Forests and forestry
Forest policy and administration
A forest disappears in the scramble for land
In the latest twist in a long-running dispute over a protected community forest in Battambang province, villagers disgusted by rampant land grabbing have begun scrambling for a piece of the action. ...
James Reddick and Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/17417/a-forest-disappears-in-the-scramble-for-land/
Prey Lang patrol yields illegal loggers' chainsaws
During its latest round of patrols this week, the Prey Lang Community Network confiscated 12 chainsaws from alleged illegal loggers in Preah Vihear, which it plans to hand over to the local Forestry Administration. ...
Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/prey-lang-patrol-yields-illegal-loggers-chainsaws
Alleged wildlife meat seller busted in B’bang
Authorities in Battambang province arrested a man on Wednesday for possession of 30 kilograms of illegal wildlife meat and body parts, after a raid on a property turned up pieces of bear, muntjac deer and civet. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/alleged-wildlife-meat-seller-busted-bbang
Anti-logging vigilantes get international recognition
In late November 2011, Minh Ny found himself in a brawl with a group of heavily-armed policemen in Kompong Thom province’s Sandan district as the police attempted to handcuff the late environmentalist Chut Wutty. When the network was named a winner of the Equator Prize, ...
Aun Chhengpor
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/anti-logging-vigilantes-get-international-recognition/2993604.html
Luxury timber seized in Pursat, Ratanakkiri
Authorities have seized large amounts of luxury wood following busts on two separate illegal timber transporters in Pursat and Ratanakkiri provinces.Local Forestry Administration officials together with Phnom Kravanh district police forces on Friday reported intercepting some five tractor loads containing 29 tbeng logs. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/luxury-timber-seized-pursat-ratanakkiri
23 trafficked loggers repatriated from Thailand
Thai police on Monday repatriated 23 Cambodian men who were tricked into traveling to Thailand to log rosewood, according to an official. ...
Saing Soenthrith
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/23-trafficked-loggers-repatriated-from-thailand-95008/
Police block protest convoy on way to land trial
A group of villagers from Svay Rieng province involved in a land dispute with the Forestry Administration said police officers attempted to block them from traveling to the provincial court Wednesday morning to protest against the trial of three community leaders. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/police-block-protest-convoy-on-way-to-land-trial-94496/
Military police seize vehicle with army plates, rosewood
Military police in Kompong Chhnang province said they found 290 kg of rosewood in the back of an SUV with military license plates yesterday but failed to apprehend the driver, who escaped in a car that had been following his. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/military-police-seize-vehicle-with-army-plates-rosewood-94206/
Police find truck, illegal wood abandoned in Kratie
Police and forestry officials in Kratie province have seized a truck and the illegally logged luxury-grade wood it had been ferrying through Snuol district after finding the vehicle overturned and abandoned on Saturday, officials said Sunday. ...
Saing Soenthrith
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/police-find-truck-illegal-wood-abandoned-in-kratie-93554/
Largest ever Elephant survey conducted in Mondolkiri
As part of the country’s largest ever elephant survey, 1,300 dung samples have been collected in Mondolkiri province in an effort to ascertain how many of the pachyderms remain in the province and where they live. ...
George Wright
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/largest-ever-elephant-survey-conducted-in-mondolkiri-93530/
Taxis swarm forestry official pursuing van
A forestry official in Mondulkiri province was surrounded by taxi drivers yesterday as they allegedly prevented him from tailing a suspected illegal timber dealer who was heading towards the Vietnam border. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/taxis-swarm-forestry-official-pursuing-van
Two arrested for trying to seize evidence in Kompong Thom
Police in Kompong Thom province arrested two people on Saturday night when a group of about 30 villagers attempted to free their vehicles from Forestry Administration officials who had confiscated them, police said Sunday. ...
Saing Soenthrith
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/two-arrested-for-trying-to-seize-evidence-in-kompong-thom-92916/
Six released after arrest for illegally logging Thai rosewood
Police on Sunday released six Cambodian men who were arrested in Oddar Meanchey province the night before with a load of rosewood they had logged in Thailand and carried back across the border, an official said. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/six-released-after-arrest-for-illegally-logging-thai-rosewood-92382/
Ministry investigating reports of gunfight in Thailand
The Foreign Affairs Ministry is looking into a Thai media report that seven Cambodian illegal loggers were involved in a gunfight with Thai soldiers Thursday that culminated in one Cambodian suffering serious injuries and all of the suspects being arrested, a ministry spokesman said. ...
Khuon Narim and Saing Soenthrith
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ministry-investigating-reports-of-gunfight-in-thailand-92198/
Five illegal loggers shot dead in Thailand so far this year
Five Cambodians were shot dead by Thai soldiers while illegally logging across the border during the first half of the year, according to the government’s latest figures, roughly on par with last year. ...
Saing Soenthrith
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/five-illegal-loggers-shot-dead-in-thailand-so-far-this-year-90748/
Soldiers, civilians charged over illegal forest clearing operation
A soldier and two civilians were charged on Wednesday with illegally clearing forest land by the Kompong Thom Provincial Court, while a second soldier who allegedly guarded the illicit operation has been charged with illegal weapons possession, a court official said Thursday. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/soldiers-civilians-charged-over-illegal-forest-clearing-operation-90215/
Minister calls for ban on chainsaw imports
A ban on the importation of chainsaws into Cambodia could be in the offing, after agriculture officials this week called for a nationwide crackdown on the illegal logging trade. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/minister-calls-ban-chainsaw-imports
Illegal-meat dealer caught with Gaur, Tiger parts
An illegal-meat dealer was arrested in Ratanakkiri province on Monday after 65 kg of gaur meat and two heads of the endangered bovine species were discovered along with two dried tiger skins during a raid of his home, an official said. ...
Saing Soenthrith
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/illegal-meat-dealer-caught-with-gaur-tiger-parts-89132/
Two arrested as illegal-timber dealer escapes
Two men were arrested in Kompong Thom province on Tuesday after they drove their car to obstruct a team of officials in pursuit of a vehicle suspected of transporting illegally harvested luxury timber through Stung Sen City, police said. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/two-arrested-as-illegal-timber-dealer-escapes-88548/
Monks push for Prey Lang protection
After marching for Prey Lang forest, the Independent Monk Network for Social Justice now plans to station monks in the forest for two week anti-logging “patrols.” ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13330/monks-push-for-prey-lang-protection/
Forest products threatened by land grabbing and logging
Farmers in Cambodia who depend on forest products for their livelihood face an uncertain future because of dwindling forests. ...
T. Mohan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/13212/forest-products-threatened-by-land-grabbing-and-logging/
Monitors accused of complicity in logging
Officials charged with protecting Cambodia’s Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary are colluding with loggers responsible for felling at least 300 trees each day, according to activists in the area. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/monitors-accused-complicity-logging
Hun Sen tells officials to stop passing blame
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday told provincial governors to take responsibility for curbing forestry crimes in their respective provinces and scolded officials who blame one another when illegal logging is uncovered. ...
Khuon Narim
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hun-sen-tells-officials-to-stop-passing-blame-81705/
Prey Long network ends four-day patrol to monitor logging
A network of about 400 activists completed a five-day patrol of the unprotected 650,000-hectare Prey Long forest in the country’s north Sunday, seizing and burning illegally logged wood and confiscating chainsaws from those they discovered felling trees. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/prey-long-network-ends-four-day-patrol-to-monitor-logging-81439/