The aftermath of a poacher’s fire in the Techo Sen Russey Treb Park in Preah Vihear province. Sot Samnang
Around 30 per cent of the forest area at the Techo Sen Russey Treb Park – which spans over 10,000 hectares in Preah Vihear province’s Chheb district – has been destroyed by fire, resulting in the loss of wildlife and numerous trees.
Sot Samnang, director of the park, shared that the fires were set by a small number of people living in the surrounding areas.
“The fire has affected approximately 20 to 30 per cent of the park’s land. It’s been widespread. The dry season is extremely hot, but the main cause is human activity. Specifically, local villagers are responsible,” he said.
He explained that, as is usual during the dry season, some villagers set fire to the forest while hunting or harvesting forest products.
“They set fires to flush out the animals. This leads to the destruction of the forest itself, which is home to many species of wildlife. Many animals cannot escape the fire. The trees that were felled during the rainy season, and some that were illegally cut down, are also being burned. We deeply regret this,” he added.
Samnang noted that there are 16 communities near the park, which is administered by the Royal Academy of Cambodia.
The park’s management team and local authorities regularly engage in educational outreach and awareness campaigns to promote forest conservation efforts. However, he observed that some people continue to engage in illegal activities, such as setting fires for hunting.
“We urge them to stop and think about the benefits for future generations. They are destroying the forest and its products, which are habitats for many species of wildlife, just for the short-term gain of catching one or two animals,” he said.
“If we can preserve the forest and its products, we could generate from 200,000 to 300,000 dollars annually,” he added.
Samnang also acknowledged that many community members are involved in the legal harvesting of forest products, such as mushrooms, bamboo, palm fruit and resin.
In 2024, there were similar fires in the area, which not only caused damage to wildlife but also affected the original structures of the ancient Khmer ironworks which can be found there. The region is widely accepted to have been the source for most of the iron used in the ancient city of Angkor.
Sok Touch, director of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, shared a video of one of the fires to his social media.
He pointed out that illegal burning occurs every year, despite efforts to bring the issue to the attention of the authorities.
“Even if we plant new trees, they won’t survive because every year, they’re burned, and there’s no lasting impact. First, they set the fire, then they grab the land, even if we hire them to plant trees. When they set the fire, it's easier for them to hunt animals and trap them,” he explained.
He disclosed that he is involved in discussions with the Ministry of Environment to develop joint cooperation efforts to prevent illegal activities and work together on preserving the area for future generations.
The ministry has issued guidelines regarding forest fires and has warned of legal action against those who illegally cut down, burn or occupy forest land.
According to the Environmental and Natural Resources Law, Article 849, subsection (kh), anyone who is responsible for causing a forest fire through negligence, carelessness or failure to comply with safety procedures will face a fine ranging from 10 million to 100 million riel ($2,500 to $25,000), as well as from one month to one year imprisonment.
Article 851 adds that anyone who intentionally causes a forest fire will face from five to ten years of imprisonment.
Article 43 of the 2015 Regulation on Waste Management and Collection specifies that individuals who burn public waste in prohibited areas such as roads, farmland or areas under municipal or district administration may be fined from 50,000 to 1 million riel ($12.50 to $250). They will also be responsible for cleaning up and removing the waste.
