Background
The Ministry of Interior issued letter No. 303.8 SJN dated 29 July 2026 asking the Koh Kong provincial governor to take measures against land encroachment inside the designated protected area and to examine a specific land-possession request. The ministry also instructed city, district and commune administrations to apply earlier guidance on resource-management practices.
Sub-decree No. 106 (26 May 2026) annulled Sub-decree No. 245 (30 November 2022), which had defined community zones within the protected area over a total of 933,577 hectares. The protected area remains designated as a national protected area to be managed under the Ministry of Environment’s authority and applicable environmental and natural resource legislation.
Key Developments
The Interior ministry’s letter asks provincial authorities to review and resolve a land-possession claim made under the name សៀង គីមលី (Sieng Kimly) in accordance with statutory procedures. The letter cites implementation of prior Interior guidance (letter No. 1222 SJN dated 11 April 2024) on strengthening management, conservation and protection of natural resources at provincial and municipal levels.
Compliance Implications
Provincial and subprovincial administrations are directed to handle land-possession and encroachment cases by following existing legal procedures and administrative protocols referenced in the Interior ministry correspondence. The inter-ministerial references in the letter link local administrative action to the national designation of the land as a protected area under environment-sector law.
Source
Official posting by the Ministry of Environment on Facebook: provided source link documents the ministry’s summary of the Interior ministry letter and cited sub-decrees.
