Background
The Ministry of Environment deploys park rangers to enforce protected-area boundaries and national environmental rules inside designated parks. On 24 September 2026, eight rangers from the Kirirom National Park office carried out an operation at O’Ta Lang in Chhambahk commune, Phnom Sruoch district, Kampong Speu province, to suppress illegal land clearing and cultivation within park boundaries.
Over the period from 19 August to 24 September 2026, park personnel documented a total of 35 natural-resource offenses in Preah Suramarit-Kossamak Kirirom National Park. The recorded offenses included widespread boundary marking and land appropriation accounting for roughly 13.07 hectares and multiple incidents of forest clearing, trapping, and unauthorized construction; alleged offenders are being investigated for action under procedures and the Environmental and Natural Resources Code.
Scope of Application
The enforcement actions reported apply to activities occurring within the legally designated area of Preah Suramarit-Kossamak Kirirom National Park in Kampong Speu province. The operations targeted unauthorised conversion of protected-area land to private use, including the placement of boundary markers, clearing for cultivation, and small-scale construction inside the park.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Rangers removed illegal cultivation and halted land appropriation on an area of approximately 0.1 hectare during the 24 September operation at O’Ta Lang. Between 19 August and 24 September officials recorded 35 incidents in total, comprising 24 cases of boundary staking and land grabs (about 13.07 ha), five cases of clearing and burning (about 2.51 ha), one case involving snares or animal trapping, two incidents of tree felling affecting documented species, and two cases of land conversion for structures.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
Entities and individuals operating near Cambodia’s protected areas should note that unauthorised land-use conversions within park boundaries may be detected and processed through administrative and legal channels. Companies or concession holders with planned activities adjacent to protected areas should verify lawful land status and obtain appropriate clearances from the Ministry of Environment to avoid regulatory action.
Official Source
The facts in this summary are based on a Ministry of Environment public notice on the Ministry’s Facebook page dated 24 September 2026: https://www.facebook.com/MinistryOfEnvironmentCambodia/posts/pfbid0QfjspN4b4doAhxEjNoTY7Fbdhb7aEkGRUtUaxtEE6WTrg9VnNhx3qLpq1WcwzNiwl
