Illegal timber was found in a fancy car on Wednesday in Kratie province’s Snuol district.
Hean Cheav Kun, Adhoc’s coordinator in Kratie province, told Khmer Times that a provincial gendarmerie task force has been stopping and searching a car in which illegal timber was found.
“The car was full of timber coming from Mondulkiri province. The car and the driver was arrested an took to the district gendarmerie headquarters,” said Mrs. Cheav Kun.
Recently, Prime Minister Hun Sen has made an effort to show that the government has the intention to stop the deforestation that is destroying the country since years.
Despite his speech and decrees, illegal logging and timber smuggling still continue across the kingdom.
On Wednesday, Khmer Times published an article reporting in detail the continued logging of Prey Lang forest, which was designated as the protected area in May by the premier himself.
Prey Lang stretches across four provinces – Preah Vihear, Kratie, Stung Treng and Kampong Thom. The forests of Prey Lang have supported thousands of families and nearly 400 villages who rely on the trees there for resin, vines and fruit.
According to a report issued by the National Anti-Deforestation Committee, only 71,000 cubic meters of luxury timber was confiscated during their operation in January.
As for the report issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, overall, the forest cover fell to only 49.5 percent of the country total land. The forest cover was 93 percent about 10 years ago. The report added that the forest cover continues to fall unless illegal logging, forest burning and land grabs are stopped immediately.
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