"Forest activists issue damning report of logging at Prey Lang", 14 January 2019

Activist groups from four provinces jointly published a report showing that 41 per cent of new tree stumps at the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary that was recorded over the last two years were the result of illegal logging…

It showed that 41 per cent of stumps recorded in the sanctuary during that period were the result of illegal logging, while 24 per cent of timber collected and hauled was done so illegally…

Kampong Thom province’s Prey Lang community coordinating committee member, Hoeun Sopheap, said the report was the result of direct patrols by activists…

Preah Vihear province’s Prey Lang community coordinating committee member Srey Thei expressed concern over the weaknesses in law enforcement at the sanctuary.

“We see it almost every day . . . illegal loggers in Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary . . . but they are never punished by the authorities. We want the government to strengthen law enforcement and ensure that illegal loggers will be punished for deforestation activities,” he said.

However, Ministry of Environment spokesman Neth Pheaktra hit back at the activists …, claiming it was “polluting information” in order to find more funding for their projects this year.

Pheaktra said the group updated old data and included only negative points in the report to “destroy the people’s trust in the government”.

He continued that the Cambodian government and the ministry have taken tough measures against forestry and wild animal crimes. Forestry crimes, he said, declined last year by some 30 per cent compared with 2017…