Cambodia Strengthens Forest Protection with Trench Excavation Against Illegal Logging

In the Ou Das Skol community forest area of Snadan district, Kampong Thom province, Cambodia, trench excavation along the boundaries is being intensified to counter illegal logging and land encroachment for private ownership of state land. On the morning of September 23, 2026, Major General Som Son, accompanied by Mok Narin, Head of the Forestry Administration of Snadan District, led colleagues, along with the deputy chief and members of the Ou Das Skol community, to inspect the trench excavation work along the border. This initiative aims to prevent the illegal felling of trees and the seizure of state land for private use in the Ou Das Skol area. Mok Narin reported that the Ou Das Skol community forest, which was 1135 hectares before 2024, has seen an increase of approximately 619 hectares by 2024, bringing the currently managed area to 1754 hectares. In accordance with the directives of the Kampong Thom Provincial Administration, measures are being taken to protect this community forest. The Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, in collaboration with the community, is undertaking the excavation of trenches along the border to facilitate management, addressing past instances of clandestine logging and encroachment by unscrupulous individuals. The plan is to excavate trenches spanning 8000 meters. Currently, 4570 meters have been completed, with the remaining 3430 meters to be done. However, due to unfavorable rainy weather conditions, the trench excavation work has been temporarily suspended and will resume at a later date to ensure the protection of the Ou Das Skol community forest from further loss. Major General Som Son expressed his profound gratitude to His Excellency Noun Pharat, Governor of Kampong Thom Province, for his diligent attention to measures for protecting and preventing natural resource crimes, particularly the management of state forest land. The provincial administration has already completed over 60 kilometers of boundary trench excavation in the Boeng Lvea commune area of Santuk district, Kampong Thom province. Major General Som Son instructed all forces of the Kampong Operational Area Command of Kampong Thom on duty to cooperate closely with the specialized forces of the Forestry Administration and the forest community. He emphasized the need for the strictest measures to protect the Ou Das Skol community forest and prevent any encroachment on state forest land for private ownership. He stated that any individual committing the offense of logging and encroaching on state forest land in this area must be arrested, along with the means used in the commission of the crime, and handed over to the relevant authorities to build a case and send it to court for prosecution according to the law. On this occasion, Major General Som Son also handed over food supplies, essential goods, and fuel for the forces engaged in patrol and protection activities within the Ou Das Skol community forest and other state reserve forest lands within the Snadan district. Furthermore, Major General Som Son reiterated and strengthened measures against the illegal logging and transportation of timber, urging collective efforts to protect, prevent, and suppress such activities, including the apprehension of perpetrators and the seizure of their means, in strict accordance with the law, without exception. Information Source: AKP Khmer