The government says it is absolutely committed to safeguarding the Tonle Sap Lake and will continue to take action against widespread logging and the destruction of flooded forests while reclaiming illegally-occupied flooded forest land for the state.

“[The Cambodian government] will protect the Tonle Sap Lake and take action to prevent and crack down on the clearing of flooded forest land in the core area of the Tonle Sap Lake and to stopping encroachment on state land in the area. [The government] will reclaim illegally-occupied flooded forest land around the Tonle Sap Lake in Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap and Kampong Thom provinces, ” Hun Sen said in a press release on December 16.

The press release added that Hun Sen had commended Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara and also the chairman of the National Cadastral Commission; Ministry of Interior ; Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Ministry of Environment; and the inspection dvision of the Ministry of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection; Tonle Sap Authority and all other relevant ministries and institutions for solving the problems of the Tonle Sap Lake area.