Environment and natural resources
Forests and forestry
Land disputes solved, flooded forest returned in K Chhnang
In December, the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Administration had resolved nearly 600 land disputes throughout the province and reclaimed over 30,000ha of flooded forest land as state property, according to governor Sun Sovanrith. ...
Long Kimmarita
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/land-disputes-solved-flooded-forest-returned-k-chhnang
More than 60,000 hectares of flooded forest seized by state from encroachers
As the crackdown and seizure of encroached swamp forest land continues, the government has so far seized more than 60,000 hectares of encroached land from more than 14,000 families. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501012926/more-than-60000-hectares-of-flooded-forest-seized-by-state-from-encroachers/
More than 60,000 traps removed from protected areas and more than 700 recycled guns confiscated
Park rangers from the Ministry of Environment, together with conservation partners and communities in protected areas, have removed 61,611 traps from protected areas. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501010391/more-than-60000-traps-removed-from-protected-areas-and-more-than-700-recycled-guns-confiscated/
Koh Kong seizes 102ha of illegally occupied state land
Koh Kong provincial authorities have reclaimed 102ha of state-owned land in Tuol Koki Krom village of Mondul Seima district’s Tuol Koki commune which had been illegally occupied for more than one year. ...
Ry Sochan
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/koh-kong-seizes-102ha-illegally-occupied-state-land
Authorities stumble onto over 60ha of deforestation in Kampong Thom
The Forestry Administration in Kampong Thom province has stumbled onto deforestation of more than 60 hectares of land in the Ang Ten community forest. ...
Ministry warns of upcoming dry season that can spark wildfires
With Cambodia heading towards its dry season, the Ministry of Agriculture is taking proactive steps to prevent and mitigate the effects of fires, many of which are caused by humans such as setting fire to dry vegetation or crops, slash and burn cultivation, burning debris, ...
Mao Chanvireak
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501005100/ministry-warns-of-upcoming-dry-season-that-can-spark-wildfires/
Taskforce to fight all state land grabs in M’kiri forests
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon formed a joint-task force for the prevention of forestry crimes in Mondulkiri province following a clampdown on illegal occupation of state land there. ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/taskforce-fight-all-state-land-grabs-mkiri-forests
Forest activists allege logging scheme in Prey Lang
Forest activists from the Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) in Preah Vihear province claim that Macle Logistics Cambodia Co Ltd and PNT Co Ltd are working together to illegally collect timber being logged in the core area of the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/forest-activists-allege-logging-scheme-prey-lang
Development in Botum Sakor National Park
Koh Kong Provincial Administration is examining a request from Anko Ahran Niharan company to invest on 6,145 hectares of land inside Botum Sakor National Park. ...
Son Minea
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50999244/development-in-botum-sakor-national-park/
Forestry Administration issues wrap-up on 2021 enforcement
There were over 4,000 cases total of fisheries and wildlife crimes in 2021 nationwide, with nearly 200 suspects referred to court, according to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/forestry-administration-issues-wrap-2021-enforcement
Koh Kong forest station begins official operation
Koh Kong provincial authorities on December 27 officially inaugurated the Chi Khor Leu Forest Research Station in Sre Ambel district’s Chi Khor Leu commune, which was funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Greater Mekong Sub-region Biodiversity Conservation Corridors Project in Cambodia. ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/koh-kong-forest-station-begins-official-operation
Siem Reap orders tough, immediate crackdown on illegal timber sites
Siem Reap provincial deputy governor Ngan Phirun has instructed authorities to immediately put a stop to all activities at more than 140 illegal logging sites in or near protected areas and biodiversity corridors in the province to prevent further deforestation. ...
Agriculture ministries talk cross-border cooperation
Cambodia and Vietnam have negotiated an agreement on agriculture to strengthen import-export controls and prevent the illegal cross-border timber and wildlife trade, among other issues, according to Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon. ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/agriculture-ministries-talk-cross-border-cooperation
Forest Chief takes actions against illegal loggers and encroachers
Legal measures will be taken against those who illegally logged and encroached on the community forest in one of Stung Treng’s districts stated the forest chief. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50992510/forest-chief-takes-actions-against-illegal-loggers-and-encroachers/
Huge swathes of land returned to state by evicted encroachers
Kampong Thom provincial authorities have determined that over 10,000ha of flooded forestland located in three different areas near the province’s Tonle Sap Lake shoreline have been illegally encroached upon, with more than 200 families having already returned in excess of 2,000ha of misappropriated land back ...
Long Kimmarita
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/huge-swathes-land-returned-state-evicted-encroachers
Bokor National Park squatters told to clear out by December 15
The Kampot provincial Department of Environment warned people who have encroached upon land in Preah Monivong Bokor National Park and claimed it as their own to voluntarily remove their boundary posts or huts by December 15 or face legal action. ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bokor-national-park-squatters-told-clear-out-december-15
30,000ha of wetlands encroached
Nearly 30,000ha of flooded forest land stretching across the six provinces surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake have been illegally occupied or cleared by both ordinary citizens and in some cases public officials acting in a personal capacity. ...
Long Kimmarita
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/30000ha-wetlands-encroached
Draft law shifts forest enforcer role of ministry onto provinces
Officials and lawyers are in ongoing discussions about amending the forest, fisheries and protected areas laws to transfer natural resource protection and conservation functions from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to sub-national level administrations. ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/draft-law-shifts-forest-enforcer-role-ministry-provinces
T Khmum eyes eco-tourism
The Tbong Khmum Provincial Administration plans to transform the Boeung Kade multi-purpose area in Kroch Chhmar and Dombae districts into an eco-tourism attraction while remaining committed to preventing deforestation and poaching in order to protect and conserve its natural resources and biodiversity. ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/t-khmum-eyes-eco-tourism
Authorities discover more than 800 hectares of swamp forest land cleared in Battambang
Officials continued to discover more flooded forest land in Battambang were cleared by encroachers and deforestation. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50983325/authorities-discover-more-than-800-hectares-of-swamp-forest-land-cleared-in-battambang/
Stolen 700 hectares of Tonle Sap land returned to the state
A deputy provincial police chief in Kampong Chhnang province was involved in the encroachment of nearly 700 hectares of flooded forest in the Tonle Sap Lake area, while so far the Kampong Chhnang provincial authorities have returned 2,000 hectares of land to state ownership. ...
Tith Kongnov
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50980801/stolen-700-hectares-of-tonle-sap-land-returned-to-the-state/
More than 5,400 swamp forests in Banteay Meanchey encroached by criminals
Banteay Meanchey’s authorities reported that 5,470 hectares of flooded forest land in two of the zones of the province’s borders were encroached and deforested by crooks. ...
Khmer Times Staff
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50981118/more-than-5400-swamp-forests-in-banteay-meanchey-encroached-by-criminals/
Blitz on land grabs: Authorities seize back 2,000 ha of flooded forest
In an effort to restore natural habitat, Land Management Minister Chea Sophara yesterday began a crackdown against encroachments in Tonle Sap lake’s flooded forest and seized back more than 2,000 hectares in Kampong Chhnang province. ...
Tith Kongnov
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50979345/blitz-on-land-grabs-authorities-seize-back-2000-ha-of-flooded-forest/
PM: Do not defile Tonle Sap swamp forest or else
Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered police to arrest anyone – including government officials – involved with the deforestation of the flooded forests surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake because it is an area important to the spawning of many species of fish, among other reasons. ...
Long Kimmarita and Orm Bunthoeurn
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/pm-do-not-defile-tonle-sap-swamp-forest-or-else