setting ablaze more than 20ha of kranhuong timber forest land in Banteay Srei district. Department ...

The construction of the Don Sahong hydropower dam in Laos has affected the habitats of Mekong River dolphins, causing their numbers to dwindle in Stung Treng province. The dwindling numbers are causing a decline in tourists who wish to see them, resulting in loss of ...

A prominent local businessman was ordered on Monday to cease construction work for a road in a mangrove forest in Kampot province after authorities learned it was being carried out in a protected area. Kampot provincial governor Cheav Tay instructed Oknha Kuy Leang Ky this ...

Two men, including a village chief, were arrested on Friday for allegedly grabbing and clearing 10ha of forest land in Pursat province’s Veal Veng district. Krasaing Pnov village chief Penh Sarorn, 49, and Vong Phalla, 50, were arrested on the orders of Pursat provincial governor ...

Stung Treng provincial police on Sunday sent one of seven men detained over the transportation of illegal timber to court. Provincial police chief Mao Dara said the Vietnamese man was sent to the provincial court after being accused of transporting nearly 200 pieces of beng timber ...

Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court on Saturday charged four men and three women over an attempt to grab land in Ream National Park which resulted in officers being injured during a clash.​ Court spokesman Lim Bun Heng said the seven people were clearing state forest land in ...

Cambodia and Vietnam have signed a 2020 cooperation plan to continue efforts to stop cross-border crimes and increase security cooperation. Minister of Interior Sar Kheng signed the agreement with Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam during a visit to Vietnam over the weekend. ...