Environment minister Eang Sophalleth visits a nursery while celebrating International Day of Forests in Mondulkiri province on March 21. MOE
Minister of Environment Eang Sophalleth announced that the government is committed to enhancing Cambodia’s greenery. As part of this initiative, the ministry has prepared over 1 million seedlings for distribution to the public at no cost.
During a visit to Mondulkiri province to commemorate the International Day of Forests on March 21, the minister revealed that the saplings are ready to be planted by the public this year, as per a March 24 social media post by the ministry.
Sophalleth explained that the ministry has organised a nursery for the campaign, growing over 1 million seedlings for reforestation, home planting and various other locations starting from the 2024 rainy season.
“Cambodia’s green strategy aligns with the environment ministry’s Circular Strategy, which is part of the first phase of the government’s Pentagonal Strategy. It aims to increase forest cover to 60 per cent by 2050,” he stated.
The ministry plans to hold the Cambodian Green Day event for three days in early July in Phnom Penh, where the seedlings will be distributed at no cost to the public.
Seng Teak, country director of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), emphasised the critical role of forests in both local and national economic development.
“I fully support the government’s policy and the environment ministry’s goal to increase forest cover … along with their strategic plan to plant [the] saplings. The plan is instrumental in encouraging all stakeholders to participate in forest restoration,” he stated.
“Forests are sources of food, water, air and medicine for all people and animals on this planet. I call on everyone to protect our forests and wildlife for the benefit of future generations,” he urged.
The ministry reported that the provincial environment departments had cultivated a total of 1,144,547 saplings so far, with the minister personally planting 370,000.
Capital and provincial environment departments have been progressively handing over the saplings to communities, schools, reforestation projects and other sites, with the number so far reaching 205,678.
