Forest rangers from the Pursat Provincial Department of Environment have identified two suspects linked to the illegal clearing of roughly 17 hectares of protected forest land. Officials dismantled seven makeshift shelters used by the offenders and removed more than 30 traps and snares.
A November 30 statement from the Ministry of Environment explained that a day earlier, rangers mounted a successful patrol inside the Phnom Samkos Wildlife Sanctuary. Working with elements of the armed forces and local residents, rangers located and removed 33 nylon snare traps.
They also identified the skin and bones of a sambar in the southern area of Chamkar Chrey village, Anlong Reap commune, Veal Veng district.
In addition, the patrol team discovered a site where forest land had been cleared to convert it into private ownership in the Prey Sleng area of Kork village, Samrong commune, Phnom Kravanh district. They dismantled and burned down seven temporary shelters and documented a cleared area of approximately 17.54 hectares. Evidence was collected to build a legal case.
“The working group identified signs and information pointing to two suspects who are believed to be behind the clearing of the forest. They will be summoned and processed according to legal procedures,” the ministry stated.
Forest rangers stationed at Stung Thmey are working with local authorities from StungThmey village and Pramoy commune, Veal Veng district, to verify the identities of the suspects, based on court documents from the Pursat Provincial Court. The case involves the unauthorised clearing, burning, or claiming of protected forest land within the Stueng Thmey community protected area on June 25.
On the same day, rangers from the National Park Office attended a hearing at the Pursat Provincial Court regarding a natural resource crime dated August 3. The case concerned the unauthorised extraction of natural resources near Kilometer 44, Angkrong village, Samrong commune, Phnom Kravanh district, allegedly committed by Boeun Davuth, 33.
