Literally - this will likely get worse given the conflict in Myanmar. The mines are mostly controlled by EAGs with links to China, so diplomatic options are wholly ineffective. Hard to see how this improves, especially as rare earth supply chains become more hotly contested.

Although, the rate of deforestation fell 2023-2024 across the board, the level of losses inside protected forests is alarming - especially in Cambodia and Laos, where these losses made up the majority overall.

Proportionally, Cambodia's losses are significant due to the size of remaining forests.

Here's GI-TOC's full report documenting how the China-Laos Railway has turbo-charged a new form of the illegal wildlife trade in Laos, with at least 18 shops found in Luang Prabang and Vientiane.

These traders have operated secretly with impunity, until now...

globalinitiative.net/analysis/rai...

The physical attacks from March 2025 and numerous legal threats from the government reflect a deepening crisis in #Cambodia's media landscape, according to @rsf.org CamboJA and @pressfreedom.bsky.social

Despite the obvious deterioration, Cambodia's government claims press freedoms are "very good"