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!!!