The cadastral survey working group is compiling a list of people who use and rely on land in protected areas and biodiversity conservation corridors under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Environment to prepare a report on land distribution and ownership.

The ministry set a deadline for compiling data and a report for the minister to review. The ministry plans to meet with provincial administrations to discuss the findings.

Sao Sopheap, secretary of state and head of the working group, chaired a meeting on August 5 to review the progress.

Chan Somaly, undersecretary of state and head of the Siem Reap provincial working group, as well as 12 members from the working groups in charge of each district, also attended the meeting.

“After the discussion, chairman Sao Sopheap agreed to examine the possibility of holding a meeting with provincial administrations to set a deadline to complete the collection of data and input to prepare a report for the minister,” the ministry said.

On July 3, 2020, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered the ministers of environment, agriculture and land management to allocate land from state forests, protected areas, and wildlife conservation areas to people.

The prime minister said allocation of land in protected areas for people to own is only offered if they had lived and cultivated the area for 10 to 20 years, especially the people in Koh Kong and Preah Vihear provinces.