Kampot provincial authorities planted more than 7,000 palm saplings along the Cambodia-Vietnam border with the intention of preserving the unique Khmer identity of the land for future generations, as well as to attract visitors to the border area.

Chan Rithy, director of the Kampot provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said on August 9 that palm trees have long been linked to the Kingdom’s identity. Cambodians have long believed that wherever palm trees grow, that land is Cambodia’s.

Planting the trees along the border will not only help preserve the Kingdom’s rich cultural identity, but will also bring the numerous other benefits that palms provide, including fruit, leaves, and the strong trunks, which can be used for construction.

“We are planting them along the border so the next generation will know that the area belongs to Cambodia. The attractive trees will also attract visitors,” said Rithy.

He said that the authorities had urged the general public and local authorities to work with the agriculture department and forestry administration to establish a park full of palms.

They requested that people plant more of the trees wherever empty land is available, such as at schools, pagodas and any other locations near the border.

In the first two weeks of the initiative, 7,500 palm saplings were planted along the border in Anlong Thngan village, in Kampong Trach district’s Russey Srok Keut commune. Students, members of the armed forces, the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia, and the Cambodia Girl Scouts all participated in the campaign.

Provincial governor Mao Thonin attended the event on July 7, noting that approximately 5km had been successfully planted.

Prime Minister Hun Sen also recently issued called for the public to preserve the Kingdom’s unique palm trees, saying that their benefits could not be underestimated.