Phnom Penh: Experts from the Ministry of Environment and park rangers and environmental departments in the four provinces (Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, and Kratie), together with relevant authorities, local authorities, and members of the nature conservation area communities in the four provinces of Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, and Kratie, continued to patrol to prevent and suppress crimes to protect and conserve natural resources in the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary.
In the four months of 2026, from January to April 2026, the task force conducted 853 patrols and law enforcement operations, in which a total of 178 natural resource crimes were suppressed, including 132 cases of deforestation, deforestation, and forest land appropriation, 25 cases of logging, 18 cases of wildlife poaching, 2 cases of illegal mining, and 1 case of fishing.
During the same period, the authorities processed and sent 83 cases to court. Among them, there are 13 suspects. At the same time, park rangers have confiscated many other seized items and stored them at the patrol headquarters for further legal procedures.
Please note that in the first four months of 2026, in Cambodia’s protected areas, park rangers have conducted 4,048 law enforcement operations and cracked down on a total of 718 natural resource crimes, including 188 cases of logging, deforestation, and forest land appropriation, 228 cases of forestry crimes, 182 cases of wildlife poaching, 8 cases of illegal mining, and 102 cases of fishing crimes.
At the same time, environmental authorities confiscated vehicles, cars, tractors, and motorcycles, removed traps, and confiscated and confiscated several recycled guns. Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Environment, HE Khwai Atthia, highlighted that this is the effort of park rangers and the cooperation of stakeholders in protecting and conserving natural resources in nature protection areas for generations to come.
However, park rangers remain highly committed to preventing and cracking down on natural resource crimes in accordance with the Environment and Natural Resources Code with the support, encouragement, and strengthening of their ability to use the skills, technology, and equipment of the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Ministry of Environment, and development partners.
At the same time, the Royal Government of Cambodia has placed great emphasis on organizing and strengthening natural resource management mechanisms and conserving biodiversity by helping to further improve the livelihoods of people in local communities by creating new jobs, creating local economies, and increasing income from green development projects.
