Royal pine plantation now protected
THE roughly 40ha of land in Mondulkiri province’s Sen Monorom town where the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk historically presided over the royal “Vegetation” ceremonies to plant pine trees will soon be transferred to state property and protected.
Prov i ncia l gover nor Svay Sa m Eang sa id cit i zens wil l no longer be a llowed to live on t he land.
On Monday, Sam Eang and relevant officials inspected the pine plantation. The government said the provincial Department of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction started measuring the land and taking a headcount of its residents.
He sa id encroach ment of the land by residents prompted its transfer of ownership. “While we preser ve this land, t he next time we plant pine t rees, it should att ract touri s t s bec au s e t he loc at ion t y pica lly has good weather.
“So, it is important t hat t his place is protected. If it isn’t, t he public won’t want to v isit it,” he said.
Depart ment director Mao Cha mroeu n cou ld not be re ache d for c om ment on Wednesday, while prov incia l ad minist rat ion spokesma n Heak Sophan referred quest i o n s t o t h e pr o v i n c i a l Department of Agr icult ure, Forestr y and Fisheries, which manages the plantation.
Provincial forestry administ rat i on director Um Van Sopheak said the land was estimated to be about 40ha and it will be transferred to state property this year.
“We are now measuring it to see how many pine trees remain and we are counting cit izens,” he said.
Mondulkiri forest activist Kroeung Tola said wealthy and powerful people had planted markers on the land for private ownership and each had occupation letters signed and recognised by the district, commune and village authorities.
“We d o n’t know who encroached on the land, but relevant documents were signed by the district [authorities]. I think revoking the land will perhaps be difficult because an oknha’s [business tycoon] house is near it,” he said.