Officials inspect a fallen Samrong tree, which was illegally felled for its fruit, the malva nut. Environment ministry
Members of forest communities have expressed growing concerns about the continued loss of Scaphium affine trees, which are felled for their fruit. Known as Samrong, or malva nut trees, their fruit is widely used in traditional medicine across the region.
The Ministry of Environment has urged all relevant authorities to pursue the strictest legal measures and prevent the unlawful felling of Samrong trees.
The call for action comes after the ministry observed a noticeable rise in the felling of these trees for their fruit — particularly during the current fruit-harvesting season — in community forests, protected areas and even national parks.
“These activities are causing serious destruction of natural resources and are pushing the Samrong species toward extinction. This is a clear violation of Articles 384 and 386 of the Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources,” noted an April 7 statement from the ministry.
Phou Phorn, a member of the Thmor Roung Natural Forest Community, in Preah Sihanouk province’s Prey Prosit village, in Kampong Seila district’s Bak Roteh commune, reported that many of the trees have been felled during the current fruiting season, which usually runs from April to May.
He warned that the community has yet to catch the perpetrators in the act.
Local officials educate residents not to harvest the fruit by felling an entire tree. Phnom Karvanh, Duong Chit
“The people cutting the trees come from outside the community. We’ve never arrived in time to catch them. All we see are the felled trees, after the fact,” he told The Post, on April 8.
He also noted that while the community counted the number of Samrong trees about seven years ago, he did not remember the numbers that were recorded. The community is currently preparing to install signs warning people not to cut down Sarong trees for fruit.
Phorn explained that fresh Samrong fruit sells for only about 5,000 riel per kilogramme, but dried fruit fetches much higher prices — in some cases up to 100,000 riel per kilogram, especially if it's good quality.
A woman from the Stung Areng Ecotourism Community, in Koh Kong province’s Thma Bang district, also shared her concerns that Samrong trees may become extinct from the Chong indigenous area. She believed that the number of trees was declining every year, due to illegal felling for fruit.
“In the past, there were plenty of Sarong trees, but each year, many were cut down, and now they're getting scarce. Most of the fruit collectors just cut the whole tree down, because they’re tall and hard to climb,” she said, on April 8.
She believed that dried Samrong fruit currently sells for around 30,000 riel per kilogramme, compared to 50,000 riel in previous years.
The environment ministry has instructed all individuals involved in foraging and harvesting non-timber forest products to immediately cease cutting Samrong trees for their fruit, as they are depleting natural resources.
The ministry also called on the public to cooperate by reporting illegal activities to the nearest authorities.
It urged all citizens to help protect and conserve the trees, which are valuable natural resources — for both present and future generations.
The ministry statements concluded by expressing the strong hope that local communities and authorities will enforce the law and eliminate the destruction of Samrong trees.
