Cambodia News, (Kampong Chhnang): Sources from the people in Koh Tamov village, Kampong Preah Korkir commune said that the flooded forest land areas were fully occupied by the rich and powerful because the Fisheries Administration and local authorities did not take effective preventive measures. In particular, Mr. Chhour Chandoeun, Governor of Kampong Chhnang Province, and Mr. Ngin Hun, Director of the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Department of Agriculture, kept quiet and allowed the clearing activities to occupy the flooded forest land and spawning grounds. At the same time, there is direct criticism that Mr. Ly La, Director of Fisheries Administration of Kampong Chhnang Province, is the one who opened the hand for the Fisheries Administration Officer in Boribo District to do whatever he wants.

Sources from the people of Koh Tamov village said that in the past few days, the rich and powerful used three tractors to clear the flooded forest land during the closed fishing season in a systematic conspiracy. Therefore Mr. Chhour Chandoeun, Governor of Kampong Chhnang Province, and Mr. Ngin Hun, Director of the Kampong Chhnang Provincial Department of Agriculture, should not be allowed to continue because the flooded forest in the restricted area in Koh Tamov village, Kampong Preah Korki commune, Boribo district is facing destruction.

According to some sources, without the open arms of Boribo District Fisheries Administration officials and Kampong Preah Korki commune chiefs, as well as Boribo district authorities, the encroachment on the flooded forest land in Pong Koun fish sanctuary in Koh Tamov commune Kampong Preah Korki could not happen. Residents of Koh Tamov village suspect that commune and district authorities and fisheries administration officials have benefited from clearing and encroaching on flooded forest land.


Therefore, the villagers say that Mr. Veng Sakhon, Minister of Agriculture, and Mr. Pum Sotha, Director of Fisheries Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, should immediately review the situation, because top provincial officials such as the Director of Kampong Chhnang Provincial Department of Agriculture, Mr. Ngin Hun and Mr. Ly La, Director of Kampong Chhnang Provincial Fisheries Administration, are allowing the encroachment on protected areas.

Loss of Flooded Forests Surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake Results in Fish Decline
Cambodianess 06/04/2021 6:35 PM

The Tonle Sap Lake is the beating heart of Cambodia, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, and one of the most productive and biodiverse wetlands in the world.

The flooded forests and floodplains that surround the lake provide shelter and food for many migrating and resident fish species.

The flooded forest is also a prime area for livelihood activities, as seen in these aerial view photographs, where arrow-shaped fishing traps and farmlands have been created within the flooded forests that surround the Tonle Sap Lake.

Unfortunately, the Tonle Sap Lake is continually under threat from natural and human-created factors. Since 2015, a lack of rain due to El Niño conditions and the operation of dams on the Mekong River have contributed to severely low water levels in the Tonle Sap Lake. Low water levels and dry conditions are then exacerbated by climate change, most notably by the increase and consistency of extreme heat and drought.

In recent years, these conditions fueled flooded forest fires throughout the region. While some fires occur from natural fires, like lightning strikes, humans also contribute to the problem. Some forest fires are started accidentally by people burning grass or firewood to make smoke for harvesting honey. People also accidentally start fires by throwing cigarette buds on dried leaves or grasses or not properly extinguishing cooking fires. Even more concerning, some forest fires are set intentionally, when people cut and burn down flooded forests to clear the area and convert it into farmland. Some also use deforestation to claim land ownership.

All of these factors, both from nature and humans, contribute to the loss of flooded forests that are an important refuge and nursery habitat for fish. This compounds the threats that endanger the fish populations in the Tonle Sap Lake. In addition, overfishing and destructive fishing practices are serious contributors to declining fish populations. It is common for fishers to set long arrow-shaped traps (Lob Lok) that completely block river channels and catch many fish in the process. Unfortunately, in order to set the traps, some of the trees on the border of the forest have to be cut down and sometimes even more trees are cut down to be used as poles to stabilize the trap.

The use of illegal fishing gears is also common, most of which target a large variety of fish including the more vulnerable species. Unless practices are changed, the loss of flooded forest habitat, damaging fishing practices, and use of illegal fishing gear could all contribute to rapid fish population decline in the Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong River.

Wonders of the Mekong urges fishers and people living near the Tonle Sap Lake to be mindful about how their actions can endanger the flooded forests and the fish that live there. Let's join together and help sustain the flooded forests to protect fish populations and keep the Tonle Sap Lake and Mekong River healthy.

By Chhut Chheana/ USAID Wonders of the Mekong
https://cambodianess.com/article/loss-o ... sh-decline

More accusations have been made by Kampong Chhnang villagers against local tycoons claiming protected land in flooded forests:


Cambodia News (Kompong Chhnang Province): people in Po village/commune, Kompong Leng district, requested the new mayor Sun Sovannrithy, the successor of the former mayor Chhour Chandoeun, to put a stop to the deforestation and destruction of the swamp forest by the rich and powerful.


The most recent complaint was made on June 23, when tractors and people were seen chopping down the trees and clearing the land in three different prohibited zones.

UPDATE on Kampong Chhnang:


Cambodia News,(Kampong Chhnang): On the evening of July 5, 2021, a joint team consisting of the commune chief, community and local police officers went to investigate a protected flooded forest site in Korki commune, Kampong Chhnang.

Regarding this case, Mr. Tat Sihak, Director of Fisheries Administration, on July 6, 2021, confirmed by telephone that the inspection took place following a report from the people of Kampong Preah Korki commune related to environmental crimes of destroying protected flooded forest land.

After examination of the site, it was found that the flooded forest was damaged over a total of more than 8 hectares, of which 1 hectare was newly cut and more than 7 hectares were cut last year.
In this case, the competent authorities will continue to search for the relevant suspects in order to build a case according to the procedure and send them to court for forestry crimes.

UPDATE
3 December 2021
Subsequent investigation by the state has confirmed the villagers' accusations of land-grabbing flooded forest land and corruption by local officials:
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