A new report by Citizens Engaged in Environmental Justice for All (CEEJA) on forest monitoring revealed that Cambodia has lost 120,829 hectares of tree cover in 2023, with nearly half occurring inside these protected areas. The Ministry of Environment has dismissed the report’s findings.
According to the 4th monitoring report from CEEJA, the loss is equivalent to 1.4% of its total area. In all, 40% of the total tree cover loss, equivalent to 48,747 ha, occurred inside the country’s protected areas.Tree cover loss increased 16% in comparison to 2023, a percentage that is reflected in the different protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries across the kingdom.
Between 2001 and 2023, Cambodia lost 2.83 million ha of tree cover, representing a 32% decrease in tree cover since 2000.
CEEJA is spearheaded by a consortium of Danmission, the Cambodian Center for Independent Media, Cambodian Youth Network, Peace Bridges Organization, Ponlok Khmer, and the University of Copenhagen (UCPH).
Looking at some of the figures, the report showed that Prey Lang wildlife sanctuary alone lost over 9,532 hectares of tree cover in 2023, bringing the total loss in the sanctuary to 85,864 ha since 2001.
In Preah Rokar wildlife sanctuary, 575 hectares of tree cover was cleared in 2023, up nearly 35% from the previous year. Since 2018, Preah Rokar has lost a total 5,420 ha of tree cover, where more than half (54%) occurred in that period.
The Sorng Rokha Vorn wildlife sanctuary, also known as the Monks Community Forest, lost 42 hectares of tree cover in 2023, which is a 50% increase from the previous year. Since 2001, Sorng Rokha Vorn has lost a total of 556 ha.
Ministry of Environment spokesperson Kvay Atitya dismissed the report, stating that it was conducted without information from ministry experts and “failed to tell the truth” in Cambodia.
He said the ministry is managing natural resources by strengthening the capacity of park rangers and sub-national administrations, and using new technology, drones and satellite maps to verify the impact on natural resources in Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, especially in Kratie and Stung Treng. Rangers from the provincial environment departments have also been patrolling the area regularly.
“Satellite images clearly indicate deforestation, if any, and officers have been intervening in the area. The ministry has strictly enforced this by filing cases and sending them to court with no exception,” said Atitya.
Khut Soeum, a member of the Prey Lang community network based in Preah Vihear province, told CamboJA News that Prey Lang is at risk of losing more forest cover. Soeum alleged that the loss of forest cover is due to large-scale crimes by ”powerful companies”. Community groups’ patrols are often banned by local authorities despite requests submitted by the community.
He worries that local communities who depend on seasonal produce will face difficulties including the impact on their household income if the forest is lost, as well as the loss of indigenous identity.
“I worry about the future if the forest is lost as it will affect the lives of people living near Prey Lang, and the livelihood of people who depend on natural resources. In addition, the loss of indigenous traditions where they use the forest as a place of worship, gathering or to strengthen their belief. Solidarity is a symbol for the Kuy indigenous people,” said Soeum.
Moeu Chandara, executive director of CYN, said the report showed that tree cover loss has increased year by year in Prey Lang, Preah Rokar and Sorng Rokha Vorn wildlife sanctuaries.
He mentioned that community networks cannot conduct monitoring and patrolling freely due to increased illegal logging, noting that community-led forest protection is effective, and the networks should be recognized and empowered.
“There are frequent rejections from the Ministry of Environment about this report. They should think about collaborating with stakeholders to protect wildlife sanctuaries and to ban illegal logging. They should also visit the forest to find out the truth and compare it with the report from the University of Copenhagen,” Chandara told CamboJA News.
He urged the ministry to investigate to see if there is illegal logging in the wildlife sanctuaries rather than just dismiss the report done by the community or experts.
The report stated that continuous illegal logging operations have cleared protected areas of over a million hectares. In 2023, an investigative report by Mongabay revealed that Think Biotech’s concession created new logging roads extending into the Prey Lang wildlife sanctuary, including a 12km road and another 3km road connecting to a larger route.
It also talked about an unlicensed gold mining site by Late Cheng Mining development company within Prey Lang wildlife sanctuary. This operation allegedly uses cyanide, and has seen significant forest clearance and road construction, posing a threat to endangered species.
Although a moratorium on new mining licenses had been agreed upon, existing permits were allowed at the time.
In January 2025, the government revoked a sub-decree that allowed a private company to build a cement factory on 99 hectares of land within Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary.
With the government committed to maintaining 60% forest cover by 2050, Chandara urged them to think about biodiversity, community livelihoods, and ensuring forest sustainability, rather than profits when granting economic land concessions to private companies in protected areas.
“Development cannot be viewed only in terms of the economy. We need to consider three aspects: economic sustainability, environmental sustainability, and the sustainability of local communities,” said Chandara.
Meanwhile, ministry spokesperson Atitya said the natural resources and environment management plan prioritizes biodiversity conservation, and improves livelihoods and nature protection areas in a sustainable manner for the benefit of the people. This should be the case especially for the preservation of natural resources and forests for future generations, through joint efforts to protect Cambodia’s forest cover and to become carbon-neutral by 2050.
That said, the report highlighted a key concern about biodiversity loss, while reminding authorities of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the critical role of Indigenous people in protecting forest ecosystems, as deforestation rates are significantly lower in areas they safeguard.
Extensive illegal logging and habitat destruction directly threaten various animal species, such as wild boars, sambar deer, Asian elephants, banteng, and long-tailed macaques. These animals face severe risks from habitat loss, poaching, hunting, and escalating human-wildlife conflicts, jeopardizing the delicate balance of vital forest ecosystems.
Soeum asks the government to allow communities to participate in the protection of Prey Lang, which will benefit everyone, meaning they will not engage in illegal activities. In the meantime, the communities are continuously patrolling and detecting forest crimes.
Throughout 2021, the Prey Lang sanctuary lost more than 11,100 hectares of tree cover, the highest on record. It represents a 22% increase since 2020 and 2.7% of the total forest cover. Since 2000, the sanctuary has altogether lost 67,400 ha of forest, equivalent to 16% of the total forest cover.
Local communities are urging the government and stakeholders to step up efforts to protect natural resources. They call for monitoring and revoking non-compliant economic concessions, scrutinizing officials linked to forest crimes, and developing strategies against deforestation, illegal settlements, homemade guns, and wildlife electrocution.
They also seek stronger enforcement of environmental laws, broader community involvement in conservation, an end to illegal timber purchases by stakeholders, and increased international funding for Cambodia’s conservation.
