Protecting Natural Resources

Local fisher at Sre Pok Photo by Sviveun

Cambodia is blessed with many natural resources. Forests cover about half its land area, providing natural biodiversity, and timber resources. Its lakes and rivers provide fish to sustain around 80% of the population, as well as the potential hydro power. Most Cambodians rely on these resources for subsistence livelihoods in agriculture, fishing, and forestry. 

Illegal Timbers photo by Siveun

But resources need to be managed sustain-ably and transparently to ensure they can continue to provide long term economic benefits, through tourism, for example. Overuse can damage people’s livelihood as well as the natural environment.Illegal logging increases erosion, sedimentation and the risk of serious flooding.

Mekong dolphin 

Deforestation also contributes to land degradation and the loss of natural habitat. Declining water quality from increased pollution and over fishing are serious threat to Tonle Sap fisheries on which Cambodia depends. They are also endangering species such as Irrawaddy or Mekong Dolphin. 

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Our Forest Our Future 

Published by: FAO