PREAH SIHANOUK: The sound of chainsaws and large vehicles at the head of a creek in a protected area of Preah Sihanouk’s Otres Commune raised the suspicions of locals who questioned whether or not illegal logging was taking place.

Eyewitness accounts detailed the activities going on within the Ministry of Environment jurisdiction and sparked the curiosity of a group of journalists who were able to get photos of downed acacia trees that were being actively sawed into marketable pieces of plywood and logs in neat piles being loaded on to trucks.

The group of young journalists managed to speak with a man who claimed to be managing the logging and identified himself only as “Den”. He responded to questions, saying that the operation was properly authorized by the relevant institutions from the provincial level all the way to the Ministry of Environment. He did not claim to know whether or not the wood that had been shipped out already would be sold. Acacia wood fetches high prices for its beauty and durability, especially abroad where it is not readily available.

Director of the Preah Sihanouk Department of Environment, Samuth Sothearith, clarified that 27 hectares of previously protected land was being cleared for low-cost housing for the poor. He said that the company received permission to cut and clear the acacia trees and asked people to stop confusing the situation.

Despite the Department of Environment’s explanation, whispers from official sources are circulating that indicate more than 27 hectares are being cleared and that the number is closer to 40-50 hectares.