Provincial environment office promises legal action against illegal loggers

The head of the Kampong Speu Provincial Environment Department has pushed back against criticism that his office has been slow to protect forests in the Phnom O’ral protected area, saying anyone responsible for illegal logging will be pursued and prosecuted.

Claims of weak response

The office came under scrutiny after recent reports and comments from Tan Kimsour, president of the Nature Lovers Youth Association. He accused the department of failing to act on requests for help to prevent forestry crimes.

In a statement issued on September 29, department director Chan Thet Thanarak expressed regret over the loss of large trees that had been cut down illegally. He said an investigation would be ordered to identify those responsible and bring them before the law.

Kimsour said he had repeatedly sent information and asked for cooperation from Thet Thanarak through social media, but the messages were left unanswered after being read.

He said that whenever he sought assistance, he was told to contact the Ministry of Environment. He questioned why a provincial department exists if residents must still go to the ministry for help when crimes occur within its own area.

According to Kimsour, thousands of large trees have already been felled. He warned that if enforcement efforts remain weak, many more trees could be lost.

Call for stronger local accountability

The environment ministry has urged greater community involvement in protecting natural resources and has directed officials to strengthen their management of natural resources and improve responses to reports of environmental crimes.

Kimsour has also called on Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth to review the performance of local officials and assess how effectively they respond to information from communities and civil society groups.

Thet Thanarak said the provincial department had worked with the O’ral district unified command, local communities, protected-area officials, and natural resource crime enforcement teams. He said support had also come from Wildlife Alliance, Conservation International, journalists, and Kimsour’s group.

He said those partners had carried out enforcement operations against natural resource crimes in Phnom O’ral without making any exceptions.

The department said it would continue investigating to identify perpetrators and others involved and pursue justice under the Environmental and Natural Resources Code.