Environment and natural resources
Water resources
Villagers not poisoned by cyanide: Mines Minister
Mines Minister Suy Sem has dismissed a claim by Industry Minister Cham Prasidh, who said that villagers in Kratie province were poisoned and killed by cyanide-tainted water due to run-off from gold mines. ...
Khy Sovuthy
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50492555/villagers-not-poisoned-by-cyanide-mines-minister/
Villagers in Kratie province were poisoned by mining: Industry Minister
Industry Minister Cham Prasidh has said that villagers in Kratie province’s Chetr Borei district were poisoned after consuming water tainted with cyanide which was used for mining operations in Mondolkiri and Kratie province. ...
Gold mine waste blamed for deadly poisoning in Cambodia
Experts from the ministry examined the water in the river of Prek Te in Kratie and found chromium and cyanide. The substances were found at various mining sites between Kratie and neighboring Mondulkiri and the ministry believed that they were improperly handled and that rain ...
Radio Free Asia staff
https://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/water-toxic-05172018161901.html
Prime Minister: Take back islands from inactive developers
The government will “take back” land on roughly 30 islands from private companies that have not made progress on planned developments, Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a speech on Monday that also targeted land-grabbing villagers and idle provincial governors. ...
Phak Seangly and Daphne Chen
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/prime-minister-take-back-islands-inactive-developers
New marine protected area designated off Kep
A new marine protected area has been established off the coast of Kep province to protect biodiversity and prevent illegal fishing, officials said on Sunday. A directive by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries officially established the marine fisheries management area, which spans more ...
Yesenia Amaro
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-marine-protected-area-designated-kep
Code of conduct for the Mekong
The sustainable development of water and related resources in the Mekong River Basin is at a crucial stage and as member countries of the Mekong River Commission meet this week in Siem Reap, Chheang Vannarith argues that a code of conduct is now vital to ...
Chheang Vannarith
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50298648/code-of-conduct-for-the-mekong/
China’s sway clear at Mekong summit
China’s ever increasing influence over the Mekong River Basin was apparent on the first day of a Mekong River Commission (MRC) summit on Monday, where cooperation between the MRC and the Chinese-backed Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) mechanism was floated. ...
Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/chinas-sway-clear-mekong-summit
World Bank says Cambodia vulnerable to rising sea levels
The World Bank said in a recent report that Cambodia is among 12 countries in East Asia and the Asia-Pacific that are vulnerable to rising sea levels which could lead to the loss of land and force millions of people to relocate. ...
Mom Sophon
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50114119/world-bank-says-cambodia-vulnerable-to-rising-sea-levels/
Businesses in Sihanoukville told to clean up
Preah Sihanouk provincial authorities and relevant departments have asked businesses and tour operators in Sihanoukville to enhance the city’s beauty and prevent sewage from flowing into the sea, while warning of administrative measures for those failing to comply. A notice concerning order at Ochheuteal Beach was ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50110699/businesses-sihanoukville-told-clean/
Officials seek assistance in planning for marine park
Environmental officials confirmed yesterday that they are seeking the assistance of conservation NGO Fauna and Flora International (FFI) in drafting a management plan for the new Koh Rong Marine National Park, and that for now, the previous conservation structure operated by the Fisheries Administration and ...
Alessandro Marazzi Sassoon and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/officials-seek-assistance-planning-marine-park
Okhna owns land at site of illegal Koh Kong mangrove filling, contract shows
A section of protected mangrove forest in Koh Kong that in December was discovered to have been filled with sand was illegally sold to tycoon Chea Leanghong in 2017, documents show, with local authorities having signed off on the deal. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/okhna-owns-land-site-illegal-koh-kong-mangrove-filling-contract-shows
Royal Group plan for Sihanoukville beach cleared of businesses remains a mystery
More than a month after businesses on a prime stretch of Occheuteal Beach were told to pack up and leave, officials in Preah Sihanouk province are still unaware of local conglomerate Royal Group’s plans for the space. Evictions on the beach began around Christmas time, ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/royal-group-plan-sihanoukville-beach-cleared-businesses-remains-mystery
Development plans for Koh Rong and nearby islands unchanged by marine park
Businesses expect the establishment of Cambodia’s first marine national park covering seven coastal islands to boost tourism in the area, while government officials said yesterday it would not affect private development scheduled for the islands. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/development-plans-koh-rong-and-nearby-islands-unchanged-marine-park
First marine national park is established for Koh Rong
Cambodia’s first marine national park was established yesterday, seemingly replacing and expanding upon a marine protection area established for the Koh Rong archipelago in 2016. ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/first-marine-national-park-established-koh-rong
Stung Treng officials crack down on dredging site
Stung Treng provincial authorities on Friday shut down an illegal sand dredging operation on the Sesan River and confiscated equipment after having warned the company to cease operations since December, officials said yesterday. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/stung-treng-officials-crack-down-dredging-site
Mekong observation projects launched
The Mekong River Commission yesterday launched two joint projects to better manage the Mekong basin resources and address flood and drought issues, especially monitoring the environmental impact of the controversial Don Sahong hydropower dam. ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50102828/mekong-observation-projects-launched/
China to work further with Mekong countries in water resources
China is ready to consolidate political trust with the five countries along the Lancang-Mekong River, and further cooperate with them in areas of water resources, drought and flood prevention, industrial capacity, agriculture, and human resources, Premier Li Keqiang said on Wednesday. Li made the remarks ...
Zhang Yue
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201801/11/WS5a5727eba3102c394518e98a.html
China makes five proposals on securing shared future for Lancang-Mekong
Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday called on five nations living on the Lancang-Mekong River to consolidate political will and deepen economic ties to promote regional peace and sustainable development. China is willing to work with others to strengthen the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) as China benefits ...
Xinhua
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/11/c_136886297.htm
Water security still a priority
Cambodia has not yet attained full water security, the water resources minister said yesterday at an Asia-Pacific summit. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5095364/water-security-still-priority/
Irrawaddy dolphins red listed
Cambodia’s beloved Irrawaddy dolphins are facing troubled waters, with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) yesterday flagging the riverine mammal as ‘critically endangered’ in an update to its ‘Red List’. ...
Danielle Keeton-Olsen
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/irrawaddy-dolphins-red-listed
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
Regional ‘think tank’ launched to advise on China Mekong initiative
The Global Center for Mekong Studies (GCMS) comprises six leading regional “think tanks”: the China Institute for International Studies (CIIS); the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP); the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV); the Laos Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA); the Myanmar Institute of ...
Aun Chhengpor
https://www.voacambodia.com/a/regional-think-tank-launched-to-advise-on-china-mekong-initiative/4050041.html
Coastal authorities called out
Preah Sihanouk’s governor yesterday attributed the slow progress in combating private encroachment into ecologically sensitive mangrove and coastal regions to a “careful” approach, after the prime minister on Tuesday chided officials for failing to tackle the issue since it was raised more than a year ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/coastal-authorities-called-out
Water utility signs deal for plant facelift
The capital’s listed water utility, Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA), signed a construction deal yesterday with France’s Vinci Constructions Grands Projects to renovate the Chamkarmon Water Treatment Plan and enlarge its water production capacity from 20,000 cubic metres per day to 52,000 cubic metres. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/water-utility-signs-deal-plant-facelift