Background
The Environmental and Natural Resources Code sets out criminal offences connected to the management of protected areas and prescribes sanctions for unauthorized hunting and collection of wildlife. Article 850(2)(k) specifies that placing snares, nets, traps, or otherwise hunting that injures, poisons, kills, or results in collection of eggs and young of species listed in classes 5 and 6 is prohibited without authorization. The provision attaches custodial sentences and monetary fines, with imprisonment ranging from one to five years and fines between 100,000,000 and 500,000,000 riel.
These statutory elements form part of Cambodia’s legal framework for protected-area governance and wildlife protection, and they apply where the prohibited acts occur in areas covered by the Code’s protected-area provisions.
Scope of Application
The provision applies to offences described as relating to the management of protected areas and targets acts carried out without the required authorization. It specifically covers acts that cause injury, poisoning, killing, or the collection of eggs and young of species categorized in classes 5 and 6 of the wildlife classification referenced by the Code.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Prohibited conduct listed under the cited paragraph includes placing snares, nets, traps, or using other means of hunting that result in harm to wildlife; collecting eggs or young of protected species is also banned when done without permission. The statutory sanctioning framework for these offences prescribes imprisonment from one to five years and monetary fines on a scale from 100 million to 500 million riel.
Implications for Compliance
Entities operating in or adjacent to protected areas—such as concessionaires, contractors, conservation organisations, and research teams—should ensure activities do not replicate the prohibited methods described and must obtain any required authorisations under environmental law. Legal risk arises from conduct that matches the statutory descriptions of hunting, trapping, injuring, poisoning, killing, or collecting eggs and young without formal permission.
Official Source
Source: Ministry of Environment Facebook post (published 2026-08-30) reproducing text of the Environmental and Natural Resources Code, Article 850(2)(k). Original post: https://www.facebook.com/MinistryOfEnvironmentCambodia/posts/pfbid02AcMxyGCjimyqEGzxMWDBs5naSdNsHSUDwbad7rSyKGtS2U7QWHxYBwcivzNmYomYl
