Joint Statement

Celebration of International Forest Day 2024

“Sustainable Forests for Humanity”

Phnom Penh, 26 March 2024

We, the youth groups, communities, unions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and associations celebrating International Forest Day 2024 under the topic “Sustainable Forests for Humanity,” are deeply worried about the failure to fully implement relevant laws and policies on forest protection, and the neglect in addressing all requests and concerns regarding forest destruction in Cambodia.

At least 80% of the worldwide population depend on forests and natural resources to survive. Forests play an important role in counteracting global climate change. Without forests, people are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change, natural disasters, and the evolution of various diseases. The continued destruction of forests has already resulted in the extinction of many tree species.

It is acknowledged that the Royal Government of Cambodia has made efforts to increase the number of formally protected areas and implement laws and regulations. However, there has been no effective response to the daily increase in deforestation across wildlife sanctuaries including Prey Lang, Boeung Per, Prey Preah Rokhar, and others. This deliberate clearing of forested land takes the form of economic land concessions (ELCs), leases, donations, and ownership transfers.

Deforestation has significantly increased across Cambodia over the last two decades, with forest cover having declined by 14.29% as at 2018. Meanwhile, illegal encroachment on land continues to seriously threaten forests, protected areas, the Tonlé Sap Lake, and community forests.

Forests are an integral part of sustaining the breadth of human life on the planet. They play an essential role in preserving the culture and rights of Indigenous peoples, as well as ensuring a sustainable financial income for Indigenous and other Cambodian communities.

Therefore, we youth groups, communities, unions, NGOs and associations make the following recommendations to the Royal Government of Cambodia and relevant authorities:

1. The Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Forestry Administration, Forest Crimes Commission, and the sub-national administration should all implement their roles and duties in line with the Law on Forestry, National Forest Programme, Environmental and Natural Resources Code, and other relevant policies for the effective conservation and protection of natural resources.
2. Relevant ministries should conduct professional inspections of their employees and ensure everybody’s right to freedom of participation in the protection of forests and natural resources. The relevant ministries must also take steps to eradicate negligence and corruption within local authorities that benefit from forest-related crimes, and hold the relevant officials accountable.
3. The Ministry of Environment must continue to cooperate with affected communities, and open opportunities for the public and national and international media. The ministry must also permit civil society organisations to actively participate in the protection of natural resources and provide space for communities to freely patrol forests. This will indirectly benefit the whole of humanity, in particular Cambodian communities, by enabling them to take advantage of sustainable forest products.
4. The Royal Government of Cambodia must ensure efficiency and transparency in public consultation processes, and the right to participate in decision-making with local communities, civil society and stakeholders in any development project that may affect their rights, as well as publicise all environmental impact assessment reports.
5. The relevant authorities must immediately end threats and withdraw all complaints against forest protection activists so that they have a chance to protect forests and natural resources. We call on the Royal Government of Cambodia to take this opportunity to protect forests and natural resources in cooperation with all relevant stakeholders.

For more info, please contact:

1. Moeu Chandara, Head of Youth Organizing and Empowerment Unit, Cambodian Youth Network Association, CYN, 081 332 340.
2. San Mala, Network and Advocacy Program Manager, Partnership for Environment and Development, PED, 015 998 555.
3. Panh Chanda, JSC Ecology Program, Jesuit Service Cambodia,

015 585 214

4. Koet Saray, President of Khmer Student Intelligent League Association, KSILA, 096 2424 393