At approximately 3600 sq kilometers, Prey Lang forest, situated in northern Cambodia, is the largest contiguous area of lowland evergreen forest remaining in mainland Southeast Asia and it is under threat. As a result of intense industrial-scale logging in Southeast Asia, Prey Lang is the last large refuge for what are now rare species of animal, vegetation and tree not found elsewhere in Cambodia or the region. As a result of intense industrial-scale logging in Southeast Asia, Prey Lang is the last large refuge for what are now rare species of animal, vegetation and tree not found elsewhere in Cambodia or the region.
Developers and loggers are threatening to permanently destroy Cambodia’s Prey Lang forest, one of Southeast Asia’s last remaining lowland evergreen woodlands. One rural woman is leading the fight to save the region. When people first meet Mao Chanthoeun, they might not associate this small, slight woman with the dangerous fight to save Cambodia’s Prey [...]
This morning, 30 representatives from the Prey Lang Community Network, including 7 women, joined the campaign. Around 400 people participated in calling for an end to the threats and arrests of innocent land, forest and housing rights activists. They demanded the release of human rights defenders, land activists, forest activists and housing rights activists and [...]
On May 31, 21 PLCN members (four women) patrolled the Prey Lang forest at the Oukronhoung border between Stung Treng and Preah Vihear to find instances of illegal logging. Patrollers came across logging activity, confiscating eight chainsaws and five cubic meters of wood. The loggers had already fled the scene. (This report came via [...]
The team involved in the mapping of the Prey Lang area carried out the third phase of the project on May 16-26. The focus was on documenting a number of forest features and characteristics, including the size of the remaining forest, density, deciduous tree areas, resin trees, cleared areas, plantations, private companies active inside Prey [...]
On May 26, more than 200 villagers in Sambor district’s Kampong Cham commune gathered to stop the Korean company Think Biotech from clearing their farm land. Sam Nou, a community leader, said that authorities had promised villagers the company would stop clearing farm land and land belonging to indigenous communities. However, the clearing did not [...]
On May 17-25, 10 people from CYN and PLCN continue to carry out mapping in the field in all four Prey Lang provinces. PLCN is collecting the data from local authorities, such as commune councils and village chiefs, regarding deforestation, remaining forest area, IPs, schools, resin trees, ELCs, etc.
On May 1-3, 50 PLCN members conducted a forest patrol inside Prey Lang and reported that illegal loggers cooperating with Vietnamese rubber company C.R.C.K. illegally harvested luxury wood outside its ELC. The patrol seized five chainsaws and 30 timber logs. The evidence was given to the Forestry Administration in Sandan district. PLCN said the loggers [...]
On April 22-30, the second phase of the field mapping and research project carried out by PLCN members, representatives from CPN and CYN, is taking place in all four Prey Lang provinces. The team is investigating and carrying out first-hand research on all economic and social land concessions, forest and mining concessions, and fishing lots, [...]
On April 8, 10 people, including PLCN members, representatives from CPN and CYN, began their field mapping and research project. The team found that more than 10,000 families from outside the Prey Lang area had cut trees and settled on the land in the Beung Lavea commune in Kampong Thom. Local authorities and the forestry [...]
CPN and its affiliate CYN, as well as PLCN and Friends of the Forest, held a Prey Lang Community Network Reflection meeting on April 6-7 in Kampong Thom with 51 (16 women) PLCN representatives and members from all four Prey Lang provinces. The meeting focused on past activities such as the Prey Lang Festival, but [...]
