The Tonle Sap Authority plans to complete the installation of boundary posts in Zone 3 across six provinces surrounding Tonle Sap Lake by late September.

Currently, 40 per cent of the total 1,224 markers have been placed, according to Hell Tony, deputy head of the authority.

The effort is being carried out following the recommendations of Prime Minister Hun Manet regarding the updating of maps and the correct and precise marking of Zones 1, 2 and 3 of the Tonle Sap region, with consideration given to sustainable and ongoing management, conservation and protection of the area for future generations.

"According to our plan, it will be 100 per cent complete by the end of September. We have not yet determined the exact size of Zone 3 as there are still changes occurring. Once the posts are installed, we will know the exact details. The actual figures are not yet official because the work is not yet finished," he said, adding that the draft map has also been completed.

During the 19th National Fish Day celebration in Kampong Cham province on July 1, Manet instructed the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction to lead the promotion of registration of state land quickly to prevent encroachment, particularly around the lake, which serves as a fish breeding ground.

The prime minister emphasised that although there has been some encroachment in the area in the past, continuous measures have been taken. He urged citizens, local authorities and all relevant security forces to join in preventing forest encroachment, which affects the ecosystem and freshwater fish habitats.

"Large-scale deforestation and excessive use of chemical fertilisers not only destroy flooded forests but also poison fish during the flooding season. We must take action to prohibit the benefits of a small group of people in order to provide for the collective interests of our nation," he said.

Manet stressed the government’s commitment to protecting the region, adding that more measures will be issued for implementation in the near future.

"Do not think that the government will take action now and then stop, leaving room for improper activities. No, we will continue to act and protect as long as Tonle Sap Lake remains a fish breeding ground and an area that needs protection for the benefit of all citizens. The government has a duty to protect this area," he said.

Additionally, he called on the public to continue participating in reforestation efforts in the area.

The Tonle Sap area is divided into three regions: Zone 1, which is residential and agricultural land where citizens have legal ownership; Zone 2, which is used for seasonal rice farming and also serves as a buffer zone; and Zone 3, which is flooded forest land where any impact is strictly prohibited and must be protected “at all costs”.