Phnom Tamao Wildlife Rescue Center
The Phnom Tamao park now has a few water features peppered across the deforested land. (Danielle Keeton-Olsen/VOD)

Cleared Phnom Tamao Forest Sculpted Into Park

Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit has left the cleared area of Phnom Tamao forest after occupying it for about a month starting in August, seeming to transform a piece of the protected forest into an apparent park after a land giveaway controversy embroiled the area just three months ago. 

At Least 10 Years to Repair One Week of Phnom Tamao Damage

Hundreds of thousands of dollars will be spent replanting the Phnom Tamao forest that was destroyed over the past week, with much of the replanting being led by tycoon Mong Reththy, who says he was uninvolved in the clearing but has been permitted by Prime Minister Hun Sen to undertake the restoration.

Forest clearing seen from a drone's view in Phnom Tamao forest in Takeo province on August 5, 2022. (Danielle Keeton-Olsen/VOD)

Phnom Tamao Forest Destruction Called Off

Amid mounting uproar over the privatization and destruction of the Phnom Tamao forest, Prime Minister Hun Sen has stepped in to call off the development and replant trees starting Monday.

Excavators are clearing land in the Phnom Tamao forest on August 1, 2022. (Kuoy Langdy/VOD)

Razing of Phnom Tamao Forest Begins

Excavators have begun tearing strips through the protected Phnom Tamao forest — recently privatized for development by select tycoons — raising fears among locals and a wildlife sanctuary that shares the land.