The independent watchdog, which was sacked from its job monitoring the trade by the Cambodian government over its aggressive reporting in 2003, said the bank was turning a blind eye to the source of logs being traded here.

A three-year moratorium on log transportation in Cambodia was lifted in December by the international donor community at the persuasion of the bank, London-based Global Witness said.

"The World Bank has repeatedly revealed its blinkered determination to help the logging concessionaires resume operations," the group's Jon Buckrell said in a statement.

"The fact that many of these logs are resin trees that the companies stole from Cambodian villagers seems to be of no consequence to the Bank, despite its professed focus on poverty reduction and good governance."

The felling of resin-producing trees was banned in 2002 under a law which also prohibited logging in concessions in a bid to persuade concessionaires to produce sustainable forest management plans.

Companies have begun moving at least 3,500 old logs stockpiled across the country, many of which were cut in violation of the law, it said.

"The World Bank president should use his visit to get a grip on project activities that are rewarding forest crime," Buckrell said.

"In the absence of corrective measures from the bank's senior management, its Cambodia debacle is shaping up as the classic example of how not to reform forest management in a post-conflict country."

During a visit to Cambodia, Wolfensohn is to meet with King Norodom Sihamoni, Hun Sen, civil society groups and private sector representatives. He will also attend talks Friday on the outlook for Cambodia's garment sector.

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