Cambodia Launches 1 Million Trees Plant Initiative While Enforcing Forest Protection Laws

• Sommana Yan
• 24 April 2024
• Local News
• 1408 Views

Cambodia has embarked on an ambitious reforestation drive, aiming to plant at least 1 million trees annually to significantly expand its forest cover by more than 60% by 2050, announced HE Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment, at the National Workshop on Investment in Climate Change Adaptation through Agro-Ecological Landscape Restoration on 22 April 2024.

The MoE initiated the campaign to plant 1 million seedlings per year, distributing them free of charge to citizens across 25 cities/provinces since 1 October 2023. Additionally, regional nurseries have been established in five strategic locations, including Siem Reap, Tbong Khmum, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, and Mondulkiri.

Minister Sophalleth underscored the urgency of curbing deforestation and forest crimes, emphasising the government’s commitment to taking strict legal action against perpetrators. He urged active collaboration from all stakeholders to crack down on natural resource crimes, emphasising the goal of expanding forest cover by over 60% by 2050. Plans to establish international-scale nursery stations in four additional provinces were also unveiled. (Read more)

As part of the reforestation effort, the ministry will host a sapling exhibition campaign from 10 to 15 July 2024, offering various saplings free of charge to citizens in front of the MoE. Community members can select their preferred saplings during the exhibition and collect them from their respective provincial Department of Environment offices at no additional cost for transportation.

• Policy and Strategy
• Energy and Environment