On 24 May 2023, Mother Nature Cambodia, an environmental concerns group, released a petition by its youth activists that urged the government to stop granting land to private companies in Kirirom National Park, a popular tourist destination in Kampong Speu province. The petition requested the government “withdraw the licenses from private companies” in the national park and return the land to the state. The Cambodian Ministry of Environment responded by stating that the group had been committing “illegal acts” and was not an officially recognised NGO. The Ministry’s statement added that anyone who participated in the movement would be held “accountable” and that the group’s activities were “against the interests of Cambodian society".