Activist Exposes Illegal Logging in Cambodia’s ‘Protected’ Forest

Ma Chetra

An environmental activist has documented the felling of nearly 200 trees inside a Cambodian wildlife sanctuary, revealing what he claims is large-scale illegal logging in a forest the government insists is protected.

Armed with a GPS device and measuring tape, Ma Chetra recorded each stump in the Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary with forensic care. His photos show freshly cut trunks—some up to 1.5 metres wide—alongside coordinates, discarded chainsaws, and scorched earth where controlled fires appear to have cleared underbrush.

The sanctuary, created in 2016 to safeguard biodiversity in Preah Vihear province, is home to wild elephants and supports the forest-dependent Kuy community. But despite its protected status, activists say deforestation is rampant—and accelerating. Cambodia lost 121,000 hectares of forest in 2023 alone, according to Global Forest Watch.

Prime Minister Hun Manet pledged to end illegal logging months after taking office in 2023, urging environment officials to enforce the law with full authority. Yet Ma Chetra’s May 5–7 survey—and a follow-up report from the Kuy community—suggest enforcement remains patchy at best.

The government’s response was swift and dismissive. After Chetra’s interview aired on RFA Khmer, the Environment Ministry issued a statement rejecting the findings as “false,” accusing him of incitement and spreading misinformation. It also hinted at possible legal action.

The Kuy community, however, stood by the activist, corroborating his evidence and warning of deep impacts on local livelihoods and culture. “This forest is our life,” said Kuy activist Khak Pharithmasi, who criticised the ministry for failing to properly investigate before issuing its rebuttal.

Illegal logging has long plagued Cambodia. Between 2002 and 2023, the country lost over a third of its primary forest cover, much of it during the rule of Hun Sen, who once vowed to use rocket launchers against loggers—and even offered his own head if deforestation continued.

For now, Chetra’s images speak louder than promises. With tree stumps mapped and catalogued, the question remains: will the government act—or keep looking the other way?

-2025-05-14