Mok Mareth (L) and Ty Sokhun (R)"NGOs even put the current ratio at 20 percent"
"Though there is criticism that a lot of forest has been lost, currently forest still covers the area of about 59 percent or 106,810 square km of Cambodia's land," he told a seminar here on Tuesday.
The government no longer issues logging concessions and bans the export of timber to protect what remains of Cambodia's forests, he said.
"To ensure a stable and balanced environment in Cambodia, we must have 60 percent forest cover," he said.
"We encourage the public to replant tree seedlings feverishly and hope to reach a 60 percent target," he said.
Ty Sokun, Director of the Forestry Administration at the ministry, said that the target of 60 percent by 2015 is possible.
Tree planting is increasing with about 10,000 hectares replanted last year and 5 million tress distributed, he said.
Cambodia has some 200 varieties of trees. Forest cover stood at 73 percent in 1970s, but over-logging has decreased it to around 50 percent, according to official figures issued on other occasions. NGOs even put the current ratio at 20 percent.
Source:Xinhua
6 comments:
No big deal, the tree should grow back to full size in about 25 years or so.
Mr.12:17 PM
This is the thought that had contributed to the depletion of forests in Thailand. Shearing barks around the bottom of tree trunks to "kill the trees" for future "recuperation of dead trees" now reported in Cambodia was a practice in Thailand.
In the late 1980s satellite imageries showed clear border demarcation between Cambodia and Thailand: on the Cambodian side of the border there were thick forests; there was virtually no forest on the Thai side. I saw a show of such imageries at an international conference.
Refugees on the Thai border gave this guidance to fellow Cambodians to show where Thailand was: "when you reach an area where you see tree stems [the bottom part of of tree trunks on the ground left over after the threes have been felled] around, you can be sure you already are well and good in Thai territory".
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
That is funny, Dr. Lao, but to be honest, I like the Thai idea's of keeping the border are clear of trees. This will allowed them to have more control over their border. They can see who's coming and going, and they can easily navigate their vehicle to pursue after smugglers... Thus, I see more advantage than disadvantage. Accordingly, I think we should do the same in order to resolve some of the illegal immigrant issue that we have.
4:00pm
What illegal immigrant issue does Cambodia have?? It's Thailand that has the problem with illegal Khmer immigrants!!!!!!!!
And wouldn't denser forests around the border area make it more difficult for immigrants and smugglers to get through anyway??
LOL, 4:18, I mean issues on the east side, but it is good to clear tree all around Cambodia so that we'll have more control of our border.
It's more about the QUALITY of Forests, not the area. By definition, even if all the mature trees are taken, forests still remain forests. However, all ecosystem functionalities are degraded, and the long-term consequences are very bad. Some forests could growth back if anarchic logging, land clearings and land encroachments can be prevented. There are many players, and you can't put all blames on the Forestry Administration or H.E. Sokhun Ty. To my knowledge, he is intelligent and knows what is wrong and right.
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