Forest on the auction block - រដ្ឋ​កាត់​ដី​ជម្រក​សត្វ​ព្រៃ​បឹងពែរ​ជិត​១​សែន​ហិកតា

Tuesday, 09 August 2011 15:02
May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post

Almost 30,000 hectares of a wildlife sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey, Siem Reap and Preah Vihear provinces have been reclassified as state private land for agricultural development, drawing sharp criticism from rights groups.

Four sub-decrees signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen on July 22 reclassify land in the Kulen Promptep sanctuary, paving the way for its development.

They cover 12,820 hectares in Preah Vihear and Siem Reap provinces and 15,450 hectares in Oddar Meanchey’s Anlong Veng district.

Thuk Kreun Vutha, secretary of state at the Ministry of Environment, said the government had conducted environmental impact assessments and deemed wildlife would not be affected.

“Now, this wildlife sanctuary has no more wildlife. It is eroded land,” he said.

Hundreds Protest Alleged Sale of Forest

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
11 April 2008

Nearly 300 people gathered in the provincial capital of Bantey Meanchey province Friday to protest the alleged sale of national forest land by local officials.

Human rights officials and witnesses said Friday that about 300 people gathered in front of the Thmor Pouk commune office in Thmor Pouk district to demand 215 hectares of national forest be protected, following its reported sale to businessmen in Phnom Penh by the former district governor and a commune chief.

Villagers said they needed the land, in Phnom Preah National Forest, for their livelihoods.

Current Thmor Pouk District Governor Chhum Brasert said Friday he was unaware of the sale of the forest land, as he only recently began his post.

Former Thmor Pouk governor Chhim Bunny denied allegations he had sold off part of the national forest.

He welcomed the protest of the people, saying such petitioning for the protection of forest land was "right."

So Samon, director of the district forest administration, said Friday he would investigate the allegations of the sale.

The Phnom Preah National Forest covers two districts, he said, Thmor Pouk and Preah Neat Preah, and spreads over about 18,000 hectares.