Mixed-use Development ‘Bokor City’ Could Threaten National Park, Say Environmentalists

• Kongleaphy Keam
• 26 February 2021
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Environmentalists, activists, and NGOs have voiced concern that the plan to develop over 28,000 hectares on Bokor Mountain into a mixed-use city, could harm the nature and rare species of animals on the Preah Monivong Bokor National Park, reported the Mongabay.

The ‘Bokor City’ plan was approved by a sub-decree signed by Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen in June 2019.

Based on that initial master plan, Bokor City will be developed into key areas, including residential, commercial, tourism, public services, green space, cultural and religious zone, among others. (Read more)

As part of the plan, the Cambodian government had also provided almost 20,000 hectares of land concessions to the Sokha Real Estate company, according to Mongabay.

The source added that the approved land concessions are mostly covered by forest, which is an important habitat for wildlife and a beautiful natural landscape for tourists. Therefore, this development project could negatively affect the ecosystem of the national park.

The Mongabay also reported that from 2001 to 2019, University of Maryland (UMD) data showed that Bokor National Park lost nearly 9% of its primary forest cover. The data also showed deforestation may have jumped further in 2020, and number is projected to continue to rise in 2021.

In response to this concern, the Environment Ministry spokesman Net Pheaktra told Mongabay that the government always pays great attention to environmental protection and biodiversity conservation in the Bokor National Park.

“Therefore, in the masterplan, the ministry is also preparing to create zoned areas to conserve natural resources such as forests and wildlife,” said Mr Phreaktra.

He added that the project has been planned in response to shifting demographics, land use requirements, and takes current and future needs into account.

Bokor town sits on 27, 943 hectares of land, equivalent to 18% of the area of Preah Monivong National Park -Bokor, which covers over 154,544 hectares of land.

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