Ministries and other national bodies
Ministry of Environment
Prospects bright for solar in Kep
The Ministry of Environment has announced its support for a new 10-megawatt solar power development project in the coastal province of Kep to be spearheaded by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), a South Korea-based organisation set up by the UN in 2012 to chart ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/prospects-bright-solar-kep
Koh Kong sand exports permanently banned after volume discrepancies
The Ministry of Mines and Energy has permanently banned sand exports from Koh Kong province – eight months after it imposed a temporary ban following controversy over large discrepancies found in sand export figures to Singapore. ...
Yesenia Amaro and Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/koh-kong-sand-exports-permanently-banned-after-volume-discrepancies
Activists fear dredging in wildlife sanctuary
Activists and a fisherman yesterday claimed that a company has started sand dredging within a wildlife sanctuary in Koh Kong, despite a standing ban on sand exports from companies operating in coastal areas. ...
Yesenia Amaro and Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/activists-fear-dredging-wildlife-sanctuary
Tree planting plan to revive national forests
The Environment Ministry plans to plant 500,000 trees in protected areas across the country this year, to boost forest cover and improve the livelihoods of communities. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39992/tree-planting-plan-to-revive-national-forests/
Ministries collaborate on eco-tourism policy
he Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Environment expect to complete a national draft eco-tourism policy by August to coincide with the second National Forum on the Protection and Conservation of Natural Resources, an environment official said yesterday. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministries-collaborate-eco-tourism-policy
Dredging boats spotted off Koh Kong
An activist and villagers yesterday said that sand dredging boats had been spotted off the coast of Koh Kong, prompting fears that they were set to begin operations, despite a standing ban on sand exports from companies operating in coastal areas. ...
Yon Sineat and Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/dredging-boats-spotted-koh-kong
Phnom Penh air quality levels disputed
The first readings of the capital’s PM2.5 concentration, a major indicator of air quality, show that levels of the harmful particulates are “still low”, said Thiv Sophearith, chief of the Ministry of Environment’s Air Quality, Noise and Vibration Office, though an environmental specialist yesterday challenged ...
Jovina Chua
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/phnom-penh-air-quality-levels-disputed
Report warns on pier project
The Kampot Pier Project – a $10 million effort to attract tourists by building a passenger pier – could harm communities due to insufficient consultation, a new NGO report and community representatives claim. ...
Leonie Kijewski and Yon Sineat
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/report-warns-pier-project
Government probes NGO behind damning timber racket report
More than a month after confirming its investigation into new reports of rampant timber trafficking between Cambodia and Vietnam, the Environment Ministry remains tight-lipped about what—if any—progress it is making, but says the U.K. NGO that exposed the scale of the problem is itself being ...
Zsombor Peter
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-probes-ngo-behind-damning-timber-racket-report-131662/
Environment code due this year
Cambodia plans to have an ambitious environmental code adopted by the end of this year, according to a legal adviser with the law firm helping to write the legislation, though conservationists yesterday remained wary about how it would be implemented. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/environment-code-due-year
Japan to help country go green
Japan has signed a three-year deal to help train government officials on attracting environmentally friendly investment. The Environment Ministry and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) yesterday signed the agreement to educate officials about how to use environmental impact assessments and enforce pollution controls. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/36164/japan-to-help-country-go-green/
Opposition questions minister
After being questioned for more than two hours at the National Assembly yesterday, Environment Minister Say Samal claimed the number of forest crimes decreased in 2016, but acknowledged that some government officials were involved in some of the crimes. A recently released report from the University ...
Taing Vida
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33928/opposition-questions-minister/
Environment ministry’s annual report out
The Environment Ministry’s annual report revealed 600 forestry crimes in protected areas, while there were nearly 700 cases of fishing, wildlife and land crimes. The report, released yesterday, showed that rangers, in collaboration with relevant parties, managed to prevent and suppress offenses at national parks, wildlife ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33457/environment-ministry---s-annual-report-out/
Commission to save natural resources
The government created a national commission last week to prevent and crack down on crimes involving natural resources. National Military Police Commander Sao Sokha will head the commission and Hou Sakun, the deputy commissioner general of the National Police, will be second in command. Environment Ministry and ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/33006/commission-to-save-natural-resources/
Ministry to recruit 300 more rangers
The Environment Ministry has started it’s process of recruiting 300 new forest rangers to work in select provinces next year in a bid to fill staff shortages and reduce deforestation. Ministry spokesperson Sao Sopheap said yesterday that the existing 960-strong ranger workforce was insufficient to guard ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32907/ministry-to-recruit-300-more-rangers/
Yellow vine factory closed
Officials from Koh Kong province’s environment department have confirmed that the construction of a yellow vine processing plant has been halted after a directive from the Environment Ministry. Department chief Morn Phalla said that while the plant’s construction had ceased, factory equipment was on the site ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/32688/yellow-vine-factory-closed/
Government considers a tax on carbon aviation
Cambodia is considering adopting an aviation tax for flights leaving the Kingdom, local media reported yesterday. The announcement came as Environment Minister Say Samal delivered remarks at the COP22 UN Climate Conference in Morocco. The conference comes one year after the historic signing of the Paris ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/government-considers-tax-carbon-aviation
Government needs $620M to cope with climate: org
Cambodian ministries are currently facing a $620 million funding shortfall if they are to implement their climate change adaption action plans by 2018, according to figures announced by NGO Forum at a press conference yesterday. ...
Touch Sokha
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/government-needs-620m-cope-climate-org
Ministry sets out rules on disposal of batteries
The Ministry of Environment on Thursday issued its first prakas on safe battery management, laying out specific guidelines on the collection, storage, treatment, delivery and disposal of batteries by households and businesses alike. ...
Kong Meta
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-sets-out-rules-disposal-batteries
Seized timber sold for $15 mil
A total of 60,000 cubic meters of illegally-felled luxury timber confiscated by the National Anti-Deforestation Committee (NADC) sold at auction yesterday for $15 million, $3 million above the reserve price. Soung Meng Kea, chairman of the subcommittee running the auction and undersecretary of state at the ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/31435/seized-timber-sold-for--15-mil/
Forestry crimes triple, but fines down: report
Illegal forest clearing is taking place at about three times the rate it did last year, but fines for forestry and wildlife crimes have fallen dramatically, according to a progress report released last week by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Fisheries (MAFF). ...
Mech Dara and Jack Davies
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/forestry-crimes-triple-fines-down-report
Gov’t studies new tree species
The Ministry of Environment signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) yesterday with two Chinese companies to study planting “Paulownia-Guotong” – an extremely fast-growing tree used to make furniture and wooden equipment – and practice growing it in Cambodia. Speaking at a workshop on a feasibility ...
Ven Rathavong
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/30205/gov---t-studies-new-tree-species/
Sambo hydro dam info urged
Youth groups and environmental activists have requested the government release the latest documents concerning the proposed Sambo hydroelectric dam in Kratie province, amid lingering concerns of the possible environmental damage the dam may cause. The dam, if constructed, will be the largest in the country and ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/30164/sambo-hydro-dam-info-urged/
Civil society groups secure pledges from PM Hun Sen at forestry forum
Billed as a Cambodian first, the invitation of 500 civil society and community representatives to a forum on environmental issues with Prime Minister Hun Sen proved largely a platform for the premier to hold forth on policy and politics, with many observers bemoaning the sidelining ...
Jack Davies and Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/civil-society-groups-secure-pledges-pm-hun-sen-forestry-forum