Within two areas identified by EIA – the Lower Sesan 2 Dam and the Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary – powerful Cambodian timber barons supply the Vietnamese market through companies possessing various logging permits. However, these permits are used to ‘launder’ timber illegally felled in the areas surrounding their concessions, including protected areas. The pretence of legality given by these companies does not hold up to scrutiny and they have been the focus of allegations of illegal logging for a number of years.
All logging in Virachey National Park occurred with no pretence of legality – instead, Cambodian forest rangers and armed forces, i.e those responsible for preventing illegal logging from occurring, blocked roads to prevent outside eyes from accessing logging areas and exposing illegal activities. Vietnamese companies who have paid substantial bribes to Cambodian authorities, are able to illegally fell timber in the National Park and smuggle it to Vietnam unhindered.
Within two areas identified by EIA – the Lower Sesan 2 Dam and the Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary – powerful Cambodian timber barons supply the Vietnamese market through companies possessing various logging permits. However, these permits are used to ‘launder’ timber illegally felled in the areas surrounding their concessions, including protected areas. The pretence of legality given by these companies does not hold up to scrutiny and they have been the focus of allegations of illegal logging for a number of years.
All logging in Virachey National Park occurred with no pretence of legality – instead, Cambodian forest rangers and armed forces, i.e those responsible for preventing illegal logging from occurring, blocked roads to prevent outside eyes from accessing logging areas and exposing illegal activities. Vietnamese companies who have paid substantial bribes to Cambodian authorities, are able to illegally fell timber in the National Park and smuggle it to Vietnam unhindered.