Natural resources of Cambodia

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Natural resources are materials that occur in a natural form within environments. These can be classified as either biotic or abiotic on the basis of their origin. The landmass and the territorial waters of Cambodia contain a rather moderate amount, array and variety of resources. Apart from water, abiotic resources, such as minerals are generally rare. Still, advanced geo-scientific technologies have produced remarkable results and re-assessments in recent years, such as the localization of offshore oil and gas depots in the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodia, on the other hand possesses a relatively wide range of biotic resources, in particular timber, forest products, rare plants and a fauna of great diversity. [1] [2]

Contents

Overview

Cambodia comprises an undulating plateau in its eastern part, a continuous flat plain (the Lake Tonle Sap lowland) interrupted only by isolated hills (Phnoms) and the Mekong River in the central part of the country, highlands to the north and northeast and the Cardamom Mountains in the south-west. The agricultural area was estimated at 5,500,000 ha (13,590,796 acres) in 2009, with estimated cultivated areas totaling 4,100,000 ha (10,131,321 acres). 96% of this area was used for annual crops and 3.8% for permanent crops. [3]

Water

The Cambodian hydro-logical system is dominated by the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Great Lake. From July to the end of October, when the level of the Mekong is high, water flows via the Tonle Sap River, increasing the size of the lake from 2,600 km2 to about 10,500 km2 (4,054 sq mi) at its maximum extent. The storage capacity of Tonle Sap Great Lake is about 72 km3 (17 cu mi). When the level of the Mekong decreases, the Tonle Sap River reverses its flow and water flows back from the Tonle Sap Lake into the Mekong River. [4] [5]

The Mekong flows from north to south, over a distance of around 480 km. About 86% of Cambodia’s territory (156,000 km2 (60,232 sq mi)) is included in the Mekong’s basin with the remaining 14% draining directly towards the Gulf of Thailand. Cambodia represents 20% of the total catchment area of the Mekong basin. Total internal renewable water resources have been estimated at over 120 km3 (29 cu mi). [6] [7]

Hydroelectric power

Cambodia's hydroelectric generating potential is considerable, especially from the swift current of the middle Mekong River where it flows through the Stoeng Treng and Kracheh provinces. Other sites of minor importance are on rivers in the highlands of the northeastern and north-central parts of the country. Although the Tonle Sap is Cambodia's dominant hydraulic feature, the rivers flowing into this great lake have little or no exploitable potential.

In general, development of Cambodia's water potential appears to be more important for the expansion of irrigation than for the production of electricity. The largest hydroelectric dam in Cambodia is Lower Se San 2 Dam which began operation in November 2017 and scheduled for full operation by October 2018. Stung Treng Dam is a proposed hydroelectric dam with an average production of 4,870 GWh per year, almost 2.5 times the average production of Lower Se San 2.

Forests

The forests of Cambodia include evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous, swamp, mangrove and bamboo forest in various conditions from closed to disturbed and mosaic formations. There are also re-growth and plantation forests as well as open forest types including evergreen shrub land and dry deciduous shrub land. About 10% of Cambodia’s flora is endemic. Cover is largely dominated by moist lowland evergreen forest, semi-evergreen forest and deciduous forest. A unique seasonally inundated forest is found along the flood plains surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake. Extensive and fairly intact mangroves are found along the southern marine coast.

Forests, which cover approximately 70 percent of Cambodia and which potentially constitute a second pillar of the economy in addition to the primary one, agriculture. A survey in the 1960s disclosed that Cambodia had more than 130,000 square kilometres of forests that contained many species of tropical growth and trees but not teak or other valuable sources of hardwood. Some destruction of the forest environment undoubtedly occurred in the war that followed in the 1970s, but its extent has not been determined. Most of the heavy fighting took place in areas uncovered by dense tropical jungle.

As of late 1987, forest resources had not yet been fully exploited because of poor security in the countryside and a lack of electrical and mechanical equipment, such as power tools and lumber trucks. Nevertheless, the Cambodian government reportedly has discussed with Vietnam the possibility of coordinated reforestation programs.

Timber

Timber and firewood are the main forest products. Timber is considered one of the four economic initiatives of the government's First Plan. Timber production was projected to reach a peak of 200,000 cubic meters in 1990. However, timber production is employing underage children according to the Bureau of International Labor Affairs' List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor [8] and the percentage of working children aged 5 to 14 years old has reached 85% in the agricultural sector. [9]

Timber production has also had an important role in Cambodia's deforestation.

Biodiversity and wildlife

Cambodia is one of the most biodiverse countries in South East Asia. In 2010, the MoE submitted its Fourth National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity (MoE/CBD, 2010) which includes information on overall biodiversity status, trends and threats; national strategies and action plans, and; an assessment of cross-sectoral integration of biodiversity considerations. [10]

Energy

The main energy source in Cambodia is wood, accounting for 80% of national energy consumption (UNEP, 2010). Most households, even in urban areas, rely on traditional energy sources since fossil fuels are either not available or too expensive. 94% of the population living in rural areas relies on wood, charcoal, car batteries and kerosene (UNCDF, 2010). Most primitive fuels are sourced from forests; in rural areas in the form of fuel wood and in towns and cities as charcoal. The UNDP forecasts that wood-derived fuels will remain the main source of cooking energy in rural areas until 2030.[ citation needed ]

Mineral resources

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Cambodia's mineral resources are moderate and as a result the mining and quarry industry contributed only 0.39% of Cambodia's gross domestic product in 2005. The sector employed an estimated 19,000 people and accounted for only 0.2% of the country's total employment in 2005. [11]

Mineral resources of significance, includes:

Oil and natural gas

In late 1969, the Cambodian government granted a permit to a French company to explore for petroleum in the Gulf of Thailand. By 1972 none had been located, and exploration ceased when the Khmer Republic (see Appendix B) fell in 1975. Subsequent oil and gas discoveries in the Gulf of Thailand and in the South China Sea, however, could spark renewed interest in Cambodia's offshore area, especially because the country is on the same continental shelf as its Southeast Asian oil-producing neighbors. [14]

See also

Related Research Articles

Geography of Cambodia Geography of the country of Cambodia

Cambodia is a country in mainland Southeast Asia, bordering Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, the Gulf of Thailand and covers a total area of 181,035 km2 (69,898 sq mi). The country is situated in its entirety inside the tropical Indomalayan realm and the Indochina Time zone (ICT).

Transport in Cambodia

The system of Transport in Cambodia, rudimentary at the best of times, was severely damaged in the chaos that engulfed the nation in the latter half of the 20th century. The country's weak transport infrastructure hindered emergency relief efforts, exacerbating the logistical issues of procurement of supplies in general and their distribution. Cambodia received Soviet technical assistance and equipment to support the maintenance of the transportation network.

Mekong Major river in Southeast Asia

The Mekong, or Mekong River, is a trans-boundary river in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It is the world's twelfth longest river and the sixth longest in Asia. Its estimated length is 4,909 km (3,050 mi), and it drains an area of 795,000 km2 (307,000 sq mi), discharging 475 km3 (114 cu mi) of water annually. From the Tibetan Plateau the river runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The extreme seasonal variations in flow and the presence of rapids and waterfalls in the Mekong make navigation difficult. Even so, the river is a major trade route between western China and Southeast Asia.

Stung Treng Province Province of Cambodia

Stung Treng is a province of Cambodia in the northeast. It borders the provinces of Ratanakiri to the east, Mondulkiri and Kratié to the south and Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear to the west. Its northern boundary is Cambodia's international border with Laos. The Mekong River bisects the province. The province is mostly covered by forest, but logging and fishing put high pressure on the forest and fishery reserves.

Tonlé Sap Combined lake and river system in Cambodia

Tonlé Sap is a seasonally inundated freshwater lake, Tonlé Sap Lake, and an attached river, the 120 km (75 mi) long Tonlé Sap River, that connects the lake to the Mekong River. They form the central part of a complex hydrological system, in the 12,876 km2 (4,971 sq mi) Cambodian floodplain covered with a mosaic of natural and agricultural habitats that the Mekong replenishes with water and sediments annually. The central plain formation is the result of millions of years of Mekong alluvial deposition and discharge. From a geological perspective, the Tonlé Sap Lake and Tonlé Sap River are a current freeze-frame representation of the slowly but continuously shifting lower Mekong basin. Annual fluctuation of the Mekong's water volume, supplemented by the Asian monsoon regime, causes a unique flow reversal of the Tonlé Sap River. The largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, it contains an exceptional large variety of interconnected eco-regions with a high degree of biodiversity and is therefore a biodiversity hotspot. It was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1997.

Articles related to Cambodia and Cambodian culture include:

Kampong Chhnang Province Province of Cambodia

Kampong Chhnang is one of the central provinces (khaet) of Cambodia. Neighboring provinces are Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Kandal, Kampong Speu and Pursat. The capital city of Kampong Chhnang Province is Kampong Chhnang.

Kampong Thom Province Province of Cambodia

Kampong Thom is a province (khaet) of Cambodia. It borders the provinces of Siem Reap to the northwest, Preah Vihear to the north, Stung Treng to the northeast, Kratie to the east, Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang to the south, and the Tonle Sap to the west.

Pursat Province Province of Cambodia

Pursat is a province (khaet) of Cambodia. It is in the western part of the country and borders clockwise from the north: Battambang Province, the Tonlé Sap, Kampong Chhnang Province, Kampong Speu Province, Koh Kong Province, and Thailand. It lies between the Tonle Sap and the northern end of the Cardamom Mountains. The Pursat River bisects the province, running from the Cardamoms in the west to the Tonle Sap in the east.

Provinces of Cambodia

Cambodia is divided into 25 provinces. The capital Phnom Penh is not a province but an "autonomous municipality", equivalent to a province governmentally and administered at the same level as the other 24 provinces.

Deforestation in Cambodia

Cambodia is one of the world's most forest endowed countries that has not yet been drastically deforested. However, massive deforestation for economic development threatens its forests and ecosystems. As of 2015, the country has one of the highest rates of deforestation in the world.

Boeng Tonle Chhmar

Boeng Tonle Chhmar is a 145.6 km2 (56.2 sq mi) large multiple use management area in Cambodia bordering Tonlé Sap lake that was established in 1999. It is located in Peam Bang Commune in Kampong Thom Province.

Lower Se San 2 Dam Dam in 25 km (16 mi) upstream from Stung Treng

The Lower Se San 2 Dam is a hydroelectric dam under development on the Se San River in Stung Treng Province, northeastern Cambodia. The Se San River is a major tributary of the Mekong River. The dam site is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) east of the provincial capital, also named Stung Treng. The first turbine began producing electricity in November 2017. The dam was officially opened on December 18, 2018.

Stung Sen Dam Dam in Preah Vihéar

Stung Sen Dam is a proposed multipurpose dam to be located on the Stung Sen River. The river originates in Preah Vihear and flows to the Tonlé Sap Lake in Kompong Thom, southeast of Phnom Rovieng, Cambodia. Under MoU study project and Feasibility Study by Korean company. The large reservoir would submerge Kompong Putrea. Exact data for reservoir size and number of displaced people is not available, nor is any information on the importance of the Stung Sen's flow to the Tonle Sap Lake or fisheries.

Stung Treng Dam Dam in Stung Treng Province

The Stung Treng Dam is a proposed hydroelectric dam on the Mekong River in Stung Treng Province, Cambodia. It would be located on the mainstream of the Lower Mekong River. The project is controversial for several reasons, including its possible impact on the fisheries, as well as other ecological and environmental factors.

Chinit River

Chinit River is a river of Cambodia. Located in Kampong Thom Province, it is a major tributary of the Tonlé Sap Lake, which joins the Tonlé Sap River at the downstream end in the larger Mekong basin. Somewhat unusually the river is looped back into the same river system, which accounts for its length of 264 kilometres (164 mi), leaving Tonlé Sap lake and entering its river again downstream. The prehistoric archaeological site of Samrong Sen is located on the river bank. Water resource projects, commencing in 1971 and in 2003, have had various measures of success. The river is an important trade route.

Diospyros cambodiana is a tree in the Ebenaceae family, endemic to the Mekong basin, Cambodia. It grows some 15-20m tall in flooded/swamp forest. One of its vernacular names derives from the perceived likeness of its flowers to mouse droppings. The plant is used for construction, craftwork, firewood and medicine.

References

  1. ↑ "STATUS OF TROPICAL FOREST MANAGEMENT". The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO). Retrieved May 27, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  2. ↑ "Land and Resource of Cambodia". Ministry of Rural Development. January 26, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  3. ↑ "EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION TO CAMBODIA - Country Environment Profile" (PDF). EUROPEAN UNION. April 1, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  4. ↑ "EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION TO CAMBODIA - Country Environment Profile" (PDF). EUROPEAN UNION. April 1, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  5. ↑ "Overview of the Hydrology of the Mekong Basin" (PDF). Mekong Info. October 1, 2005. Retrieved May 12, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  6. ↑ "EUROPEAN UNION DELEGATION TO CAMBODIA - Country Environment Profile" (PDF). EUROPEAN UNION. April 1, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 5, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  7. ↑ "Overview of the Hydrology of the Mekong Basin" (PDF). Mekong Info. October 1, 2005. Retrieved May 12, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  8. ↑ List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor
  9. ↑ "2013 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor -Cambodia-". Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  10. ↑ "Cambodia". Fauna & Flora International. Retrieved June 7, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  11. ↑ "The Mineral Industry of Cambodia" (PDF). U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey. July 1, 2007. Retrieved June 8, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  12. ↑ Cosslett, Tuyet L. "Natural Resources" (and subsections). A Country Study: Cambodia (Russell R. Ross, editor). Library of Congress Federal Research Division (December 1987). This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  13. ↑ "Mining Sector in Cambodia" (PDF). Phnom Penh Securities Plc. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 7, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  14. ↑ "Big Oil in Tiny Cambodia: The Burden of New Wealth". The New York Times Company. May 5, 2007. Retrieved June 11, 2015.CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
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