Disseminating information on conservation and the environmental protection in Chhnok True area, Tonle Sap Great Lake, Kampong Chhnang Province

The richness of biodiversity in Tonle Sap Lake is closely linked to the flooded ecosystem of the Lake and the Mekong River.

There is an absence of income earning opportunities along Tonle Sap Lake, and therefore fishing activities are one of the few types of income earning opportunities in the area. As the population has been increasing along the lake, the aquatic resources, the area of forest and wetlands have been diminishing. Consequently, the habitat loss of fish and waterfowls affects the fisheries and waterfowls sectors.

Chhnok Tru floating village in Kampong Chhnang Province is a part of Tonle Sap Great Lake. Chhnok Tru floating village has abundant in natural resources, so that the residents have more opportunities to develop a stable life style. People in the floating village engage in such activities as fishing and aquaculture, agriculture, cutting inundated forest for other purposes (e.g. fuel woods, construction materials and furniture, etc.), harvesting inundated forest sub-products, waterfowl catching.

The Royal Government, the institutions, the local authorities and NGOs concerned about the effects of the activities surrounding the village, since the activities in the floating village caused the degradation of the lake environment, in particular, the destruction of aquatic biodiversities of fish species - a main natural resource to support people living style and daily food demand. In addition, the loss of swamped forest does not only to lose the fish habitat, but also to affect waterfowl habitat too. The degradation of water quality was another worrying issue in the area since the villagers directly dispose of wastes into the watercourse.

The declination of natural resources in Chhnok True and surrounding areas in the near future are to be expected. Therefore, the local institutions responsibility of environmental conservation need to enforce the relevant legal instruments as well as implement participatory programmes for the relevant people.

The staff of the Environmental Department of Kampong Chhnang Province conducted a short-term dissemination programme on biodiversity conservation and the environmental protection at the Chhnok True Commune Secretariat in early 2006 with the full support of local provincial government.

The programme aimed at increasing the awareness of stakeholders. It was intended, in particular, for the local communities regarding the implementation of environmental legal instruments and some related regulations/guidelines as well as the processing of sustainable utilisation of existing natural resources. There were 50 participants attended the programme from the relevant local agencies: Environmental office of the Chhnok True district; commune authorities; school teachers; police officers; village representatives; fishermen and fish sellers

The programme provided information on the legal tools for the protection of water environment. The list of topics for the programme is:

• Royal Decree on the Creation and Designation of Protected Areas (Reach-Kret).
• Royal Degree on the Creation of Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve.
• Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Management, and related statutes.
• Basic knowledge on environment protection and conservation.
• Identification of issues and solution towards harmful impacts to Tonle Sap Great Lake.

The environment and natural resources will be protected and maintained through the programme.

Source
1) National Environmental Action Plan 1998-2002
2) Environmental Department of Kampong Chhnang Province.2005
3) Environmental Challenges of Cambodia 2000, Mr. Chrin Sokha, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Environment