PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian government, through the Ministry of Environment, is committed to halving deforestation by 2030, in line with the REDD + strategy, as Cambodia prepares to sell more carbon credits.

On Monday, 21 March, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Environment, Neth Pheaktra, stated that Cambodia is committed to launching a control system to mark World Forest Day under the theme "Forests and Sustainability of Production and Consumption"

The Secretary of State wrote on his official Facebook page saying Cambodia is committed to launching a national forest monitoring system and environmental and social safety information system to implement the REDD + project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and degradation, and to set a goal of halving the rate of deforestation by 2030 in the forestry and land use sector, in line with the REDD + strategy of the Cambodian nation.

He added that after paying close attention to the protection and conservation of natural resources, such as wood, the Ministry of Environment is optimistic that it will be able to sell more carbon credits in the coming years.

Currently, Cambodia has a protected area of 7.3 million hectares, or about 41% of the country's land mass. The Royal Government of Cambodia and its partners are also looking for new markets and setting up additional procedures to sell carbon credits.

Forests have come to play an important role in protecting the planet's ecosystems in the form of carbon credits and the formation of a carbon market. The proceeds of this market will be used to support conservation work and economic development within the protected areas in Cambodia.