Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Sale Rumors (UPDATE: Works Stopped)

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Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Sale Rumors (UPDATE: Works Stopped)

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

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Cambodia News, Takeo province: According to local news outlet Kohsantepheap Daily, a reliable source has confirmed that the some of the forest land of Phnom Tamao Zoo, which is a sanctuary for animals, is to be cut, and about 300 hectares may fall into the hands of traders soon, under the pretext of unknown development.
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According to Mr. Nheb Sron, Director of Takeo Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, he did not know who to turn to for the correct information, and he does not know which company is involved because the Takeo Provincial Administration has handed over the management to the Takeo Provincial Cadastral and Construction Department.

This news remains officially unconfirmed. So far, our reporters [at Kohsantepheap daily] have not asked for clarification from Mr. Nuon Sothea, Director of the Cadastral and Construction Department of Takeo Province, who is busy with New Year, but when we get more information, we will publish more.
- Kohsantepheap Daily
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Re: Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Sale Rumors

Post by John Bingham »

That's ominous. There's a surprisingly big forest around the hill, especially to the north. Ripe for picking I guess. Looking forward to loads of concreted over eco-resorts.
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Re: Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Sale Rumors

Post by AndyKK »

I love to hear about those eco projects.
Always "hope" but never "expect".
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Re: Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Sale Rumors

Post by Bitte_Kein_Lexus »

Interesting and glad to see a whistleblower. Would be interesting to learn more about it. I go to the area fairly frequently and there have been massive changes. Huge road upgrades and farms have been built (pork/milk), ring roads and 2-3 years ago they started digging massive holes south of the zoo to haul dirt elsewhere. They've fenced off most of the forested area, so not sure how/why someone would try to 'steal' land. I mean, the trees in the forest are of no real use (though locals are often in there getting firewood), but it's literally the only forested area south of the capital (not counting Bokor and a few other odd patches I guess). The surrounding land is barren and mostly deserted, so not sure why anyone would want 'more' land, but greed knows no limits?
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Re: Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Sale Rumors

Post by Arget »

A rumour is that the relative (daughter) who owns a dairy project has been granted this land to expand the business.
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Re: Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Sale Rumors

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VOD follows up the report of land clearing around Phnom Tamao, which originated from the local news outlet Kohsantepheap Daily:

Conservation Group Raises Concern Over Protected Mountain Forest
3 min read
Khut Sokun
| Wed Apr 27, 2022 4:51 pm
[excerpt]
Government spokesman Phay Siphan said he did not know about plans to clear protected forests in Phnom Tamao, while Takeo province’s Bati district governor Poun Chhim referred questions to the Agriculture Ministry. Takeo provincial agriculture department director Nheb Srun and Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon could not be reached.

Kuy Tong, deputy director of the Forestry Administration-run Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center, said he didn’t know about clearing plans in the Phnom Tamao area, though people outside the protected area were pursuing developments.

“I am working at the Tamao zoological center. The zoo is not facing clearing. But for people surrounding here, they are clearing to build roads. This is the development of the people,” Tong said.

According to a government website, the Phnom Tamao mountain area covers around ​​2,500 hectares, of which 1,200 hectares are protected forests under the Agriculture Ministry. The wildlife center is based on 70 hectares, it says.

Local newspaper Koh Santepheap on April 19 cited Takeo provincial agriculture director Srun as saying that about 300 hectares of forest land on Phnom Tamao was being considered for development, pending approval from the government.

Over the past couple of years, the government has been privatizing vast swaths of state land, including 127,000 hectares of Koh Kong’s parks — or more than 11 percent of the province’s 1.1 million hectares. Other plots have gone to well-connected individuals and businesses, such as the children of the prime minister and land minister, and wife of a ruling party senator.

Residents around the country have accused forest rangers of targeting small-scale loggers while enabling larger, well-connected timber trafficking businesses to continue. However, the Environment Ministry has repeatedly said that large-scale logging no longer exists in the country.
Article in full: https://vodenglish.news/conservation-gr ... in-forest/
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Re: Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Sale Rumors

Post by CEOCambodiaNews »

The rumor of the sale, (or what appears to be the exchange of land by the state), of some land belonging to Phnom Tamao Zoo to a private enterprise has been confirmed by Meas Uy, Takeo provincial director of administration, who said yesterday that “it is true that the Phnom Tamao land was handed over to a private company." The company has not been named.

May 6, 2022
Over 800 hectares of Takeo wildlife land given to firm

In an exchange for state land in Kampong Chhnang and Siem Reap provinces, about 800 hectares of Phnom Tamao Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Centre (PTWRC) in Takeo province was handed over to a private company for development.

A Council of Ministers’ letter on January 14 stated that the government had agreed to give 300 hectares of Phnom Tamao zoo land and 500 hectares of Phnom Tamao Forestry Administration land to the private company.

The 300 hectares of land was exchanged for 400 hectares of land in Toek Phos district, Kampong Chhnang province for construction and development.

The other 500 hectares of Phnom Tamao Forestry Administration land was in exchange for development of the 250-hectare Salan Angkor Zoo in Banteay Srei and Svay Loeu districts in Siem Reap province.

Meas Uy, Takeo provincial director of administration, said yesterday that “it is true that the Phnom Tamao land was handed over to a private company. This was a national-level government decision not a provincial one.”

Uy added that he wasn’t sure what will be developed, and didn’t know the name of the private company involved in the land exchange. However, the government has clearly researched the arrangement with the private company.

“It will not impact Tamao zoo’s environment or conservation area as the private company has made an agreement with the government,” said Uy.

Takeo provincial deputy governor Ly Saveth said yesterday that PTWRC is controlled by the Ministry of Agriculture and is an important conservation area.

“The provincial administration will investigate the land deal as the Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center is an important conservation area in the province,” he said.

Wildlife conservationists expressed dismay after learning about reports of forest land being cleared in and around PTWRC.

On its Facebook page, Wildlife Alliance official Nick Marx said that in collaboration with other partner organisations and the Forestry Administration, it has conserved and released many species of wildlife in PTWRC.

Marx said that currently the zoological park has the largest number of animals, including rare species, compared to other places in Cambodia.

Marx added that he recently received information about forest land being cleared in and around PTWRC.

“This plan will destroy the forest, which is a good location for many rare species of wildlife and a good place in the countryside for Cambodians and tourists to visit. I have been conserving wildlife in Cambodia for more than 20 years,” said Marx.

“I am small and powerless, but I have a heart for animals and nature. I and other conservationists requested [Prime Minister] HE to help protect Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Centre as a safe haven for wildlife and a natural recreation area for people near Phnom Penh,” said Marx.

Takeo provincial agriculture department officials could not be reached for comment.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501070138/ ... n-to-firm/
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Re: Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Sale Rumors

Post by truffledog »

Part of the general sell out of Cambodia. What a shame. Just ruthless. Those guys getting the cash have no remorse at all. Sure it wont be the last piece of the cake sold to "developpers"
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Re: Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Sale Rumors

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No harm to north Takeo wildlife area, Sakhon says
Orm Bunthoeurn | Publication date 18 May 2022 | 21:43 ICT

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon said the development projects and land swap taking place in the Phnom Tamao area will not affect the Phnom Tamao Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Centre (PTWRC) or the wildlife sanctuary covering 400ha there.

In a letter to the Council of Ministers dated April 28 seen by The Post on May 18, Sakhon’s statements were apparently made to allay concerns raised by the NGO Wildlife Alliance.

The information about land swaps at the sanctuary drew concern from Wildlife Alliance founder and CEO Suwanna Gauntlett, who sought immediate intervention from Prime Minister HE to halt the 500ha land swap that was allegedly being done so the land could be developed by an unspecified private company.

Gauntlett requested a courtesy call with the premier and sought his intervention to stop the development plan overseen by the ministry.

She said that should the project plan be approved and implemented, the Phnom Tamao area – located in Takeo province’s Bati district – would be split into two parts, affecting “more than 1,000 wildlife species and their habitats”.

She noted that it would also affect the reputation of the PTWRC, destroy all of Cambodia’s achievements of the last 20 years in environmental protection and make it impossible for her NGO to continue contributing to the project.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ ... akhon-says
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Re: Phnom Tamao Zoo Land Sale Rumors

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