Rainforests country profiles
Cambodia
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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
Recent articles | Cambodia news updates | XML
| 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
- Lonely Planet Cambodia
- Adventure Cambodia: An Explorer's Travel Guide
- Cambodia Now: Life In the Wake of War
- Insight Guide Laos & Cambodia
- The Rough Guide to Cambodia
- Insight Compact Guide Cambodia
CIA-World Factbook Profile
FAO-Forestry Profile
World Resources Institute
