Cambodians living along the banks of the Tonle Sap River, and in floating communities that cluster along the surface, have been benefiting from natural resources. They have joined forces to preserve the wealth of biodiversity that surrounds them and are convinced that the lake and the river that feeds it need to be protected and passed on in good condition to the next generation, according to environmental experts.
Three million Cambodians are directly dependent upon the lake's resources. For instance, fish caught in the river provides up to 70 percent of their protein intake. Furthermore, UNESCO registered the Tonle Sap on the list of Biosphere Reserve in 1997, in view of its exceptional ecological, economic, social and cultural value.
Hour Lim Chhun, Sustainable Livelihoods Specialist of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve Secretariat, said that his project, completed in August 2008 has done much to help them stabilize daily life. For instance, they have presented aquaculture as a viable alternative to fishing.
He also noted that sponsorship has been provided by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Global Environment Fund (GEF) and that together with the Secretariat, they were all working towards a more sustainable future.
He added that a Self Help Group has been established to gather representatives from 15 to 30 local families who will serve as role models to demonstrate the advantages of an approach to life based on a cooperative approach to saving and exploiting micro credit mechanisms where necessary. He added that to date there are 22 Saving Groups established in 3 core areas.
These core areas include the Prek Toal Core Area, located in Koh Chiveang Commune, Aek Phnom District Battambang Province. This commune comprises 5 floating villages including Thvang, Kompong Prahoc, Anlong Taua, Prek Toal and Kbal Taol. Next, there is the Boeung Tonle Chhmar Core Area located in Peam Bang commune, Stoung District Kompong Thom Province. The floating villages are scattered to the North and South of Boeung Tonle Chhmar. Then there is the Stung Sen Core area, located in Phat Sanday Commune, Kompong Svay District Kompong Thom Province, with floating villages stretching all the way to the lake.
The Tonle Sap is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake due to a unique hydrological phenomenon. Its area varies from 2,500 Km2 in the dry season to 12,000 km2 during the monsoon rains. The three core areas have been selected based on their pristine habitat, botanical diversity and importance for threatened water birds.
Yem Sothearith, Education and Extension Officer working with the Tonle Sap Environmental Management Project (TSEMP), said that people along the river have changed their approach to exploiting the potential of fish. He said that the communities have been liaising with are populated by well-informed people eager to contribute to the preservation of the lake’s natural resources.
He said that his 5-year project to educate people in the 5 provinces along the river will be complete by December, 2008 and that the result of his work had been a population that understood the importance of preserving natural resources for future generations.
He also referred to Prek Toal area, located on the north-western shore of the lake that shelters the largest remaining colonies of water birds in Southeast Asia. Thousands of pairs of pelicans, ibis, darters and storks, all of them species threatened with extinction, gather to nest in mixed species colonies in the flooded forests from November to May. He noted that this area was worth protecting for the money it could generate from ecotourism.
An Asian Development Bank loan of $10.9 million has been topped up by a government grant of $3.9 million, with a further $3.9 million provided by the Global Environment Facility. The financial package is rounded off with a loan of $623,000 from the UNDP’s Capacity Grant, according to Kim Chantha, ADB External Relation Coordinator.
Heng Dara, Coordinator at the Siem Reap-based Osmose organization said that since 1999, he has introduced a pilot scheme linking conservation and development in the Prek Toal area of the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia. Osmose is the first ecotourism provider in the area, and over 100 poor families benefit from socio-sanitary support and alternative income-generating activities.
He added that, “The site is the last breeding stronghold in Southeast Asia for large water birds that face serious threats in the form of massive egg and chick collection for local consumption.”
The project uses an original approach, integrating water-bird conservation, environmental education and ecotourism, with the equitable development of the local communities as an overall goal. He noted that after all the hard work, the future of the water-bird colonies looked much more secure, safe in the hands of over 1,000 children that have joined the environmental education program. He added, “The project is now recognized as a model by local and international peers. At this stage, Osmose is setting out to get a clearer picture of the impact of its activities.”
Sa Mon, Project Implementation officer of Osmose said that responsibility for ecotourism activities were in the hands of 15 families/beneficiaries selected from Peak Kantel area. They have been provided with a range of equipment (including paddle boats, cooking utensils and water filters) and personnel (including guides, facilitators and hospitality workers). In addition, the Osmose Floating Visitor Center has been refurbished with a new kitchen and a viewing deck on the roof.
“Ecotourism provides a good model for replication in other areas of the Tonle Sap River Basin,” Mon said.
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