[Cambodia] Village patrol finds logs, no loggers

Villagers patrolling a protected community forest in Mondulkiri province yesterday morning found more than 100 logs of luxury timber, believed to be headed for Vietnam.

The timber, discovered just outside the Trapaing Ka Eu community in Pech Chreada district’s Pou Chrei commune, was logged inside the protected forest, but patrollers found no one logging or transporting the wood, said patroller Chreung Pro, 30.

“[Luxury wood] is gathered and placed outside the community before it is taken to Vietnam for sale,†Pro said yesterday. “Our forest is under the threat of deforestation, so we patrol every day.â€

Since the logs were found outside the protected area, community members did not confiscate the wood, Pro said.

From August to December, patrollers confiscated six chainsaws and more than 15 cubic metres of luxury timber.

Commune police chief Trang Thoeurn yesterday said he was unaware of the discovery.