Environment

More than 3,000 trees planted to mark Arbor Day in Takeo province. (Hun Manet’s Facebook)

Environment -

Government Plants 3,000 Luxury Trees on Arbor Day As Deforestation Persists

9 Jul 2024 8:17 PM|
Tep Suokeany|

The government planted 3,000 luxury trees in conjunction with Arbor Day, also known as National Planting Day, even as civil society groups and community forestry raise concerns that deforestation continued in Cambodia.

Part of Botum Sakor National Park cleared by the Chinese firm Union Development Group and Royal Group in a Facebook post from the activist group Mother Nature Cambodia on July 19, 2023. (Mother Nature Cambodia Facebook)

Environment ·

Tycoon’s Son Receives 6,234 Hectares in Botum Sakor National Park

20 Jul 2023 7:09 PM|

A company linked to the son of tycoon Ly Yong Phat received a 6,234 hectare concession inside Botum Sakor National Park, according to a January sub-decree signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and published on Wednesday.

A Ministry of Mines and Energy Cambodia meeting announcing a new sand dredging license in Stung Treng province in March. (Ministry of Mines and Energy Facebook page)

Environment ·

New Sand Mining License Issued in Stung Treng

7 Jul 2023 6:42 PM|

The Ministry of Mines and Energy issued a new sand mining license on March 17 to the Samreth Bunthoeun Enterprise on the Sekong river in Stung Treng province, according to a ministry Facebook post.

A barbed wire fence surrounds the Phnom Tamao Botanical Garden, which remains largely devoid of trees on June 27, 2023. (Andrew Califf/CamboJA)

Environment ·

Gov’t Wants to Exclude Phnom Tamao Deforested Area from Fencing Efforts

29 Jun 2023 11:50 AM|

Wildlife Alliance and the Forestry Administration are at odds over efforts to fence the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Sanctuary in Takeo province, with government officials wanting to exclude the deforested section of the area that is now a botanical park.

Trucks fill in Boeng Tamok lake on February 25, 2023. (CamboJA/Runn Sreydeth)

Environment ·

Tycoon Lang Pheara Receives 13 More Hectares at Boeng Tamok

28 Jun 2023 11:40 AM|

Tycoon Lang Pheara received 13.4 hectares at Boeng Tamok in a January sub-decree issued by Prime Minister Hun Sen and released publicly on Monday.

A sign providing information on the Southern Cardamom REDD+ project in Koh Kong province. (CamboJA)

Environment ·

Gov’t, NGO Claim “Misunderstanding” Over Alleged Rights Violations in REDD+

23 Jun 2023 8:18 PM|

In response to allegations of rights abuses by NGO Human Rights Watch leading to the suspension of the Southern Cardamom REDD+ project, Environment Ministry official Chuop Paris was dismissive.

Environment ·

Verra Opens Investigation into Wildlife Alliance’s REDD+ Project

21 Jun 2023 8:06 PM|

An international organization managing global forest conservation projects has opened an investigation into the Southern Cardamom REDD+ project run by the NGO Wildlife Alliance and the Environment Ministry.

Satellite data from the GLAD database showing forest loss in protected areas across the country in 2022. (Licadho)

Environment ·

Satellite Data Shows Protected Areas Faced Brunt of Deforestation in 2022

15 Jun 2023 9:53 AM|

New satellite data reveals that Cambodia’s remaining dense forests were further depleted last year, with four major protected areas and national parks registering higher deforestation than in 2021.

Indigenous Bunong villagers in Mondulkiri’s Roya Leu community confront environmental officials who they say were measuring their reserve forest lands on March 31. (Supplied)

Environment ·

Indigenous Peoples Fear Loss of Lands After Passage of New Law

2 Jun 2023 8:15 PM|

The indigenous community remains mired in a long-delayed Communal Land Title (CLT) registration process, while Environment Ministry officials, who came to measure lands around the village in late March, appear to be preparing to re-distribute this land to outsiders.