Over 40,000 hectares (100,000 acres) of the Prey Lang rainforest in Cambodia were thought to have been saved after the Royal Cambodian Government cancelled four major economic land concessions in 2012 and designated Prey Lang as a conservation area, protected from all logging.
This was hailed as a major victory for environmentalists and local villagers and the Prime Minister was re-elected to another term.
But now, the Prime Minister and his government are not enforcing the law!
Illegal logging within the forest is expanding while the government remains silent and inactive.
Despite the dangers, the local villages are reduced to patrolling the forests on their motor scooters to confront and stop the illegal loggers.
The Cambodian Prey Lang Network needs the support of organizations and people worldwide and they are asking for your help.
Please help the people of Prey Lang to protect their home and life-giving forest.
ACTION: Send a Message to Cambodia’s Prime Minister:
Writing directly to Prime Minister Hun Sen is an effective way to let him know that the whole world is watching. Ask him to enforce Cambodia’s environmental laws and stop the illegal logging in the Prey Lang forest. Also ask him to work with and include input from the citizens in the Prey Lang region to develop and implement a long-term sustainability plan for the Prey Lang area.
Address your letter or email to:
The Honorable Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia
EMAIL: cambodia@un.int
FAX: +1 (212) 755-4576
POSTAL MAIL:
Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen
UN Cambodian Mission
327 East 58th Street
New York, NY 10022, USA
Click here to sign a petition to Prime Minister Hun Sen sponsored by the Prey Lang Network.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE LOCAL VILLAGERS:
- Over 200,000 people rely on the forest for survival, with another 500,000 living in the area
- Deforestation and erosion are polluting the water—essential for their survival
- Many villagers rely on tree resin as their main source of income
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR CAMBODIA:
- Prey Lang, as a primary watershed for the Tonle Sap Basin, is vital for Cambodia's food and water security
- In 1970, 70% of Cambodia was covered by primary rainforest—now that number is 3%
- Armed soldiers are breaking up villagers' protests and meetings. In 2012, Chut Wutney, the director of the Natural Resources Protection Group, was shot dead at a military checkpoint.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU:
- Prey Lang is a powerhouse for fighting global warming with the highest carbon sequestration values in the region
- There at least 50 endangered species that live within Prey Lang, including sun bears, tigers, and leopards
Connect with EarthAction:
To keep better informed of current events about Prey Lang, as well as many other issues, follow EarthAction on Facebook or Twitter, or favorite our website:
Connect with our Partner Organizations:
You are not alone in this fight. Numerous organizations and individuals are actively involved in working to stop the illegal logging of Prey Lang. Here is how to connect with them:
Prey Lang Network
Photo courtesy of Prey Lang: It's Our Forest Too
