Several youth environmental groups said they have been blocked from entering community forests in recent months, with local authorities saying they need special permits and that the forests are too dangerous to camp in.
In mid-October, a group of 10 students and monks from Battambang were turned away from the Preah Roka community forest in Preah Vihear province, and told it was a restricted area. Similar incidents were reported by at least two student groups trying to enter Prey Lang forest in Kampong Thom province.
Hok Kimleang, a 23-year-old electrical student, said the Battambang group arrived on October 15 for a four day trip to monitor illegal logging in the forest.
“There has been a lot of crime in the community related to deforestation and there has been [illegal logging] transportation day and night, but at the same time the authorities seem to be ignoring this, so the youths have decided to go,” she said. (Read the source)