1. Cambodia has high deforestation rates, driven by logging for exports and increasing demand for firewood and charcoal.
2. Major deforestation occurs near roads and protected areas, with agriculture and industry expanding.
3. Cambodia’s forests, particularly in the Cardamom Mountains, regulate water flow, crucial for flood and drought prevention.
4. The demand for rosewood in China exacerbates deforestation, with illegal logging and smuggling being significant issues.
5. The government’s ban on endangered tree species only applies to government-owned land, leaving private lands vulnerable.
6. Ecotourism initiatives are underway, but deforestation rates remain high inside and outside protected areas .