Truck transporting wood logs out of the Prey Lang forest in Kratie province. Photo: PLCN

The deforestation of Prey Lang is increasing. The transport of wood out of the forest goes through both roads and waterways. The illegal loggers are now going into the forest in bigger groups than before, which makes it difficult for PLCN to outnumber them. Migrant farmers are clearing large areas of the forest for growing crops.

These recent developments were on the agenda, when 28 core group members of Prey Lang Community Network meet last week. The objective of the meeting was for members to share the increasing threats to Prey Lang that they see, and the challenges they experience when they go on patrols.

Despite continuous difficulties to find resources to go on patrols – and the challenge of communicating between network members that span over four different provinces –  PLCN continues their work to protect and celebrate the Prey Lang forest.

The network is currently patrolling the forest in shifts and releases its next report on the recent developments in Prey Lang in second half of 2018.