Bordering Viet Nam on Cambodia's southern border, Kampot Province has an existing culture of environmental protection, containing 35 protected forests and 10 fisheries conservation zones, among others. Coastal erosion has led to saltwater intrusion into paddy fields, an issue which will worsen as the sea level rises. Crowded settlements along rivers with inadequate waste management means some of the rivers are polluted, and carry this pollution to the sea. Seagrass beds, mud flats, and mangroves line much of the coast, and are considered and managed under local and provincial plans.
