Article

Lumphat Wildlife Sanctuary in Cambodia is increasingly threatened by mining and a proposed 376-megawatt hydropower dam. Since 2020, parts of the Veal Kambor Community Protected Area have been allocated to companies for mineral extraction, leading to significant deforestation and community displacement.

The sanctuary has lost nearly 50% of its primary forest cover between 2010 and 2024. Local residents, including Indigenous groups, report inadequate compensation and lack of consultation regarding land use changes. The proposed dam could flood crucial areas of the sanctuary and displace thousands, exacerbating existing threats to biodiversity and local livelihoods.