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May 17, 2018


Nearly 10,000 hectares of protected areas of Mondulkiri forests have been destroyed, according to a report by local news outlet CEN. Residents living in the jungle area near Ravak village, Rory commune, Koh Nuk district, say that for more than a year, they have seen large numbers of migrant workers arriving from different provinces, coming to clear 'protected' forest land .

That's a rather low estimation. Do they mean in the past month/ year or what?

I remember back in 2012, a good friend of mine told me "If you want to see Germain's Peacock Pheasant, Green Peafowl and possibly Leopard in Cambodia then go sooner rather than later". Took his advise, and visited that area in 2014. It was beautiful pristine rain forest, although chain saws could be heard in the distance. I connected with all the species above and also another 86 bird species including Giant Ibis and White Shouldered Ibis. These Photo's are disgusting. Doubt anyone will see anything now. Glad I went.

More information on the Mondulkiri forest clearance.

Mondulkiri: 6 people have been summoned for investigation into the destruction of nearly 10,000 hectares of protected forest area which has been illegally cleared to provide agricultural land. A businessman named Keo Vuthey, is believed to be in charge of the clearance which has been going on for over a year.

The photos show the destruction at Koh Nhae district in Mondulkiri.

I have not googled it, but wonder how this compares to forest destruction in Brazil.

In summer 2010 I drove a Honda dream from Ratanakiri to Monduliri with my Khmer friend (he drove his own). The trip from Ban Lung to Sem Monorom took us two days back then, although we were able to reach Koh Neak after dark on day one. OK, it was the rainy season, so we had to carry the bikes across some streams, but still...

On the way back, still in Mondulkiri, we visited someone my friend knew, I think a friend of his sister, and he was working at a MAJOR deforestation project. Big machines, large areas, no trees spared.

These days one can travel from Ban Lung to Koh Neak in less than 1.5 hours and all you will see is Palm oil plantations. That's called development I guess. This is not something that started yesterday, it's a many-year-process.

Ah, so that's what protected means.

Felgerkarb wrote: ↑Wed May 23, 2018 5:04 pm Ah, so that's what protected means.

Protected from the poor is the correct spelling.

Who needs trees, anyway? They steal oxygen and make people faint or even die.

Rithy and Chanthou: Scene 1: A beautiful but deforested protected area northern Cambodia.

Rithy: Who needs trees, anyway? They steal oxygen and make people faint or even die.
Chanthou: But Rithy, you know what happens when there's no trees?
Rithy: No Chanthou, what?
Chanthou: There will be no jungles.
Rithy: So?
Chanthou: Rithy, no jungles means no tigers!
Rithy: So what?
Chanthou: Rithy, no tigers means no tiger balm!
Rithy: Chanthou! Lets start replanting immediately!