A joint force of between 700 and 800, military and law enforcement personnel has been deployed across Pursat province to crack down on illegal forest land encroachment.

Almost 40,000 hectares of forest have been reclaimed from illegal occupation, with plans in place to restore the forest, particularly in the Cardamom Mountains area.

In an interview with journalists led by the Club of Cambodian Journalists last week, Pursat provincial governor Khoy Rida explained that as head of the provincial administrative command, he mobilised forces across all commune administrations to prevent illegal logging and encroachment on forests, especially in areas protected by royal decree. 

“I have called for all illegal activities to be curbed. To support this, personnel from the national and subnational levels have been deployed to halt all illegal forest land encroachments.

“These joint forces are now stationed permanently in every commune, with the equipment they need to perform their duties. We are providing them with everything they need to carry out their work. Land management must be enforced, or else the land will be lost,” he said. 

“Even when they are not on patrol, they are on standby, ready to intervene immediately when they receive information about illegal activities,” he continued.

The governor added that 39,755 hectares of forest land have already been reclaimed. In some areas, however, the land has yet to be recovered. He explained that the encroachments did not begin when he assumed office as Pursat governor at the end of 2022.

"Some people claimed that the forest crimes started when I took over as governor. That is not true. The deforestation didn’t just happen just a few days after my arrival. When I took office, I immediately requested clear policy from the government to take action because this issue has been ongoing for some time. I’m not blaming any previous administration," he noted.

He did not disclose the number of individuals who were determined to be involved or behind the illegal activities, but did say that those found to be involved came from over 20 different provinces. 

He highlighted that initially, only a small number of people were involved, but due to a lack of enforcement, they began encouraging others to encroach on the forest land, presenting a challenge that needs to be addressed.

The primary issues include the loss of forest resources and natural beauty, as well as negative impacts on water sources. Additionally, the illegal settlements imposed a burden on local authorities, who then have to address infrastructure needs such as roads, electricity, water, hospitals, and schools, while priority targets in the province remained under-resourced.

Addressing nearly 60 journalists from 37 media outlets, he said, "We enforce the law on criminals, but our primary approach is education. Only when we run out of options do we take legal action. If we were to imprison too many people, where would we find the resources to feed them? And where would we keep them? I’m not advocating for lawlessness, but if education fails, then measures must be taken.”

He also emphasised that the actions of the authorities must be thoroughly considered from all angles.

“We must consider the resources, the livelihoods of the people and the government’s policies. If the authorities were to act recklessly, it would be disastrous, not only for the people but for ourselves as well. We need to think carefully and act based on the situation,” he said.

In managing and protecting these forest lands, the governor has placed the responsibility primarily on local authorities, including himself as the head of the provincial administrative command, down to the district, commune, and village levels. Additionally, the Ministry of Environment also plays a role in wildlife sanctuaries.

“I must take full responsibility for my actions. If I, as the provincial leader, do not act, who will? The environment ministry has limited forces. Protecting these natural resources is my responsibility, but I rely on the collective strength of all of us, including those directly enforcing the law, those providing resources, and those offering ideas, all of whom are involved in the protection efforts," he said. 

He explained that he and Minister of Mines and Energy Keo Ratanak, who is also the head of the government’s working group assisting Pursat province, are committed to jointly safeguarding these resources. Furthermore, there are plans to reforest the reclaimed land, particularly on the mountain bases and further upwards, with hopes for cooperation from all relevant institutions and development partners.

“Some mountain tops have suffered significant losses. I won’t elaborate much, but during my tenure, I must ensure that these mountains are reforested. We haven’t started replanting yet because we are currently working on the lower areas,” he said.

The governor expressed confidence that within approximately five years, the reforestation efforts would be successful and noted that during this rainy season, trees have already begun to regrow in several areas that were previously deforested.

Tan Kimsour head of the Nature Lovers Youth Association, noted the Pursat governor’s commitment to combating forest crimes. Notably, a significant illegal logging operation that had persisted for many years was recently brought to an end. The operation was led by an individual named Koh Sophy, also known as Ta Hoy, who is now facing legal action.

“His Excellency is a leader who speaks the truth and acts accordingly. I have seen that he is deeply committed to protecting natural resources. In the short time that I have worked with him, I have witnessed remarkable effectiveness,” he said.