Environment and natural resources
Forests and forestry
Ministry urges fire safety measures
The Ministry of Environment has told sub-national authorities to urge the public to be mindful when using fire to prevent incidents of wildfires. Wildfires caused by carelessness is punishable with five to 10 years in prison and a fine of 17-150 million riel ($4,250-$37,500). The ...
Long Kimmarita
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-urges-fire-safety-measures
Authorities identify land grabbers in Battambang
Battambang provincial authorities have identified individuals who encroached on Samlaut Multiple Use Area (formerly known as Samlot protected area) in O’Tatoeng village, Samlot commune, in Battambang province. Provincial Department of Environment director Kort Boran told The Post on Monday that his enforcement team removed more ...
Soth Koemsoeun
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/authorities-identify-land-grabbers-battambang
Government to nominate national parks for heritage list
The government will nominate a national park and a bird sanctuary into the Asean Heritage list next year as they are abundant with biodiversity and wildlife, according to environment ministry officials. Srun Darith, a secretary of state at the Environment Ministry, said the ministry is ...
Sun Mesa
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50666782/government-to-nominate-national-parks-for-heritage-list/
Wildlife sanctuary redesignated
The government had designated the Western Siem Pang Wildlife Sanctuary and Siem Pang Wildlife Sanctuary as one protected area, which is officially named as “Siem Pang Wildlife Sanctuary”. The newly designated area of 133,707.73ha spans across Santepheap, Thma Keo and Prek Meas communes in Stung Treng ...
Voun Dara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/wildlife-sanctuary-redesignated
Authorities of Kampong Speu province temporarily shut down 10 sawmills
Kampong Speu provincial authorities shut down 10 sawmills temporarily in four villages of Baset district for buying timber and operating without permission on Saturday. Provincial governor Vei Samnang said on Sunday that the owners of sawmills did not buy wood logged from the forest. Instead, ...
Soth Koemsoeun
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/authorities-kampong-speu-province-temporarily-shut-down-10-sawmills
Cycling campaign for Prey Preah Roka starts
Some 10 environmental activists launched the Riding a Bicycle for Prey Preah Roka campaign from November 29 to December 2. They will ride across 300km from Phnom Penh to Preah Vihear province to promote natural resource protection and conservation amid threats of deforestation in the forestry ...
Voun Dara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cycling-campaign-prey-preah-roka-starts
Cambodian forest shrinks to only 47pct in last 40 over years
Cambodia’s forest cover was over 73 per cent in 1975 but it has shrunk to only about 47 per cent last year. In its Human Development Report Cambodia 2019, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said deforestation was mainly caused by rising wood demand for ...
New Straits Times Staff
https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2019/11/542639/cambodian-forest-shrinks-only-47pct-last-40-over-years
Dengue, malaria eradication eyed in Prey Lang area
The Ministry of Environment is committed to eliminating malaria and other vector-borne diseases from the natural protected area in Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary by 2025. This is in line with the National Strategic Plan for Elimination of Malaria 2011-2025. ...
Ry Sochan
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/dengue-malaria-eradication-eyed-prey-lang-area
Authorities on hunt for illegal timber suspect
Authorities are on the hunt for a man who escaped custody on Tuesday after being arrested for allegedly transporting luxurious timber in Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary. The suspect was detained by environmental rangers at the Keo Seima Wildlife sanctuary headquarters on Monday but ran off into ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/authorities-hunt-illegal-timber-suspect
Environment Minister looks to curb land encroachment
Environment Minister Say Samal has urged authorities in three provinces to prevent illegal land encroachment in the Samlot multi-purpose-use area and Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary as both areas are suffering from illegal occupations. ...
Pech Sotheary
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50664119/environment-minister-looks-to-curb-land-encroachment/
Illegal timber and vehicles seized in three provinces
Forestry administration and other related authorities seized a large amount of illegal timber and a number of vehicles, including boats, used for transporting timber. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/illegal-timber-and-vehicles-seized-three-provinces
Government encourages investment in sustainable timber plantations
The government yesterday asked companies to consider investing in timber plantations in the Kingdom that produce sustainable wood, arguing that these investments help protect the country’s natural resources. ...
Chhut Bunthoeun
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50663340/government-encourages-investment-in-sustainable-timber-plantations/
Illegal logging persists in Cambodia’s Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary: Report
Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia continues to be illegally cleared, according to a new report by the Cambodian Youth Network (CYN). Located in the central plains of Cambodia, Prey Lang forest straddles the four provinces of Kratie, Stung Treng, Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear. ...
Shreya Dasgupta
https://news.mongabay.com/2019/11/illegal-logging-persists-in-cambodias-prey-lang-wildlife-sanctuary-report/
Pursat wildlife sanctuary families seek prime minister’s intervention
The intervention of Prime Minister Hun Sen has been requested by 31 families living in the Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary in Pursat province. Authorities said while they had settled in the area illegally, meetings were being held to resolve the issue. “We, the 31 families, ...
Soth Koemsoeun
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pursat-wildlife-sanctuary-families-seek-prime-ministers-intervention
Mondulkiri officials to fight logging
The Ministry of Agriculture has established a Mondulkiri provincial sub-committee to prevent, reduce and crack down on forest land grabs, clearing and encroachment. The Ministry of Agriculture said in a press release that the provincial sub-committee is chaired by Mondulkiri provincial governor Svay Sam Eang ...
Khorn Savi
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/mondulkiri-officials-fight-logging
Nine illegal timber trucks impounded
The National Committee for Prevention and Crackdown on Natural Resource Crimes on Monday impounded nine trucks used to transport timber to Vietnam through Kratie province’s Snuol district. ...
Voun Dara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nine-illegal-timber-trucks-impounded
Officials demolish 49 illegal huts in Siem Reap
After the authorities on Friday and Saturday dismantled 49 of some 1,000 huts which had been built illegally on forest land in Siem Reap’s Phnom Kulen National Park, Banteay Srei district governor Khim Finan said on Sunday that a hunt was on for a group ...
Voun Dara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/officials-demolish-49-illegal-huts-siem-reap
‘Illegal’ Pursat settlers given ultimatum
Pursat provincial authorities have given an ultimatum to 31 families who illegally settled on 100ha of land in Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary in Veal Veng district’s Stung Thmey village. According to a provincial Department of Environment notice dated November 8 and obtained by The Post, ...
Soth Koemsoeun
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/illegal-pursat-settlers-given-ultimatum
Apsara Authority moves elephants out of Angkor area
The Apsara Authority and Elephant Management Association has started transferring elephants in the Angkor area to Bos Thom community forest in Siem Reap province’s Sout Nikom district in a bid to stop the animals from being used to ferry tourists around. ...
Pech Sotheary
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50660036/apsara-authority-moves-elephants-out-of-angkor-area/
Pursat authorities issue one-week eviction notice to 31 families occupying protected land
The Pursat Provincial Environment Department has issued a one-week deadline to more than 30 families to remove their dwellings, livestock and crops from a protected area in Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary which they illegally occupied. ...
Pech Sotheary
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50659105/pursat-authorities-issue-one-week-eviction-notice-to-31-families-occupying-protected-land/
NGO reports massive forest clearing in Prey Lang area
The Cambodian Youth Network yesterday said hundreds of hectares of forest land in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary have been illegally cleared in Stung Treng and Preah Vihear provinces. ...
Sen David
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50657343/ngo-reports-massive-forest-clearing-in-prey-lang-area/
Forest rangers seek 1,210 rifles after serious attacks
The Ministry of Environment sought permission from the Ministry of National Defence to arm municipal and provincial rangers with 1,210 rifles in response to one of its rangers being killed and two others critically assaulted while out on patrol in Mondulkiri and Kampong Thom provinces. ...
Voun Dara
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/forest-rangers-seek-1210-rifles-after-serious-attacks
Preah Vihear communities set to patrol forests during Water Festival
Fearing that community forests will be unprotected during next week’s Water Festival, 10 communities in Preah Vihear province on Tuesday vowed to patrol their community forest themselves while relevant authorities are busy preparing for the annual celebrations. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/preah-vihear-communities-set-patrol-forests-during-water-festival
Illegal logging threatens Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, says CYN report
The Cambodian Youth Network (CYN) released a report on Tuesday noting the loss and deforestation of some 3,000ha of forest land in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary because of logging since last year. The report was based on investigative research into illegal logging in the said ...