Hun Sen Orders Stronger Protection for Prey Lang Sanctuary Amidst Illegal Logging Concerns

Senate President Hun Sen has instructed the authorities of the four provinces surrounding the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary to strengthen their efforts to prevent illegal logging and forest encroachment, issuing a strict warning against allowing one of Cambodia’s most important forests to deteriorate into degraded land. He met with provincial, district and commune authorities, along with the heads of provincial departments in Kratie province today, July 6. Hun Sen called on local authorities to give greater attention to the protection and management of Cambodia’s natural resources, with a particular emphasis on safeguarding the country’s largest remaining lowland evergreen forest. “Authorities in Kratie, Stung Treng, Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear provinces, which share the Prey Lang forest, must work together to prevent illegal logging and ensure the forest does not become degraded,” he said. The Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Cambodia’s most significant protected areas, covering more than 489,000 hectares across the four provinces. It is widely recognised as the largest remaining lowland tropical evergreen forest in mainland Southeast Asia and is home to rich biodiversity, important watersheds and numerous Indigenous communities. The government designated Prey Lang as a wildlife sanctuary in May 2016, later expanding its protected area from approximately 431,683 to 489,663 hectares. Despite its protected status, the forest continues to face pressure from illegal logging and land encroachment. According to a 2022 report by the Prey Lang Community Network, 2021 recorded the highest annual loss of forest cover ever documented in Cambodia, with more than 11,100 hectares disappearing from Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary in that year alone. The report found that since 2000, the sanctuary has lost approximately 67,400 hectares of forest cover — equivalent to around 16 per cent of its original area. Authorities acknowledge that illegal activities remain a serious concern despite ongoing enforcement efforts. Official figures show that during the first four months of 2026, joint patrol teams comprising park rangers, provincial authorities and local communities conducted 853 patrols within the sanctuary. These operations resulted in 178 natural resource crime cases, most involving forest clearance and unlawful logging. Law enforcement officials referred 83 cases to the courts and arrested 13 suspects. During the operations, they seized chainsaws, vehicles and other equipment, while dismantling numerous wildlife snares. The government announced that it will continue strengthening cooperation between provincial authorities, environmental officials and local communities in an effort to preserve Prey Lang’s ecological importance for future generations. Source: Phnom Penh Post