Communities along Cambodia’s O’Ta Bouk River are experiencing severe water contamination, skin ailments and the collapse of fish stocks, which they blame on an unregulated gold mine operating upstream inside Virachey National Park.

“When are you going back?”

Latest for @mongabay.com w. @andyball.bsky.social & @vantha.bsky.social uncovers a gold mine has poisoned the O'Ta Bouk River in Virachey National Park. Water, soil & fish from the river are contaminated, sickening the Indigenous communities downstream who depend on the river for everything.

When Prime Minister Hun Manet inaugurated the capital's Techo International Airport last week, he described it as a "driving force in attracting more tourists and investors to Cambodia than before COVID-19."

Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to an immediate ceasefire, effective at midnight today.

'We don't want war': Cambodian evacuees recount their escape from the shelling https://asia.nikkei.com/Politics/International-relations/Thailand-Cambodia-conflict/We-don-t-want-war-Cambodian-evacuees-recount-their-escape-from-the-shelling

I sat down with the lovely folks from Ground Report to discuss the my work with @mongabay.bsky.social, the deteriorating situation in Cambodia and why environmental reporting in Southeast Asia is so dangerous - but necessary! Have a listen here:

We’ve been working together for years, but now, shocking news—Cambodian authorities are not welcoming “A Good Person”. It’s disheartening to lose another resourceful individual who dedicated his life to shedding light on the pressing environmental issues in Cambodia.

V. significant decision expected from CITES tomorrow that could see the trade of Cambodian long-tailed macaques suspended due to irregularities in breeding facilities and allegations of monkey-laundering. Implications for the biomedical research industry & for Cambodian LTM populations are huge.

People whose lives will be affected by the Funan Techo Canal project are still being kept in the dark about compensation, despite the authorities having already marked the border for the first phase of the 21-kilometer project.

The spot where journalist Chheng got shot in Siem Reap’s Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary.

Environmental reporter Chhoeung Chheng was shot and killed by a suspected illegal logger on the outskirts of a protected area in northern Cambodia. This incident underscores the threats to journalists covering issues such as logging amid increasing climate-related catastrophes across Asia. Read:

The killing of Chhoeung Chheng is the first murder of a journalist in Cambodia for 10 years. Like the last two journalists who were killed, Chheng covered illegal logging and environmental issues. His suspected killer is believed to be a logger. Me & @vantha.bsky.social for @mongabay.bsky.social

Chhoeung Chheng, 63, a journalist for Kampuchea Aphivath, is in surgery after receiving serious injuries during a shooting by an unknown assailant. Authorities are now investigating amid rising concerns over press safety in Cambodia kiripo.st/ttp3WT

Bleak Cambodian news from me & @vantha.bsky.social for @mongabay.bsky.social - Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary, a protected rainforest, vital carbon sink and home to various endangered plant and wildlife species, is being split in two by new transmission lines linking Cambodia's national grid to Laos.

After a tense three days, the six environmental activists were released yesterday evening, but their arrest is seen as part of a broader crackdown in Cambodia - one that has accelerated in the past year - which has had a chilling effect across civil society. Full roundup for @mongabay.bsky.social

The six environmental activists were finally released this evening after two-day detention.