Scale of Wildlife Sanctuary Destruction Denied

A rights worker and forestry official yesterday contradicted a local newspaper report claiming that more than $100 million worth of timber had been illegally extracted from Ratanakirri province’s Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary. … Adhoc’s provincial coordinator for Ratanakirri, Chhay Thy, denied having said a total of 16,000 logs had been discovered in the area and also rejected the $100 million estimate of logs’ worth. “I only said that the provincial Forestry Administration discovered more than 3,000 pieces of luxury wood,” Mr. Thy said. “I am not sure where this figure comes from,” he added, referring to the $100 million. Although the timber was discovered on a concession held by the Hua Anh rubber company, Mr. [Phan] Phoeun [provincial Forestry Administration chief] said he did not believe the company was involved in logging. … My Thy said … 29 families who had relied on the trees for resin had told Adhoc staff that they had no choice in the felling of the trees, but were compensated by Hua Anh company as well as Fib Rubber, a Chinese rubber firm. …

http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/scale-of-wildlife-sanctuary-destruction-denied-20366/