King Norodom Sihamoni officiates the Tree Planting Ceremony during the 29th National Arbour Day celebration with a symbolic first shovelful of dirt at Banteay Angkor Forest Rehabilitation Station in Takeo province’s Tram Kak district on July 9. Royal du Cambodge
His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni stated that planting trees is of great benefit to the nation, creating green cover in nature and offering advantages for all humans and animals on Earth.
The King made the statement while presiding over the Tree Planting Ceremony on the 29th National Arbour Day at the Banteay Angkor Forest Rehabilitation Station in Takeo province’s Tram Kak district on July 9. The ceremony was also attended by leaders at all levels.
The national event was initiated by the late King Norodom Sihanouk during the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era, regularly presiding over the ceremony each year in the provinces to inspire and encourage his people to take care of the forest and plant trees throughout the country.
“National Arbour Day is a wonderful tradition in which all monks, national authorities at all levels and compatriots from all over the country participate in planting trees. This common vision emphasises that planting trees and protecting the forest is an act of self-help and daily livelihood, providing safety from natural disasters and hope for our future generations,” said the King.
He also thanked friendly countries for their support in the conservation of forest resources and wildlife and called for the continuation of these activities to aid the efforts of the government and for the benefit of the entire world.
He officiated the day, saying it should “be in the heart of every Cambodian and become a tradition of unity, involving the planting of all kinds of trees and the preservation, protection and development of our national forest and wildlife resources, which are our national heritage to be preserved for future generations”.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina addressed the event, noting that a total of 3,000 saplings of hardwood species were planted on three hectares of land to celebrate the occasion.
He said in 2024, the ministry’s forestry administration completed the planting of 16,500 saplings on another 10 hectares of land at the Sokrom Forest Extension and Restoration Station in Samrong Commune of Pursat province’s Phnom Kravanh district.
He also highlighted that as of 2024, the day’s celebrations have led to the establishment of 475 hectares of Arbour Day gardens in 14 capital-provinces. The minister noted that celebrating the day has also fostered a forest-loving movement, resulting in the creation of tree plantations on over 80,000 hectares of land and the establishment of gardens in public and private spaces.
In addition, he said the forestry administration had planted more than 20.5 million saplings through the state budget by 2024.
“With the ability to plant seedlings and distribute trees, we provide more than 500,000 people annually with seedlings, while millions more are produced and planted privately, not including fruit trees and other industrial crops,” Tina said.
He also stated that in relation to the conservation and development of forest resources, the ministry has been implementing strategies and activities such as promoting the registration of state land and strengthening the management of that land more effectively, particularly the administration of community forests and land in care of reforestation bases.
In addition, he said the ministry is addressing the demand for timber for domestic use by advocating for the plantation industry and encouraging people to plant trees for use, thereby reducing pressure on natural resources.
Tina noted the ministry is also increasing seedling production to support tree planting activities throughout the country and strengthening the prevention of natural resource crimes through close cooperation with the National Committee for Prevention and Crackdown on Natural Resources Crimes, along with sub-national authorities.
In connection with tree planting, the Ministry of Environment is organising an exhibition to promote and distribute seedlings under the theme ‘Ponlok Baitong’ (the sprouting of green seedlings) from July 10-16 at the ministry and the capital-provincial environment departments.
“Ponlok Baitong is about cultivating a mindset of greenery for Cambodia, as well as fostering a spirit and mindset of the public from all walks of life to love greenery and trees,” said environment minister Eang Sophalleth.
He added that the effort was organised to exhibit and distribute more than one million saplings for people to plant at homes, schools, pagodas, public spaces and private properties free of charge.
Sophalleth noted the event also aims to raise awareness of the importance of planting trees to increase green forest cover in the country and promote biodiversity conservation, adding that the ministry seeks participation from all stakeholders in line with the ongoing environmental strategies, focused on three strategic angles: clean, green and sustainable.
