Cambodia

| Last updated August 15, 2014

Cambodia has one of the worst deforestation rates in the world. Since 1970, Cambodia's primary rainforest cover went from over 70 percent in 1970 to 3.1 percent today. Worse, Cambodia's deforestation has been accelerating over the past decade, largely a product of industrial plantation expansion, logging, and conversion for agriculture.

According to research led by Matthew Hansen of the University of Maryland, just over 40 percent of Cambodia is densely forested. The country's deforestation of roughly one percent a year between 2000 and 2012 gives it the fourth highest deforestation rate among major forest countries.

Cambodia is home to more than 521 species of birds, 127 mammals, and 116 reptiles.

	Total forest area		Dense forest area		Forest gain		Forest loss		Total land area
	>10% tree cover (ha)	% total land cover	>50% tree cover (ha)	% total land cover	2001-2012 (ha)	% total forest cover	2001-2012 (ha)	% total forest cover	(ha)
Banteay Meanchey	62366	10.2%	27603	4.5%	11072	17.8%	14615	23.4%	614428
Battambang	521195	44.0%	427124	36.0%	286343	54.9%	149750	28.7%	1185062
Kampong Cham	245763	26.4%	162326	17.4%	89118	36.3%	80991	33.0%	931550
Kampong Chhnang	154700	29.5%	98238	18.7%	54723	35.4%	7077	4.6%	525066
Kampong Speu	230119	33.8%	165189	24.3%	110366	48.0%	33591	14.6%	680989
Kampong Thom	723295	58.4%	617247	49.8%	524790	72.6%	157577	21.8%	1238883
Kampot	192282	40.8%	169041	35.9%	143358	74.6%	23951	12.5%	471086
Kandal	61779	18.3%	36864	10.9%	11301	18.3%	1804	2.9%	338070
Koh Kong	1135968	92.8%	1074136	87.8%	1009741	88.9%	75130	6.6%	1223806
Kep	2996	20.1%	2040	13.7%	1012	33.8%	183	6.1%	14909
Kracheh	844839	72.1%	551517	47.1%	436189	51.6%	161858	19.2%	1171692
Krong Pailin	74139	68.1%	63127	58.0%	41141	55.5%	34511	46.5%	108810
Krong Preah Sihanouk	89728	64.4%	79709	57.2%	68525	76.4%	15906	17.7%	139337
Mondulkiri	1003886	73.6%	582376	42.7%	408171	40.7%	26744	2.7%	1364022
Oddar Meanchey	254869	48.8%	129394	24.8%	82253	32.3%	48750	19.1%	521922
Phnom Penh	1501	4.3%	539	1.5%	109	7.3%	62	4.1%	35173
Pursat	843541	72.6%	740711	63.7%	626443	74.3%	46935	5.6%	1161931
Preah Vihear	1107389	79.0%	600909	42.8%	389382	35.2%	49470	4.5%	1402605
Prey Veng	5891	1.3%	2480	0.5%	1024	17.4%	779	13.2%	468317
Ratanakiri	979846	84.1%	725825	62.3%	598517	61.1%	94196	9.6%	1165369
Siem Reap	643538	53.8%	440540	36.8%	291557	45.3%	123131	19.1%	1196903
Stung Treng	997225	84.9%	776904	66.1%	654931	65.7%	78423	7.9%	1174953
Svay Rieng	14924	5.2%	5529	1.9%	1763	11.8%	3027	20.3%	285315
Takéo	7484	2.2%	3759	1.1%	1234	16.5%	351	4.7%	347775
Cambodia	10199261	57.4%	7483127	42.1%	5843064	57.3%	1228807	12.0%	17767976

Historical drivers of deforestation

The civil war —which ran from the 1970s to the mid 1990s—is responsible for setting the stage for illegal logging. During the conflict, each warring faction financed fighting through timber sales. According to the Trade and Environment Database (TED), the Cambodian government exported mostly to Japan and Vietnam, while the three guerrilla groups (including the Khmer Rouge) sent logs to Thailand. Thai timber companies—often with the involvement of military officials— were found to be actively engaged in logging of forests along the Cambodian border.

During the 1990s, illegal logging was so widespread in Cambodia that the IMF canceled a $120 million loan and the World Bank suspended direct aid to the government until the corruption in the forestry sector was resolved. In response, the government moved to crack down on logging operations while issuing bans on unprocessed log exports and imports of logging equipment. The actions appear to have had little effect: between 2000 and 2005, Cambodia lost nearly 30 percent of its primary forest cover.

Deforestation in Cambodia also results from subsistence activities, notably the collection of fuelwood and clearing for agriculture. The hunting of wildlife as bushmeat is widespread in the country, while mining for gold, bauxite, and iron is increasingly a threat to Cambodia's forests as well. The government has recently introduced stricter legislation to govern small miners, including environmental provisions.

While the Cambodian government has struggled to enforce environmental regulations in the face of corruption and illegal activities, it has shown interest in reducing deforestation and setting up protected areas. On paper, more than 20 percent of Cambodia is under some form of protection, including the spectacular ruins of Ankor, which cover over some 400 square kilometers and are one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia. However, even this World Heritage site is threatened by unrestrained tourism, experienced rapid hotel development in the early to mid 2000s.

Charts showing forest data and deforestation in Cambodia

Chart: aggregate forest loss in Cambodia

Forest loss by province in Cambodia

Annual forest loss by province in Cambodia

Cambodia forest cover by province

Cambodia forest cover

Pictures of Cambodia

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Cambodia Forest Figures

Forest Cover

Total forest area: 10,447,000 ha
% of land area: 59.2%

Primary forest cover: 322,000 ha
% of land area: 1.8%
% total forest area: 3.1%

Deforestation Rates, 2000-2005

Annual change in forest cover: -218,800 ha
Annual deforestation rate: -2.0%
Change in defor. rate since '90s: 74.7%
Total forest loss since 1990: -2,499,000 ha
Total forest loss since 1990:-19.3%

Primary or "Old-growth" forests
Annual loss of primary forests: -26800 ha
Annual deforestation rate: -5.9%
Change in deforestation rate since '90s: 45.2%
Primary forest loss since 1990: -334,000 ha
Primary forest loss since 1990:-84.1%

Forest Classification

Public: 100%
Private: 0%
Other: 0%
Use
Production: 32.3%
Protection: 3.9%
Conservation: 21.3%
Social services: 0.9%
Multiple purpose: 3.9%
None or unknown: 37.8

Forest Area Breakdown

Total area: 10,447,000 ha
Primary: 122,000 ha
Modified natural: 10,266,000 ha
Semi-natural: n/a
Production plantation: 59,000 ha
Production plantation: n/a

Plantations

Plantations, 2005: 59,000 ha
% of total forest cover: 0.6%
Annual change rate (00-05): -2,600,000 ha

Carbon storage

Above-ground biomass: 1,904 M t
Below-ground biomass: 628 M t

Area annually affected by

Fire: n/a
Insects: n/a
Diseases: n/a

Number of tree species in IUCN red list

Number of native tree species: 862
Critically endangered: 10
Endangered: 13
Vulnerable: 9

Wood removal 2005

Industrial roundwood: n/a
Wood fuel: n/a

Value of forest products, 2005

Industrial roundwood: n/a
Wood fuel: n/a
Non-wood forest products (NWFPs): $21,586,000
Total Value: $21,586,000

More forest statistics for Cambodia

Suggested reading - Books

CIA-World Factbook Profile
FAO-Forestry Profile
World Resources Institute