New Report Shows Huge Loss of Cambodia’s Forest

[geovalin]

Hul Reaksmey, VOA Khmer

Economic land concessions are having a huge impact on Cambodia’s northeastern forests, a new reports shows.

The report, “Logs and Patronage: Systematic Illegal Logging and the Destruction of State Forests and Protected Areas,” focuses on Virachey National Park and the provinces of Ratanakkiri and Stung Treng, where indigenous people have relied on forests for generations, but where luxury timber has proven lucrative for companies.

“Many companies have carried out logging in this area, surrounding and inside this park, including An Mady Group, Kith Meng Group, the tycoon Limm Bunna, Mong Rithy Company, Hoang Anh Gialai, Jaing Li Company and Men Sarun Co., Ltd.,” the report says. “The logging started in 2006 and was carried out on until 2013.”

read more: http://www.voacambodia.com/content/new-report-shows-huge-loss-of-cambodia-forest/2933337.html

[boomerangutang]

I'm not surprised. SE Asians cannot be trusted with managing their forests. There's a war raging against the environment, and nature is losing every battle. Most of the blame can be laid on China's lap - as they have zero awareness of the sanctity of nature. Their God is money. All else is secondary.

[sexybabe]

What forest? When I was there, I hardly saw a tree... Cambodia is like the Kolkata of Southeast Asia...

[sexybabe]

I'm not surprised. SE Asians cannot be trusted with managing their forests. There's a war raging against the environment, and nature is losing every battle. Most of the blame can be laid on China's lap - as they have zero awareness of the sanctity of nature. Their God is money. All else is secondary.

The Japs are also great in the destruction of nature, they seem generally empathy-depraved towards anything that lives, human, animal or plant...

[HannahD]

For a little "nostalgia." Sometime well over 100 years ago the Kingdom of Thailand engaged British foresters to devise a plan to manage the teak forests of Thailand. The plan devised was quite simple. One mature teak tree per hectare could be harvested every 30 months and the forests would last forever.

[geovalin]

In Northeast, One Company Controls Nearly All Illegal Logging: Report

Hul Reaksmey, VOA Khmer

A new report on illegal logging in Cambodia’s northeastern forests portrays a single company with essentially a monopoly on the illicit trade.

The report, conducted by a consortium of development and rights NGOs, says the Try Pheap Group controls illegal logging in Ratanakkiri and Stung Treng provinces, forcing illegal loggers to sell to them and quietly consolidating power in the trade since 2013.

Try Pheap representatives declined to comment on the report, which gives extensive descriptions of the companies operations.

If loggers are caught trying to move timber without Try Pheap, they will be sent back to the company, which pays about half market price, the report says.

Meanwhile, villagers in the provinces will cut down luxury timber, store it behind their homes, and wait for a buyer to come. Some loggers manage to sell timber along the borders with Laos and Vietnam, but it is not easy to do without Try Pheap, the report says.

Private loggers must pay cash to the armed forces if they want to escape the influence of the company, the report says. If they don’t pay, the luxury timber is confiscated and brought to Try Pheap representatives. Motorbikes pay the lowest bribes, around $10, while cars must pay up to $100 for passage, the report says.

The 121-page report also says members of the military, military police and police and some senior government officials are all working for Try Pheap. The group makes annual payments to forestry officials, environmental rangers, provincial and local authorities and check-point security officers, the report says. All this ensures the timber moves freely.

Srun Darith, an adviser to the Ministry of Environment, called the report’s findings “baseless.” He warned that the report could be used as evidence in legal complaints.

The subtitle of the report, “systematic illegal logging and the destruction of state forests and protected areas,” should be changed, he said, to: “the forest situation of the two provinces.” This will ensure it is not seen as an “attack” on the government or others. The report should also look at the positive steps the government has made to protect the forest, he said.

However, the report does note that Cambodia has the right laws in place to protect forests, but they must be enforced.

Tek Vannara, executive director of NGO Forum, said the report could be a tool to find a solution to combat deforestation. “We are happy to continue putting the report up for further discussion with relevant parties to find a solution.”

source: http://www.voacambodia.com/content/in-northeast-one-company-controls-nearly-all-illegal-logging-report/2934773.html

[ableguy]

I'm not surprised. SE Asians cannot be trusted with managing their forests. There's a war raging against the environment, and nature is losing every battle. Most of the blame can be laid on China's lap - as they have zero awareness of the sanctity of nature. Their God is money. All else is secondary.

Money is God in Thailand too, didn't you ever notice ?