Background
Protected areas in Cambodia are governed through a land and natural resource management system that restricts private occupation, forest clearing, and unapproved construction inside designated conservation zones. National parks are subject to legal controls intended to preserve ecosystems, regulate land use, and prevent the conversion of protected land into private holdings.
Illegal occupation inside a protected area is a land governance issue because it involves control over possession, use, and construction on state-managed conservation land. The Ministry of Environment has authority to inspect protected natural areas and coordinate with subnational authorities and other forces when violations are identified. Cambodia’s environmental code provides a legal basis for action against encroachment and unlawful land clearing in protected areas.
Enforcement Actions
The Ministry of Environment announced that illegal land occupation in the Chrouy Damnak Kbon area of Cardamom Mountains National Park in Koh Kong province would be subject to legal measures. According to the ministry, the action followed a site inspection after offenders refused to dismantle structures and leave the protected natural area.
The ministry said it coordinated with the Koh Kong provincial administration to explain the legal framework and penalties related to forest clearing and land encroachment for private ownership inside a protected area. Occupants were ordered to dismantle their structures and leave the site immediately, with legal action to be applied if they did not comply.
Key Developments
The ministry stated that on 22 April 2026, its working group conducted a field inspection in cooperation with the Koh Kong provincial administration, Mondul Seima district authorities, local authorities, armed forces, and partner organization representatives. The inspection identified illegal occupation at Chrouy Damnak Kbon in Koh Po village, Pak Khlang commune, Mondul Seima district, Koh Kong province.
According to the ministry, the site included approximately 100 unauthorized structures, including huts, vendor stalls, leisure shelters, and toilets. The ministry said the illegal occupation and construction in the protected natural area violated Article 851, point Cho, of the Code on Environment and Natural Resources.
Compliance Implications
The case indicates that occupation of land inside protected areas can trigger coordinated intervention by the Ministry of Environment and provincial authorities, particularly where occupants do not comply with removal orders. It also shows that unauthorized construction, even where multiple small structures are involved, may be treated as part of unlawful encroachment on protected land.
For businesses, land claimants, and local operators, the announcement underscores the need to verify land status before clearing land, building facilities, or asserting possession in or near conservation zones. Protected area boundaries and land use restrictions can create direct legal exposure where land occupation or structures are established without lawful authorization.
Official Source
Ministry of Environment announcement, published 24 April 2026, regarding illegal land occupation in Cardamom Mountains National Park, Koh Kong province.
