Proposed Prey Long Protected Area Shrinks by 20 Percent
The Forestry Administration’s proposal to create a conservation zone for Prey Long, one of Cambodia’s largest remaining primary forests, has been scaled down by more than 20 percent and now covers about 480,000 hectares, an official said. During consultation workshops in Phnom Penh last month, the administration and villagers discussed a 615,000-hectare protected area, but Forestry Administration spokesman Thun Sarat said yesterday the current proposal only covered 484,872 hectares in parts of Kratie, Kompong Thom, Preah Vihear and Stung Treng provinces. … Since last year, civil society groups have campaigned for the protection of Prey Long as it faces the destructive forces of agro-business, mining and rampant illegal logging. …
