Cambodia
Capital:
Phnom Penh
Land Area:
176,515km²
Inland Water Area:
4,520km²
Length of Coastline:
435km
Cambodia has implemented the ICM framework along 100% of its 435km coastline, covering the four coastal provinces of Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong, and Preah Sihanouk. The Government of Cambodia has established a national ICM scaling up program that promotes ICM as a national approach to sustainably manage coastal and marine resources in the country. The ocean and water resources are important to Cambodia and Cambodians. The fisheries sector is the fourth-largest employer in Cambodia, employing about 385,000 people in 2007. It is also the fourth-biggest contributor to the country's gross domestic product (GDP).
Cambodian ICM implementation is founded on over a decade of experience on ICM implementation at the national ICM demonstration site in Preah Sihanouk, which began in 2001. ICM implementation in Preah Sihanouk covers 176km of coastline and 2,397km2 land area. Through a learning-by-doing approach that encourages local capacity development, ICM is providing practical solutions to coastal and marine management issues, benefiting over 200,000 stakeholders in the Province.
The ICM Program in Preah Sihanouk is addressing a variety of issues including: pollution reduction and waste management in Sangkat 4 through a community-driven waste collection and a micro-credit facility for sanitation facilities; livelihood management and sustainable coastal tourism in Occheuateal Beach; water use and supply management in Stung Hav District; and habitat protection and management of about 1,060ha of mangrove areas in Otress and Tomnob Rolok, Stung Hav and Kompong Smach, Prey Nup Districts. In 2016, motivated by the socio economic and environmental gains from the effective management of Preah Sihanouk, the other three coastal provinces started implementing their own provincial ICM programs.
Other sustainable efforts by the Royal Government of Cambodia include: (1) implementation of the Gulf of Thailand (GOT) Regional Framework Programme for Oil Spill Preparedness and Response; (2) implementation of the Port Safety Health and Environmental Management Systems in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville Autonomous Ports ; (3) preparation of Cambodia’s State of the Ocean and Coasts Report and; (4) development of on-the-ground activities addressing climate change and disaster risk reduction, habitat protection and restoration, water use and supply management, and pollution reduction and waste management under the broader ICM management framework of coastal provinces.
Focal Points:
H.E. Thay Chantha (Principal National Focal Point)
Deputy Secretary General of the National Committee for Cambodian Coastal Management and Development and Concurrent Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Protected Areas in the Ministry of Environment (MoE)
Mr. Roath Sith (Alternate National Focal Point)
Deputy Director-General, General Directorate of Environmental Protection, MoE
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
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Integrated River Basin Management Project Newsletter - Edition 5
"Steering the Flow" is the fifth edition of the Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) Project's newsletter, highlighting key milestones and meetings for the last quarter of 2024 and the beginning of 2025. From the IRBM Project's participation in the 2024 East Asian Seas Congress and The Pavilion for People at the 2025 World Economic Forum, to the launch of the State of River Basin Guidebook and the ongoing assessment of the interplay between water use conflicts and the water-energy-food-ecosystem security nexus in ASEAN river basins — the IRBM Project is set to steer the governance and management of priority river basins in ASEAN Member States.
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Harmonizing Oceans: Transboundary Strategies for Climate Resilience in North-East Asia
The Korea Maritime Institute (KMI) and ESCAP Subregional Office for
East and North-East Asia jointly organized a session titled “Harmonizing Oceans: Transboundary Strategies for Climate Resilience in North-East Asia”. This session highlighted the role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) under the Coastal and Marine Spatial
Planning (CSMP) regime in North-East Asia and beyond in fostering regional resilience against climate impacts and promoting ecosystem conservation.Key topics included:
- Understanding Climate Change Impacts: Examining how climate change affects marine ecosystems in this region.
- Applying CMSP Strategies: Sharing successful CMSP strategies and their role in climate-related conservation efforts (e.g., blue carbon, community-led habitat restoration).
- Enhancing Transboundary Cooperation: Discussing how multi-stakeholder engagement can strengthen regional conservation initiatives.
Additionally, the session underscored capacity building and knowledge exchange, providing a platform for member States and relevant stakeholders to share best practices and enhance skills for managing MPAs and addressing regional marine environmental challenges.
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PEMSEA eBulletin - January 2025
Dear PEMSEA community,
Welcome to 2025!
We hope you have recovered from the successes and challenges in 2024 and are ready to step into the new year with firm resolve to work with us in driving synergistic actions and building resilience across the East Asian Seas region.
This January, we’re excited to share updates on our ongoing efforts! Check out our recent study on Harmonizing Blue Carbon Accounting, comparing practices in Japan, Korea, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and VERRA international standards and discover why harmonization is key to effective climate action. Celebrate the milestones of the Marine Plastics ODA Project and the plans for 2025 as we ramp up efforts to tackle marine plastics aligned with global, national, and local targets.
Learn how the East Asian Seas region is fighting the Triple Planetary Crises (TPC) through regional partnerships and stronger collaborations. Discover Yancheng City, a pioneer in digital-green transformation and PNLG’s newest member. Finally, join PEMSEA and the Philippines in celebrating Zero-Waste Month, promoting sustainable waste management for a cleaner, zero-waste future!