Environment and natural resources
Mondulkiri gets new protected communities
The Ministry of Environment has recognised nine new natural protected communities in Mondulkiri province. The purpose of these communities is to ensure the stability of local ecosystems and the protection of the natural habitat in the region. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5093479/mondulkiri-gets-new-protected-communities/
Impunity threatens Mondulkiri preserves
Speaking at a workshop hosted by the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) on the past four years of conservation in the so-called Eastern Plains Landscape – a project with $1.42 million in funding from the EU and an additional $420,000 from USAID and the ...
Phak Seangly and Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/impunity-threatens-mondulkiri-preserves
Oknha accused of logging in protected forest
The environment minister has promised to investigate allegations that a tycoon-owned company is using a land concession to illegally log wood in a protected area in Preah Vihear province. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/oknha-accused-logging-protected-forest
Vietnam timber smugglers given jail sentence
Seven Vietnamese nationals who are tied to a timber smuggling ring along with top Mondulkiri provincial officials were sentenced to one year in prison yesterday. ...
Niem Chheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/vietnam-timber-smugglers-given-jail-sentence
Conservationists warn government of encroachment
Conservation NGOs yesterday raised the issue of alleged land grabs in the country’s protected areas by the military and local authorities at a resources protection forum, asking Environment Minister Say Sam Al to intervene. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/conservationists-warn-government-encroachment
Ministry to investigate Prey Lang land grabs
The Prey Lang Community Network in Preah Vihear province has asked the government to investigate the building of homes in a protected area by a group of families claiming they were granted a social land concession. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/91828/
Timber trader arrested, again
A prominent Vietnamese timber trader was arrested and put in pre-trial detention for the second time this year after some two tonnes of rosewood allegedly connected to her were discovered in Oddar Meanchey province, authorities said yesterday. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/timber-trader-arrested-again
Military Police chief grilled over Mondulkiri logging
Kampong Chhnang Provincial Military Police Commander Sak Sarang was questioned yesterday at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in relation to allegedly taking bribes from illegal loggers in Mondulkiri, where he was previously stationed. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/military-police-chief-grilled-over-mondulkiri-logging
Officials find logs hidden on riverbed
Some 124 logs of luxury timber were discovered on a riverbed on Sunday within Mondulkiri’s Srepok Wildlife Sanctuary some 500 metres from a military base, officials said yesterday. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/officials-find-logs-hidden-riverbed
Irrawaddy dolphin numbers rise
Nine critically endangered Mekong Irrawaddy dolphins, were born this year, but two of them died, the World Wildlife Fund has said. In a statement issued on Friday, the WWF said the population continues to be threatened by illegal fishing and hydropower dams. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5090357/irrawaddy-dolphin-numbers-rise/
Sesan locals set up ‘illegal’ village
Families living in a commune flooded by the Lower Sesan II dam have set up a new village on their community forest without the permission of local authorities. Residents of Sre Ko commune were offered new homes in a different area and compensation to leave ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5090324/sesan-locals-set-illegal-village/
Timber oknha misses hearing
An oknha accused of overseeing a massive illegal logging scheme in Mondulkiri has yet to appear for a court summons issued more than a month ago, according to the investigating judge. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/timber-oknha-misses-hearing
Metfone branch found with lumber in Kandal
Authorities in Kandal province arrested 19 people in a timber raid at a Metfone shop, but released 15 after questioning, including the branch’s director. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/metfone-branch-found-lumber-kandal
Officials clear land at Vietnamese border
Irregularities have been found in the Mondulkiri provincial administration over clearing state land to make way for timber smuggling to Vietnam. An investigation has been launched to find the officers responsible. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5089736/officials-clear-land-vietnamese-border/
Kratie cops caught ignoring timber hauls
Police in Kratie province were caught on video letting potentially illegal timber transporters pass through their checkpoints on Monday night, with provincial police yesterday suggesting they were powerless to crack down on such shipments as many transporters possessed axes and machetes and were addicted to ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/kratie-cops-caught-ignoring-timber-hauls
Authorities ‘ignore’ Sesan villagers
The last families refusing to relocate from their homes near the Lower Sesan II dam have accused local authorities of being unwilling to settle their case. ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5089323/authorities-ignore-sesan-villagers/
Environmentalist to be honoured in New York
The Goldman Environmental Prize winner Ouch Leng, president of the Cambodian Human Rights Task Force, has been awarded the Asia Game Changer Award for 2017 from the Asia Society. Mr Leng will go to collect the award in New York on November 1 with eight ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5088344/environmentalist-honoured-new-york/
Stork nest discoveries celebrated
Government officials and environmental groups yesterday celebrated the discovery of 121 lesser adjutant stork nests in Preah Vihear province, chalking the success up to a joint programme to hire locals to guard the nests. Environment Ministry rangers and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) workers started counting ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/stork-nest-discoveries-celebrated
Seven men arrested over illegal Thai logging
Thai soldiers arrested seven Cambodians on Friday who crossed into Thailand from Pailin province while logging illegally. Chhun Chheuy, acting police chief of Pailin town, which borders with Chanthaburi province’s Pong Nam Ron district, said the group was made up of Cambodians from multiple provinces. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5088195/seven-men-arrested-illegal-thai-logging/
Forest clearing ‘rampant’ in Prey Lang
Illegal logging within the Prey Lang protected forest decreased significantly year-on-year over a six-month period ending in February, collected data show, though forest-clearing in the area remains rampant. ...
Phak Seangly and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/forest-clearing-rampant-prey-lang
Nest plan must expand to protect rare river bird, say environmental groups
A river bird that was once a common sight along the Mekong River is now down to a population of just 50 to 60 individuals due to human interference and dam construction, conservationists and Environment Ministry officials said yesterday. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/nest-plan-must-expand-protect-rare-river-bird-say-environmental-groups
Preah Vihear sets up timber trafficking probe panel
A task force made up of Preah Vihear provincial and district officials is set to begin a five-day investigation today into a slew of sawmills thought to be illegally milling and transporting timber from the protected Preah Roka forest after villagers and NGOs accused local ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/preah-vihear-sets-timber-trafficking-probe-panel
Sesan locals agree to new village
Families refusing to relocate from their homes near the Lower Sesan II dam have said they will all leave if they can establish a new village on their community forest and ancestral lands. ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5087808/sesan-locals-agree-new-village/
Six sanctuaries proposed
The Environment Ministry is to request the creation of six new protected areas to safeguard biodiversity and boost conservation in the country. Tim Sitha, deputy director of the general department of conservation, said the ministry has been studying the potential to establish the new areas. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5087603/six-sanctuaries-proposed/