Environment and natural resources

Authorities have reclaimed 14 of an estimated 18 hectares of illegally cleared state forest land in Kampong Thom province’s O’Chamlorng Tai area of Mean Rith commune, Sandan district. Legal proceedings are ongoing for the remining four hectares, with investigations ongoing to identify those behind the ...

Marine scientists warn that an approaching El Niño, combined with rising global temperatures, could trigger marine heatwaves, harmful algae blooms and oxygen loss in Cambodia’s coastal waters, threatening biodiversity, fisheries and the livelihoods of coastal communities. ...

The past week saw the Ministry of Environment bring a halt to large-scale forestry crimes in Ratanakiri and Pursat provinces, eve as it gears up to begin distributing five million free seedlings to the public as part of its “Green Shoots” campaign. ...

More than 50 of the 193 community-protected areas across Cambodia are now providing ecotourism services. ...

May saw officials interrupt 20 natural resource crimes across the five province’s Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountain range. ...

Cambodia has been flagged as a key hub in one of the region’s largest wildlife trafficking networks, according to a new investigation by US-based conservation organisation, Earth League International (ELI). ...

The Ministry of Environment has issued a reminder to the public that free saplings are now available, as part of efforts to encourage people to take part in efforts to increase green cover across the Kingdom. ...

The Ministry of Environment has instructed a Mondulkiri mining exploration company to correct its management of soil and wastewater and undertake environmental restoration work at its site, in the Mesam area of Chong Phlas commune, Keo Seima district. ...

During the first five months of 2026, Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment suppressed 896 natural resource-related crimes, while 43 suspects were arrested and referred to court, as part of ongoing law enforcement efforts to protect natural resources across the country. ...

Cambodia’s Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary, one of the Kingdom’s largest protected forest landscapes, is facing escalating enforcement challenges from armed poachers, illegal fishing and other resource exploitation, prompting calls for stronger technological support to protect biodiversity hotspots in the northeast. ...

Pursat provincial authorities are investigating a shocking case of animal cruelty in which a group of people reportedly beat a 110kg pregnant sambar deer and set dogs on it, leading to its death on May 18. ...

A US-based ranking website has declared Cambodia the number one nation in the world in the Natural Environment category, behind the Seychelles and Slovenia.   ...

Provincial leaders from the area surrounding the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary met with representatives from forest communities on May 4. The meeting saw the participants discuss ways to make protection mechanisms more robust and effective, to protect the precious forest. ...

Environmental officers have reported encroachments in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary that have seen at least six hectares of land cleared for agricultural use. The offenders have been identified in several cases, with investigations ongoing. At least one commune council official is suspected of involvement. ...

A newborn Irrawaddy dolphin calf has been spotted at the Kampi dolphin pool in Kratie province, bringing the total number of Mekong dolphins in Cambodia to 118. ...

The Ministry of Environment has suspended the operations of Baising Seng mango processing factory in Battambang province. Officials discovered that the plant was discharging untreated liquid waste, causing water pollution, fish deaths and other environmental damage in O’Treng stream. ...

In the forested hills of Mondulkiri, home to Cambodia’s largest Indigenous population, Ploek Phyrom sits among felled trees and the remains of a village shrine cleared in January to make way for a wind power project.   ...

The “Promoting Sustainable River Tourism and Plastic Waste Reduction across Cambodia’s Waterways” clean-up campaign was launched today, April 1. ...

Cambodia has requested that the Government of Japan continue supporting the construction of wastewater treatment plants in Phnom Penh to help improve the quality of wastewater before it is discharged into natural water sources, especially rivers. ...

The Ministry of Environment has encouraging citizens in towns, and communities within protected areas — as well as all other stakeholders — to enhance waste management cooperation. The ministry noted that establishing purpose-built waste disposal sites not only protects the environment and human health but ...

Cambodia’s clean water supply has increased by 80 per cent nationwide, rising from approximately 309 million cubic metres in 2018 to about 556 million cubic metres in 2025, according to Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Hem Vanndy. ...

Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth announced the official launch of the Kingdom’s first “carbon neutral community”, yesterday, March 26. The Koh Sralao natural protected community area — in Kohn Kong province — will be the first of its kind not just in Cambodia, but the ...

Cambodian Senior Minister H.E. Dr. Ly Thuch has requested the European Union (EU) to continue supporting the Kingdom’s vision toward becoming a nation free from the impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), with a particular focus on clearing munitions left behind by ...

Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth has ordered stricter enforcement against natural resource crimes, as details emerged of a formal warning issued to the deputy director of the Mondulkiri Provincial Department of Environment for lack of responsibility. ...