News
Abundant and sustainable talipot palm trees supply natural products
Cambodia has millions of sugar palms dotting the countryside and the multi-purpose tree is a national icon. Another lesser-known type of palm tree – the talipot palm – is not as common in Cambodia and has had less obvious uses traditionally for agriculture or industry. Now, ...
Roth Sochieata
Coal-powered developments threaten Cambodia’s largest national park
Cambodia’s government has granted permission for a new special economic zone (SEZ) and coal-fired power plant within the lush Botum Sakor National Park in coastal Koh Kong province. The SEZ would create another loosely regulated industrial area within a biodiverse primary forest. Late last year, Koh ...
Danielle Keeton-Olsen
Illegal company stopped from filling flooded forest in Banteay Meanchey
An illegal company that was not identified was stopped by authorities from filling in a protected flooded forest area in Banteay Meanchey province. Some villagers in Preah Netr Preah district’s Rohal commune said that in less than one year, 300 hectares were cleared and filled and ...
Yin Soeum
Is there such a thing as a ‘green’ SEZ in Cambodia?
Svay Rieng, a town in south-eastern Cambodia, is both a gateway to Vietnam and for more than a decade now a hotbed of Cambodian industrial development. But a lack of compliance with environmental and labour regulations has raised tensions with local communities. The region is home ...
Chan Muyhong
Lower Mekong Basin project underway to ensure water security
A $15 million project to enhance cross-border groundwater management and strengthen water security in the Lower Mekong Basin is being developed by Cambodia and Vietnam, with a focus on improved governance and sustainable utilisation of the Cambodia-Mekong river delta transboundary aquifer. “The project will benefit both ...
Lay Samean
Firm to plant 10M eucalyptus trees in Kratie, Stung Treng
Think Biotech (Cambodia) Co Ltd plans to plant 10 million eucalyptus trees on nearly 10,000ha in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces from May to August this year and is also looking for partners to plant more trees, according to the company’s report seen by the ...
Orm Bunthoeurn
Four homes collapse into the Mekong River
Four of the 26 houses in danger of sliding into the Mekong River collapsed on Sunday leaving 16 families homeless. The accident took place at around 2.30pm in Kandal province’s Loeuk Dek district, in Prek Dach commune, due to heavy rain and wind. Major Lonh Samnang, Prek ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
Turtle hatchlings released into Mekong
Marking World Turtle Day on May 23, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS Cambodia) in collaboration with the Fisheries Administration and Kratie provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries have released 100 endangered Cantor’s giant softshell turtles into the Mekong River in Kratie province. WCS country director ...
Ry Sochan
Fishermen resort to illegal methods to make ends meet
With Covid-19 rearing its head along the Mekong River, desperate fishermen have been resorting to illegal methods during the closed season to feed their families. Om Savath, an executive director of Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT) – a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working on fisheries, environmental issues, ...
Mao Chanvireak
New Pursat dam project 90% finished
The construction of the Damnak Chheu Krom dam in Pursat province – consisting of one main levee and over 90km of irrigation canals – is now is over 90 per cent complete and is expected to go online by next month. The canals will provide water ...
Voun Dara