Environment Minister: Stealing state land cannot be hidden; stop immediately

Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, ordered the illegal encroachment on state forest land to stop immediately because this violation cannot be hidden. The Royal Government of Cambodia is paying close attention to and strictly implementing transparent legal measures and efficiency.

According to the Ministry of Environment, the minister said this at the national workshop on investing in adaptation to climate change by restoring agroecological landscapes, held on April 22, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Phnom Penh.

The statement of the Minister of Environment on the strict legal measures on natural resource crimes of the Royal Government of Cambodia, the 7th legislature of the National Assembly, is to prevent and protect the continuous illegal logging of state forest land.

The ministry added that in close cooperation with relevant ministries, departments, jurisdictions, the National Gendarmerie, and the Anti-Corruption Unit, they have recently cracked down on many cases and confiscated many hectares of forest land back to the state.

Meanwhile, with the Ministry of Environment as its staff, the government launched a campaign to plant at least 1 million saplings a year for free distribution to people across 25 capitals/provinces on October 1, 2023.

In addition, there are regional nurseries in five locations, including Siem Reap province, Tbong Khmum, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, and Mondulkiri province. On July 10, 2024, Prime Minister Hun Manet authorized the opening of a campaign to exhibit seedlings and provide all kinds of seedlings for free to the people in front of the Ministry of Environment for sixdays, from 10 to 15 July 2024.

Community members who visit the seedlings can pick them up from the Department of Environment in the provinces where they live without having to pay for transportation from Phnom Penh to the provinces.

Eang Sophalleth stated “Please do not be hopeless with all our efforts, even if there is an illusion or bad publicity from Cambodia for the loss of the forest, beautiful activities from the heart of Cambodia and with greenery from among the youth and the people, the forest lovers will always shine and shine green.

“Together, we will move forward to expand forest cover by more than 60% by 2050, and we can all do so because more than 3 million students are waiting to help plant and protect our Cambodian forests,” he said, adding that “In addition, we have many foreign investors and development partners who are actively contributing to the national Pentagon strategy.”

Therefore, please do not use the past to determine the future of Cambodia, but to use the current actions that are happening as a measure to move towards a proud future achievement for the next generation of the Cambodian nation.