"Environment Ministry enabling deforestation by preventing patrols, PLCN says", 7 March 2021

The Prey Lang Community Network has alleged that the Environment Ministry’s attempts to protect the forest, even conduct tree blessing ceremonies, was a ruse to distract from the rampant illegal logging occurring in the protected Prey Lang forest.

The Prey Lang Community Network (PLCN) released a report in collaboration with researchers at the University of Copenhagen …, showing an increase in deforestation …, the most after the devastating levels of logging … when the forest was designated a wildlife sanctuary.

The report alleges that the Ministry of Environment’s efforts to block community patrols were only exacerbating the loss of the Prey Lang forest, one of Southeast Asia’s last lowland evergreen forests.

“Since the Ministry of Environment banned PLCN from patrolling, loggers are freely entering the forest to cut down luxury trees and transport timber out of the forest by paying a commission fee to the rangers at the checkpoints,” read the report.

…, the Environment Ministry banned the PLCN from entering the protected forest when the community and civil society groups wanted to conduct the annual tree blessing ceremony…

Srey Thei, a PLCN representative in Preah Vihear province, said it was unfortunate that the Ministry of Environment again prevented the group from holding their tress blessing ceremony this year. He said the ban on PLCN patrols resulted in increased logging.

“I regret that our community that has guarded [the forest] for about 20 years have been accused of being illegal,” Thei said…

… Environment Ministry Spokesperson Neth Pheaktra refuted all accusations made by both Amnesty International and Prey Lang Community Work, calling their work anti-government and ill-intentioned…