Environment and natural resources
Forests and forestry
Villagers attack officials after logging bust
Police are investigating after a mob of villagers in Preah Vihear province let fly with fence posts in a clash with environmental officials following a logging bust, leaving the chief of Prey Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary with a serious head injury. ...
Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-attack-officials-after-logging-bust
Community forests fall short
A newly leaked document attesting to a $15,000 deal between representatives of Ratanakkiri’s Samut Krom village and a timber trader to allow Vietnamese-backed logging in the community’s forest appears to add further weight to its critique. ...
Phak Seangly and Shaun Turton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/community-forests-fall-short
NGO report finds banned exports of logs to Vietnam still increasing
The ostensibly-outlawed export of logs to Vietnam increased in May, while the trade in sawn timber, also supposedly banned, remained substantial, new Vietnamese customs data shows. ...
Shaun Turton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ngo-report-finds-banned-exports-logs-vietnam-still-increasing
Growling prowlers rumble in the jungle
The government is working in conjunction with the World Wildlife Fund on a plan to release eight tigers into the wild in Mondulkiri province by 2022. WWF-Cambodia communication manager Un Chakrey said yesterday that they are working with the ministries of environment, agriculture and tourism, among ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5074022/growling-prowlers-rumble-jungle/
11 Mondolkiri top brass fingered in timber probe
A court investigation into illegal timber trafficking has targeted 11 provincial officials—including Mondolkiri’s heads of the military and military police, and potentially a court prosecutor—prompting the case’s transfer to Phnom Penh at the request of the justice minister, officials said on Tuesday. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/11-mkiri-top-brass-fingered-in-timber-probe-132416/
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
Tanker filled with timber
A petrol tanker truck was found with more than 2,000 pieces of luxury rosewood stashed inside its tank when it was intercepted by authorities in Phnom Penh last week, National Military Police spokesman Eng Hy said yesterday. ...
Soth Koemsoeun and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/tanker-filled-timber
Logging probe moved to capital
A high-profile investigation into corruption charges levelled against Mondulkiri police officials for colluding with Vietnamese timber traders has been transferred from the provincial court to Phnom Penh due to a lethargic investigation by local police, many of whom are involved in the case, a court ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/logging-probe-moved-capital
Illegal timber loads seized
The Cambodia Royal Gendarmerie and Kratie provincial military police yesterday concluded a crackdown on a known timber smuggling route in Sambour district, confiscating nearly 100 pieces of wood equivalent to about 40 cubic metres. ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40130/illegal-timber-loads-seized/
King calls for forest protection
King Norodom Sihamoni yesterday oversaw a tree planting ceremony in Kandal province to mark the 27th Arbor Day, pleading for all citizens to protect the country’s forests. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40129/king-calls-for-forest-protection/
Forestry chief moved amid scandal
The Kratie provincial government yesterday denied reports that the provincial forestry chief was being removed from his position following allegations that he was colluding with illegal timber traders. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40080/forestry-chief-moved-amid-scandal/
Supreme court orders eco-activist’s appeal to be reheard
Environmental activist Ven Vorn has been given a second chance to have an illegal logging conviction overturned after the Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered his case sent back to the Appeal Court for review. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/supreme-court-orders-eco-activists-appeal-to-be-reheard-132169/
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/
Endangered duck eggs found
For the first time in five years, a nest with seven eggs of the endangered white-winged duck was discovered in the Northern Plains of Cambodia, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) announced yesterday. ...
Touch Sokha and Jovina Chua
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/endangered-duck-eggs-found
Three caught hauling 18 tonnes of timber
Three men were sent to court yesterday for allegedly hauling more than 18 tonnes of illegally logged first-grade timber in Kampong Thom province. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/three-caught-hauling-18-tonnes-timber
Ten tonnes of rare wood seized
Police have arrested three people and seized ten tonnes of thnong wood from a truck near the Thai border in Preah Vihear province. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39890/ten-tonnes-of-rare-wood-seized/
News outlet links officer to illegal timber trade
National Military Police spokesman Eng Hy said legal action is being “considered” after a news outlet published a report linking the force’s commander, Sao Sokha, to the illegal timber trade. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/news-outlet-links-officer-illegal-timber-trade
Woman jailed for ‘brazen’ timber grab
The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday sentenced a Vietnamese businesswoman, who stormed a forestry office to steal her seized timber, to two years imprisonment and a fine of $12,500. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39757/woman-jailed-for----brazen----timber-grab/
1,000 Phnom Kulen families to be relocated
A group of about 1,000 families living in Siem Reap province’s Phnom Kulen National Park will be relocated to prevent them from continuing an environmentally detrimental trend of clearing land, building homes, selling and repeating, the environment minister said on Thursday. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/1000-phnom-kulen-families-to-be-relocated-131679/
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/
Vietnamese data show timber exports are continuing
According to the figures, Vietnam imported 21,670 cubic metres of sawn wood valued at $13.7 million in April, a 27 percent drop compared to February and an almost 50 percent decrease compared to March. ...
Shaun Turton and Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/vietnamese-data-show-timber-exports-are-continuing
Soldiers, police in Mondolkiri under investigation for wood smuggling
The top military and police officials in Mondolkiri province have opened investigations into some of their soldiers and officers after a news story claimed they were involved in timber trafficking into Vietnam. ...
Chief’s wife charged over timber
The wife of the Srekor commune police chief in Stung Treng province has been charged and placed in pre-trial detention for possessing some 400 logs of luxury wood near the couple’s home. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/chiefs-wife-charged-over-timber
Apsara Authority starts razing illegal Angkor park homes
The government body charged with managing the Angkor Archaeological Park on Monday started tearing down the first of more than 500 homes and shophouses illegally built within the park in the weeks before the June 4 commune elections. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/apsara-authority-starts-razing-illegal-angkor-park-homes-131533/