Cambodia King in Arbor Day Call for Forest Protection
By Teng Yalirozy Cambodianess Wed, July 9, 2025
King Norodom Sihamoni has called for renewed efforts for forest protection, equating the efforts to self-help and urging people to take Arbor Day to heart and keep the natural resource protection spirit alive. Photo: Samdech Hun Manet
PHNOM PENH – King Norodom Sihamoni has called for renewed efforts for forest protection, equating the efforts to self-help and urging people to take Arbor Day to heart and keep the natural resource protection spirit alive.
“National Arbor Day has remained a crucial day that reminds us to restore and protect the natural resources for the interest of the next generation, while providing us with the common concept of protecting the forest means helping ourselves,” he said while presiding over the annual Arbor Day on July 9.
The King said the country has to restore natural resources to ensure its livelihood in the future in response to potential destruction by climate change and natural disasters.
“I appreciate the past efforts from all partners, and I’m appealing for these efforts to continue backing the government,” he said.
Arbor Day was initiated during the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk’s Sangkum Reas Niyu era, which was a nationwide movement to promote tree planting and the country’s green landscape.
The celebration was stopped when the era ended but was recelebrated by Senate president Hun Sen in 1990. The day was annually celebrated in 1992 and had a two-year hiatus during the COVID-19 outbreak.
This National Tree Planting Day was officially recognized in the Forestry Law of 2002, stating in Article 60 that the day is celebrated annually on July 9 under the presidencies of the King or his representatives to raise awareness about the importance and benefits of forests.
Agriculture Minister Dith Tina said that as of 2025, the Forestry Administration had planted and nurtured more than 21 million trees. Millions of other trees have been planted and nurtured by citizens, not including fruit trees or industrial crops.
“Cambodia is a leading country in the region and the world in designating more than 40 percent of the country’s forest area as nature reserves and continuing to promote reforestation,” he said.
Former prime minister Hun Sen, in the past, permitted wildlife enthusiasts to raise wild animals. allowing them to reproduce and be released back into the wild, with Forestry Administration supervision, he said.
Tina continued that the Forestry Administration has increased the protection and management of forest land more effectively through cooperation with the Ministry of Land Management, including forest cover land and community forest land.
The ministry had also intensified efforts to prevent forest land grabbing, deforestation and wildlife trafficking, while promoting the timber industry to meet domestic demand, ensure forest sustainability, and support the economy.
“Cambodia continues to maintain a good balance and sustainability in the conservation and development of natural resources for the people of the country and future generations,” Tina said.
The Ministry of Environment plans to distribute about three million saplings for the public to plant this year to restore forests, including more than a million palm saplings.
It has built five regional tree nurseries, of which three hectares are in Tbong Khmum province, 10 hectares in Siem Reap, 20 hectares in Kampong Speu, 10 hectares in Mondulkiri and three hectares in Koh Kong.
Environment Minister Eang Sophalleth said Cambodia was committed to environmental protection, which focused on cleanliness, greenness and sustainability.
Last year, he launched the “Ponlok Baitong” (the sprouting of green seedlings) campaign to plant and distribute 1.3 million saplings.
SOURCE: Cambodianess, Cambodia, Wed, July 9, 2025
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