The Lower Mekong River Basin in Cambodia

Mekong River Basin

Cambodia

Sky Dominguez

Cambodia

General Information

• Mekong Basin is 800,000 km2

• Cambodia is 181,535 km2

• Consumes 80% of the Cambodia -(145,228 km2)

• 20% being permanent wetlands - (36,307 km2)

• 80% Khmer livelihood relies on the Basin

Climate

• Monsoon driven causing annual flooding of the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap Basin

• Annual rainfall is 190 cm (74.8 inches)

• 80% annual rainfall is in the wet season (May-October)

Tonle Sap

• Most prominent feature of the River Basin

• Stabilizes 20% of the whole Mekong River with unique hydrological properties

• Ranges from 2,500 km2, dry season, to 15,000 km2 in the wet season

• No net sedimentation

• Very well oxygenated

Along the Tonle Sap

Along the Tonle Sap Cont.

Vegetation

• Field crops have increased from 518 km2

in 1973 to 5,229 km2 in 1992

• 1970 - 1980 29% decrease in evergreen forest with additional 894 km2 by 1992

• Deciduous forest declined by 4917km2

Vegetation Cont.

• Increase of 29,000 km2 of paddy fields since 1980 (gross underestimation)

• Flooded forests around the Tonle Sap have decreased from 9,379 km2 in 1970 to 3,707 km2 in 1992 (still continues with no estimations)

Agriculture

• 50% of the countries economy

• 80-85% of the labor force (includes fisheries and forestry)

• 22% of the country is cultivated

• 2/3 of the arable land flooding annually

• 3 out of 5 cultivation techniques make up 99% of all rice ag.

Rice Cultivation Techniques

• Rainfed low land rice: 85% of cropland• 1.3 tons/ha• Flat plains surrounding Tonle Sap, Mekong and Bassak

River

• Dry Season Flood recession: 8% crop land• 2.7 tons/ha• Areas directly impacted by siltation of the Mekong River

• Floating Rice: 6% crop land• 1.2 tons/ha• Delta around the Tonle Sap

Rice Field Examples

Fisheries• 4th largest freshwater capture in the world

• 300,000 – 400,000 tons annually

• Fish provide 80% protein consumption

• 60% of the 80% from the Tonle Sap

Range of Inland water catch from 1994-1997 (Degen, P., et al)

Biodiversity

• 1,200 fish species with 500 being endemic to Mekong River catch area

• Largest amount of large fish species

• 225 birds species with 7 rare and endangered species

• 42 reptile (19 of global significance)

• 15 mammal species (10 of global significance)

Biodiversity cont.

Giant Ibis

Spotted Pelican

Greater Adjutants

Giant Catfish

Giant Catfish

Conclusion

• Lower Mekong River Basin in Cambodia has so much science to explored

• Ensure sustainability - physically and economical

• People need to be educated

• Please consider helping!!!