Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Tonle Sap Lake forest replanting underway

Tonle Sap Lake forest replanting underway

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Banteay Meanchey authorities plant trees on Tonle Sap wetlands in Mongkol Borei district on February 6. BANTEAY MEANCHEY ADMINISTRATION

Tonle Sap Lake forest replanting underway

More than 60,000ha of flooded forest land in Zone 3 in the six provinces around the Tonle Sap Lake has been reclaimed from nearly 15,000 families and returned to the state. Officials have since reforested the area with different kinds of trees, bamboos and palm trees.

Fisheries Administration deputy director Ung Try told The Post that as of February 21, working groups had reclaimed 62,750ha of flooded forest land from 14,919 families.

“We cannot say whether the planting of trees is complete yet, as we are still receiving daily reports from the provinces. When planting is complete we will hold a meeting to review progress,” he said.

On February 13, Banteay Meanchey provincial authorities announced that the province had finished replanting trees on 12,000ha of reclaimed land.

Try said the fisheries authority was cooperating with provincial authorities to reclaim the remaining flooded forest land and to replant it as early as possible.

Prime Minister Hun Sen recently ordered strict enforcement of illegal logging and land encroachment in areas around the lake. He called for the reclaimed areas to be replanted, saying that the loss of these crucial habitats is likely responsible for a dramatic fall in fish spawning rates.

Om Savath, executive director of the NGO Fisheries Action Coalition Team, was of the view that the amount of encroachment on the lake was even larger – as the government had reclaimed more than 60,000ha of flooded forest land.

“We appreciate that the government has spent a significant amount of money on the replanting. The land has been planted with trees and plants that are native to the area and will grow back in five to 10 years. If we can prevent any further encroachment, Zone 3 will be restored soon,” he said.

Savath urged the government to put systems in place that would protect the area. Simple mechanisms were ineffective at preventing the crime, and more robust legislation was needed, he said.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence

    Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have

  • Manet touches down in Beijing for high-level meetings

    Prime Minister Hun Manet arrived in Beijing on September 14 for his first official visit to China, where he is slated to attend the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and meet other leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Upon his arrival, Manet laid a wreath at the Monument

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former