Cambodia’s Kuy resin forests vanish, threatening livelihoods

Kiripost

More than 4,000 resin trees have disappeared from Cambodia’s Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary since its designation as a protected area in 2016, according to a new study by the Population, Environment and Development Centre (PED). The loss—nearly 24% of the sanctuary’s resin trees—is being blamed on illegal logging, land concessions, and climate change, and is devastating the livelihoods of the Kuy indigenous community.

Preah Roka spans three districts in Preah Vihear province and was meant to safeguard biodiversity while supporting local communities. But between 2015 and 2024, the number of resin trees dropped from 18,050 to 13,860. PED’s interviews with 32 Kuy families revealed widespread economic hardship and fears of cultural erosion.

Morn Sophen, a Kuy farmer managing 1,000 resin trees, said 10% of his trees have been lost since 2019, mostly due to illegal felling deep in the forest. Another villager, Khak Phairith Masi, reported losing 40% of his trees in just one year. Both men described how strong winds and thinning forest cover—exacerbated by deforestation—are now toppling the remaining trees.

For the Kuy, resin tapping is more than a trade—it’s a tradition. Each tree yields three to four cans of resin, sold for 70,000 to 100,000 riel per can. Sophen once earned $750 a month from resin, but now makes less than $200, not enough to cover his $250 monthly loan interest. Masi’s family income has also plummeted, with resin prices falling from 150,000 riel per can in 2012 to just 55,000 riel today.

The decline is pushing families to consider migration, as traditional livelihoods become unsustainable. “If the losses continue, we will surely lose both our jobs and income,” Masi said. His parents have already urged him to seek work outside the community.

Despite the sanctuary’s protected status, 38,000 hectares of tree cover have been lost since 2001. In May 2025 alone, the Kuy community reported 334 forest crimes and counted 600 felled logs. Yet officials deny the scale of illegal activity, claiming resin trees were sold legally by their owners.

The Kuy and other indigenous groups—like the Phnong in Mondulkiri—depend on resin trees across Cambodia’s community forests. But as climate change intensifies and enforcement falters, the future of these forests—and the communities who protect them—hangs in the balance.

-2025-11-09