Environment minister Eang Sophalleth waters a newly planted palm seeding at a ceremony in Tbong Khmum province on Aug 17. - Environment ministry
PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Environment plans to distribute palm seedlings to citizens and local authorities for planting along the border with neighbouring countries after 10,000 were already planted along the Cambodian-Vietnamese border in Tbong Khmum province.
Environment minister Eang Sophalleth announced the initiative to hundreds of students, youth groups, residents and local officials at a tree-planting ceremony in the province on Saturday (Aug 17).
The minister noted that in September, more than 30,000 seedlings will be planted.
“10,000 palm trees have already been planted. Another 30,000 will be planted next month. This year, we are targeting 120km along the Cambodian-Vietnamese border in Tbong Khmum province,” he said in footage posted on the ministry’s social media on Sunday.
“If we complete planting along [this] stretch, 20 years from now, there will be strong, healthy palm trees on both sides of our border road. This is to preserve our territory. Have you ever heard the saying, ‘When you see a palm tree, you see Khmer’? That’s what we’re doing here,” he said.
Additionally, the ministry is advocating for more seedlings to be distributed to people for planting along the country’s borders with all neighbouring countries in the future.
Sophalleth said that he was inspired to promote palm tree planting as a way to preserve heritage, contribute to green cover and aid in the protection of the country’s territory.
“Not only are we planting at the border of Tbong Khmum province, but I’m also working in three steps. First, planning, taking into account all necessary actions. Second, testing, and third, implementing. The planning phase is complete. We’ve produced 300,000 palm seedlings this year. Testing the planting of 10,000 trees has been carried out in Tbong Khmum,” he said.
Next year, palm trees must also be planted in other provinces along the border,” he emphasised.
He told the students that if everyone is vigilant, no one will dare to encroach on the country’s land.
“This development is a protective fence for our territory, ensuring our borders are not lost," he said.
On the occasion, Sophalleth also discussed the government's policy and responded to allegations related to the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA), which includes Kratie, Stung Treng, Ratanakkiri and Mondulkiri provinces.
However, ministry spokesman Khvay Atiya could not confirm when the planting projects along the border in the four provinces would begin.
“According to the plan, we will aim to cultivate and distribute palm seedlings in the future to authorities and people in the provinces along the borders with neighbouring countries. The trees will be planted in rows along the border, both for the economic benefit of local people and as a fence to defend the territory,” he said.
Stung Treng provincial hall spokesman Men Kong mentioned that the province began planting palm trees along the border in 2019, with approximately 8,000 planted so far. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
