A country report by Savet (1999) explained that fire, though not widespread and not a serious threat to the forests of Cambodia, could become a threat if the degradation continues at the current rate creating favourable conditions for large-scale forest fire. Fires occur annually in the natural hardwood forests, pine forests, bamboo forests and forest plantations during summer months. There are three main natural forest types: evergreen, mixed evergreen and deciduous. Fires occur frequently in the deciduous, pine and bamboo forests during the dry season. Most of the species that constitute the deciduous forest shed their foliage almost completely during the dry season that lasts from December to August, building up a heavy flammable fuel load on the ground. In addition, the leaf shed opens the ground surface to greater sun exposure leading to a high degree of fire hazard. The underlying causes of forest fires are explained as well as the fire prevention measures taken by the country.
