News

A Siem Reap court has sentenced Sy Loeuy, a woodworker and alleged illegal logger, to 12 years in prison for fatally shooting environmental journalist Chhoeung Chhoeng in December. The verdict was handed down on May 28 but had not been previously reported. ...

Environmental journalist Uk Mao, an indigenous minority, pledged to continue protecting the forest and exposing illegal logging activities following his release on bail on Sunday — his determination praised by civil society organizations and press freedom groups. ...

The Ministry of Information has criticized non-governmental organizations and press groups for “pursuing their own political agendas”, portraying negative press freedom in Cambodia, in relation to jailed environmental journalist Uk Mao’s case. The ministry claimed that Mao “violated journalistic ethics”. ...

Online journalist Ouk Mao, who reports on environmental issues and illegal deforestation in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, was charged with incitement and public defamation, the Stung Treng Provincial Court confirmed on May 19. ...

The Ministry of Environment is working with national authorities to identify a group of heavily armed poachers who engaged in an April 5 shootout with rangers in a Mondulkiri wildlife sanctuary. ...

A modified van carrying about 20 cubic metres of luxury hardwood timber – with an estimated value of around $10,000 – was intercepted in Kratie province on March 3, despite being reportedly escorted by another vehicle which aimed to warn the van driver of the ...

A senior official has warned that river guards who abuse their power or turn a blind eye to illegal fishing activities in protected Irrawaddy dolphin areas will be removed from their positions to enhance the effectiveness of conservation efforts along the Mekong River. ...

The Ministry of Environment and the Royal Academy of Cambodia have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance cooperation on the preservation of the Techo Sen RusseyTreb Park in Preah Vihear province. ...

The Ministry of Environment is conducting a study on Cambodia’s current forest canopy to facilitate successful tree planting and expansion, aiming to increase the country’s green cover to 60 per cent over the next 25 years. ...

The Ministry of Environment has dismissed the claim that forest cover has decreased from 43.21% in 2015 to 39.75% in 2023, as reported by Open Development Cambodia (ODC) on September 1. ...

Open Development Cambodia on September 1, 2024 released a report on forest cover in Cambodia from 2015 to 2023. In this report, ODC claims that forest cover in Cambodia will fall below 40% by 2023. ...

Eight people have been reprimanded and one suspect has been sent to court during the beginning of a 30-day campaign against state land occupation and deforestation in Pursat province. ...

Cambodia’s Royal Gendarmerie arrested 11 Pursat province residents Tuesday after the military force deployed nearly 300 of its officers to crack down on natural resource crimes. ...

In Trapaing Chor commune’s Sre Kin village, located in Kampong Speu province’s Oral district, certain community members have transitioned away from forest-related activities such as logging and wildlife hunting. Instead, they have embraced a new approach by forming a rotating cropping community. ...

In an unusual turn of events, over 350 people in the village and commune of Sre Chis in O’Krieng Senchey district, Kratie province, have damaged a ranger station. The incident occurred on August 5, with no casualties reported. ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday ordered the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), the Ministries of Environment and Agriculture and provincial officials to stamp out illegal land encroachment and illegal logging in the country. ...

Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered that the pertinent ministries and local authorities take action to prevent forest encroachment and land grabs, saying that these activities always increased during the campaign period and the day of elections. ...

Phnom Khnong Veal youth and community groups claim that forest crime continues to be a cause for concern in Oral Mountain Wildlife Sanctuary, especially large forests along the road up to Phnom Khnong Veal in the village Sastra, Ta Sal commune, Oral district, Kampong Speu ...

National Commission for the Prevention and Suppression of Natural Resources on the 27 April 2023 announced the results of the operation to crack down on natural resource offenses in Prey Lang area. ...

Forest land in Phnom Oral Wildlife Sanctuary in Trapeang Chor commune, Oral district, Kampong Speu province was looted by criminals. Hundreds of hectares of land were illegally demolished and cleared. This is according to the Baitong Warriors. ...

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries recorded 841 instances of encroachment on protected land in 2022, imposing fines in 250 cases and sending 591 of them to court, according to its report. ...

Experts are continuing to search for the identity of the perpetrators that cleared forest land in the protected area in Mondulkiri province to file the case to the court. ...

Four forestry community representatives in Mondulkiri province have filed a complaint with local authorities against the provincial prosecutor’s office, accusing them of failing to prevent forest crime in a timely manner. ...

Residents say that historical and tourist sites may be lost after a large-scale looting of Phnom Borei, while Angkor Borei district authorities have denied that the authorities have opened their hands to excavating Phnom Borei and sell it to private dealers as mentioned by citizens. ...