UrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsiaPartnership(URCSEA)

ReportonIdentificationofCaseStudySite:KhemarakPhouminTown,KohKongProvince,Cambodia

NginChanrith,HengNaret,ThuonTry,FacultyofDevelopmentStudies,RoyalUniversityofPhnomPenh

KimNong,MinistryofEnvironment

PhnomPenh,June2015

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TableofContents

Introduction.................................................................................................................................................................3

1.Clarityofclimateissues............................................................................................................................................3

Location.....................................................................................................................Error!Bookmarknotdefined.Resourcestressexacerbatedbyclimatechange.....................................................................................................4

Economiclandconcessions..................................................................................................................................4

Hydropowerdevelopment...................................................................................................................................6

Naturaldisasters......................................................................................................................................................6

Climatedataavailability...........................................................................................................................................7

2.Rapidurbanization...................................................................................................................................................8

Physicalspreadofthecity........................................................................................................................................8

Populationgrowthrate............................................................................................................................................8

3.Regionalconnection...............................................................................................................................................10

Regionalinvestment..............................................................................................................................................11

Governmentsupporttoeconomicdevelopment..................................................................................................12

Infrastructuredevelopment...................................................................................................................................12

Developmentandconservation.............................................................................................................................13

4.Backgroundinformationavailability......................................................................................................................14

5.Historyofengagement...........................................................................................................................................14

6.Accessibilityandaffordability................................................................................................................................16

7.Localinterestandpoliticalbuy–in.........................................................................................................................16

8.Replicabilityandtransferabilityofknowledgeorlessons......................................................................................17

9.Conclusion..............................................................................................................................................................17

10.References............................................................................................................................................................17

ListofFiguresFigure1:Economiclandconcessionsandhydropowerdevelopment.........................................................................5

Figure2:Communeindexvulnerabletoclimatechangeincoastalprovinces............................................................6

Figure3:Areasofcoastalzonesbeinginundatedbysealevelrise.............................................................................7

Figure4:(i)Populationdensityincoastalprovinces,(ii)Populationprojectionby2030............................................9

Figure5:Employmentclassificationincoastalprovinces............................................................................................9

Figure6:Regionalcommunicationconnection..........................................................................................................10

Figure7:Currentconnectionofcoastalprovinces....................................................................................................11

Figure8:Regionalinvestment....................................................................................................................................12

Figure9:Landuseandmanagementplanning..........................................................................................................13

Figure10:Coastalmasterplanfordevelopmentandconservation..........................................................................14

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IntroductionTheUrbanClimateResilienceinSoutheastAsiaPartnership(UCRSEA)isacollaborativeprojectbetween

academicsinCanada,Cambodia,Myanmar,Thailand,andVietnam,toconductresearchonandpromotedialogue

aroundbuildingresilienceincitiesexperiencingurbanizationandclimatechange.Theresearchanddialogue

activitiesarebeingconductedineightsecondarycities–twocitiespercountryintheregion.Citiesareselected

onthefollowingcriteria:clarityofclimaterelatedissues,urbanizationprocesses(i.e.citiesthatare

growing/urbanizing),linkstoregionalization,backgroundofengagementandsupportingdata,politicalbuy-in

fromlocalgovernmentsandleaders,replicabilityandtransferabilitytootherlocations,andlogisticalandpractical

accessibility.

ThisreportprovidessomereasonsanddatatosupporttheselectionofKhemarakPhoumintownofKohKong

provinceasacasestudysiteinCambodia.Itispremisedontheexistingscholarshipandafieldvisittoanda

consultationworkshopwithrelevantstakeholdersintheprovincebytheresearchteam.Thesectionstofollow

entaileachofthecriteriathatcorroboratetheselectionofthetown.

1.ClarityofclimateissuesSource:AdoptedfromAsianDevelopmentBank,2012

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KohKongcoversanareaof10,045.58km2.ItisborderedbyPreahSihanoukandKampongSpeuprovincestothe

East,SihanoukbeachtotheWestandSouth,PursatprovincetotheNorth.Itisadministrativelydividedintosix

districtsandonemunicipality,26communes,threesangkatsand116villages.

Thepopulationin2010was123,832people,withfemalescomprising49.7%ofthetotalpopulation.The

populationdensityis12peoplepersquarekilometer.Agricultureisamajoreconomicsectoroftheprovince;

63.65%ofpopulationisagriculturalworkers.LargepopulationswereobservedinSraeAmbel,SmachMeanChey,

andBotumSakordistricts(20,000to40,000).SmallpopulationswerefoundinThmorBang,KohKong,andKiri

Sakordistricts(6,000to9,000).

Loweconomicdevelopmentmeansthatmostpeopleareunabletopurchasegoodsandservicesfortheir

minimumdailyneeds.Thepovertyrateisapercentageofthepopulationlivingbelowapovertyline.Theaverage

provincialpovertyratewassignificantlyreducedfrom34.7%in2005to25.1%in2010withareductionrateof

1.9%peryear.Itwouldbearesultofcentralandlocalgovernmentinpovertyreductionprogramsaimingto

improvelivingconditionsofruralcommunities.Theexisting2010povertyratewashighinKiriSakor,ThmaBang,

KaohKong,andBotumSakordistricts(31to29%);averageinSraeAmbel,KampongSeila,andMondolSeima

districts(25to21%);andlowinSmachMeanchey(8.4%).

Resourcestressexacerbatedbyclimatechange

Cambodia’scoastalareascontainadiverseandbiologicallyimportantrangeofnaturalhabitatsincludingrivers,

forests,mangroves,estuaries,beaches,andcoralreefs.Coralreefshavebeenfoundinanumberoflocations

(Bauld2005)accommodating34knownspeciesofhardcoraland14speciesofsoftcoral(MoE/Danida2002).The

coralreefsaregenerallyinpoorhealth,withlowspeciesdiversity,dominatedbymassiveforms(Nelson1999).

Mangroveforestsandmudflatsarefoundthroughoutthecoastalzone.Theysupportbothendangered/vulnerable

wildlifeandspeciesofcommercial/livelihoodimportanceonwhichmanycommunitieslivingwithintheareaare

dependent.Around435speciesoffishhavebeenidentifiedinCambodia’smarinewaters.

Coastalnaturalresourcesfaceanumberofpressures.Overfishingbycommercialvesselsinrecentyearsfor

examplemayhavedecreased(PEMSEA2015).Overexploitationofforestresourcesandmangroveecosystemwill

leadtoincreasedratesoferosionandsedimentationofriversandestuariesincoastalareas.Thiswillaffectsea

grassbedsandcoralreefs,essentialtofishstocksandhabitats.Overtheperiodof1993to2002,forestand

mangroveresourcesincoastalareasdeclinedsignificantlyreachingabout270,000haand12,000haorabout

1.73%and1.76%peryearrespectively.TherapidlossofforestcoverandmangroveoccurredmainlyinKampot

andSihanoukville.Ifthislosscontinues,theattractivenessofcoastalareasfortourismandrecreationandother

economicopportunitieswillalsodecline.Sewage,garbage,andchemicalpollutionarealsoofconcern(Danida

1999).Sealevelriseasaresultofclimatechangewillaggravatethedamagecausedbytheunsustainable

managementofthecoastalzone.

TherearetwoeconomicdevelopmentsplacinghighpressureonforestandbiodiversityinKohKongprovince:(i)

economiclandconcessions;and(ii)hydropowerdevelopment.

Economiclandconcessions

Economiclandconcessions(ELC)inKohKongprovinceweremainlyconcentratedinBotumSakorNationalPark.

Theparkhasanareaof175,478hawithforestcoverof134,921ha(accordingtoLandsatimage2006).Theforest

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coverwasabout77%.TheELCwouldbeabout100,000haresultingintheareaofnationalparkofabout75,000to

80,000ha.

HigheconomicdevelopmentinKohKongwouldbefromeconomiclandconcessioninBotunSakorNationalPark.

ItwouldbeinChrouyPrascommune(KohKongdistrict);PreaekKhsach,PhnhiMeas,KaoSdachcommunes(Kiri

Sokordistrict);andTaNuon,ThmaSa,andAndoungToekcommunes(BotumSakordistrict).Developmentsfrom

economiclandconcessionwouldnotonlyhappenonallocatedlandbutalsosupportinfrastructuresuchasaccess

roadscrossingremainingnationalparktomakehabitatfurtherfragmentedandreduceconnectivitytothe

SouthernCardamoms.

AccordingtoexpertsmonitoringandevaluatingelephantdistributioninCambodiafrom1998to2011inareport

byFaunaandFloraInternational,therearefourkeyareaswithsignificantelephantsightingrecorded:KohKong,

Mondulkiri,Ratanakiri,andPreakVihearprovinces.TheprotectedforestsoftheCentralCardamoms,Southern

Cardamoms,andBotumSakorNationalParkarethreekeyareasthatelephantrecorded.

Ifeconomicdevelopmentinthisareaisnotlimitedtoexistingeconomiclandconcession,theGovernmentcould

maintainproperbiodiversitycorridorsconnectingBotumSakorNationalParkwiththeSouthernCardamoms.Itis

suggestedthatprovincialplannerswouldconsiderlimitingeconomicdevelopmentsinCardamomsand

biodiversitycorridorsbetweentheCentralCardamoms,SouthernCardamoms,andPhnomSamkorWildlife

Sanctuary.EconomicactivitiesshouldbeconcentratedalongSreAmbelandBotunSakorcoastaldistrictsto

balanceeconomicdevelopmentandconservationtargets.

Figure1:Economiclandconcessionsandhydropowerdevelopment(Source:AdoptedfromAsianDevelopmentBank,2012)

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Hydropowerdevelopment

HydropowerplantsinKohKongwouldalsounderhighpressurefromeconomicdevelopment.Thepressurewould

comefromtwoplantsunderconstructionandfivemoreunderdevelopmentinThmaBangandKohKongdistricts.

Pressurefromhydropowerdevelopmentcanbesignificantminimizedwiththeproperpreparationofhydropower

plantsinassociationwithgoodenvironmentalimpactassessmentsandmonitoringprocessesduringconstruction

ofthesystemtoinsurethatforestareaclearanceforreservoirsandroadsisminimizedandresettlementplansfor

currentresidentsaregoodintermsofcompensationandincomerehabilitation.

Naturaldisasters

Floodingisacommonclimaterelatedproblemincoastalareas.InKampottransportbyroadsandbridgesis

hamperedbyfloodsparticularlyduringthewetseason,andthishaseconomicconsequences(MoEandDanida

2002a).InKepmunicipality,floodsoccasionallyoccuralongslightlyhillyareasonlowerland(plains)andcreate

problemsinsomericegrowingareas.Manyfamilieshavemovedoutoftheseareasduetolowagricultural

productivity.InKohKong,areasaffectedbyfloodarefoundinthecenteroftheprovinceclosetotheborderof

KohKongandSihanoukvilleandaremostlyinthelowerpartsofslightlyhillyareas.Droughtcommonlyoccursin

thedryseason.

Strongwindsoftenoccurinthefallandcauseproblemsforfarmersbyhittingriceyields.Intherainyseason,

strongwindscomefromthewestorfromtheseaandcancausestormslastinguptosevendays.Duringstrong

windsandstormswavescanreach2to3.5metersinheightrenderingtravelbyseadifficult.

Theriskofexposuretohighseawavesisalsoquitehigh.Atthiswindspeed,seawavescanreachsixmetersin

height.Fishermenareadvisednottofishundertheseconditions.

Figure2:Communeindexvulnerabletoclimatechangeincoastalprovinces(Source:AdoptedfromMinistryofEnvironment[2010]draftreportonSecondNationalCommunicationontheUnitedNationFrameworkConventiononClimateChange)

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Climatedataavailability

Analysisoftheimpactofsealevelriseoncoastalareassuggeststhatatotalareaofabout25,000hawillbe

permanentlyinundatedbyasealevelriseofonemeter,increasingto38,000haatasealevelriseoftwometers.

Table1:Totalareasofthecoastalzonesbeinginundatedpermanentlybysealevelrise

No LandCover*

SeaLevelRise

1m 2m

1 Mangrove 11,832 18,495

2 Wetlands 10,509 12,477

3 Grassland/Shrubs 1,288 3,669

4 CropLands 629 2,209

5 OtherLands 384 866

6 ForestLands 289 370

7 Settlements 220 436

GrandTotal 25,151 38,523

*Basedonlandusecoverdataof2006correctedbylanduse/covermapof1997,adoptedfromMOE(2010)

Thetableaboveshowsthetotalareaofthecoastalzonebeinginundatedpermanentlyduetooneandtwometer

sealevelrise.Ofthe25,000ha,about81%oftheinundatedareaissituatedinKohKongProvinceand11%in

KrongPreahSihanoukProvince.

Around26communesinKohKongProvincewillbeaffectedbytheimpactofsealevelrise,whileintheKrong

PreahSihanouk,Kampot,andKongKraebProvincesabout17,25andfivecommunesrespectivelywillbe

impacted.Thelocationsofthecoastalzonethatwouldbeinundatedarepresentedinthefigurebelow.

Figure3:Areasofcoastalzonesbeinginundatedbysealevelrise(Source:AdoptedfromMinistryofEnvironment[2010]draftreportonSecondNationalCommunicationontheUnitedNationFrameworkConventiononClimateChange)

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2.RapidurbanizationPhysicalspreadofthecity

TheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandDanishInternationalDevelopmentAgency(2002)havedevelopedalong-

termplanforinfrastructuredevelopmentinthecoastalareas.However,thisplandidnottakeclimatechangeinto

consideration.Theproposedsustainablelandusemaynotbeeffectiveunderchangingclimate.Long-life

infrastructuredevelopmentthatrequireshighinvestmentshouldberedesignedwithclimatechangeinmind.In

areaswherethelikelihoodofstrongwindandsealevelriseisquitehigh,anewclimateproofbuildingcodemay

needtobeintroduced.Plantingwindbreakersinsomeagriculturalareasmayalsobenecessarytoreducethe

negativeimpactofstrongwindsonannualcrops.

TheanalysishasshownthatcommunitiesintheKohKongprovincearecurrentlyfacingclimaterelatedproblems,

andthatthesevulnerabilitiesneedtobeincorporatedintothedesignandplanningofadaptationplansincoastal

areas.

FurtherstudytoimprovethecurrentanalysisisrequiredusingRCMmodelsandamorerefinedresolutionofthe

topographicmap(contourswith20centimeterintervals)withawiderscope(e.g.saltwaterintrusion,coastal

erosionbyextremewavesasaresultofincreasingwindspeedandsealevelriseunderchangingclimate,

mangroverehabilitationforbufferzoneetc.).

RecentroadconstructionhasthepotentialtoopenuptheSouthernCardamomstolandencroachersandillegal

traders.RoadNo48dividestheSouthernCardamomsintotwopartsandfragmentstheconnectionbetweenthe

SouthernCardamomsandBotumSakorNationalPark.Itcreatesnegativeimpactsonforestandbiodiversitybut

withexistingforestmanagementofprovincialdepartments,theseimpactsareundercontrolandmonitored.Populationgrowthrate

TheMinistryoftheEnvironmentandDanishInternationalDevelopmentAgency(2002)define"UrbanArea"asan

areawithmanybuildingsand10,000peopleormoreinthetimewhenthepopulationcensusisconducted.

Anotherdefinitioncouldbethat"UrbanArea"isanareawhereatleast60%ofpopulation,aged10andolder,is

involvedinnon-agriculturalactivitiesandatleast30%offamiliesusemoderntoilets.Anareacannotbedefined

asanurbanorruralareaonlybasedonpopulation.Therefore,itshouldbenotedthatthereareamajorityof

districtsexpectedtobecome"UrbanAreas"whereanumberofcommunitiesalreadyexist.

TheCambodiancoastalprovinces’populationsareprojectedtoincreasesignificantlywithalmostonemillion

(960,480)in2008to1,459,510in2030.Thisprojectionbythenationalcommitteeforcoastalzonemanagement

anddevelopmentisabitunrealisticgiventhelowdensityandlessdevelopmentandeconomicactivitiesin2008

comparedwithcurrenttrends.

ForKohKong,thepopulationhasincreasedfrom132,106in1998to198,539in2005(MinistryoftheEnvironment

andDanida2002)andin2010itwas123,832peopleofwhich61,507or49.7%werefemale.Populationdensityis

12peoplepersquarekilometer.Agricultureisamajoreconomicsectorintheprovincewhere63.65%ofthe

populationisfarmers.About29%ofthepopulationworksintheservicesector,andalmost7%intheindustrial

sector.

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Figure4:(i)Populationdensityincoastalprovinces,(ii)Populationprojectionby2030

Figure5:Employmentclassificationincoastalprovinces

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3.Regionalconnection

Thecoastalprovinceshavebeenseenasastrategiclocationofgrowthpolesgiventheirwealthofnatural

resources,lowerpopulationdensity,accessibilityforcrossbordertradeaswellaslocationsforcorridortown

developmentandforaccessibilitytomarinetradeandnaturalresourcesforlivelihoods,theenvironment,and

ecosystemservicesconservation(Sothirith2013).

Figure6:Regionalcommunicationconnection

KohKongprovincesharesaborderwithThailandatChamYeam.In2010,about46,000peoplecrossedtheborder

and50%wereinternationalpeople.ThebordergatewouldbeafavorablelocationforroadtourismfromThailand

toKohKong.

Thedevelopmentofhotels,guesthouses,restaurants,recreationalsites,etc.hasnoticeablyincreasedtomeetthe

demandsoftourism.However,therehavebeenlimitationsonreception,guideswhocanspeakforeignlanguages,

localtransportation,restaurants,andthepriceofservicesandfood.

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Figure7:Currentconnectionofcoastalprovinces

Regionalinvestment

TherearethreestrategicobjectivesforKohKongprovinceenvisionedbytheNationalCommitteeforCoastalZone

ManagementandDevelopment:

• SpecialeconomiczoneandindustrializedzoneconnectingtheareatoThailand.

• Worldclasseco-tourismdevelopment

• Oilandgasolineexploration

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Figure8:Regionalinvestment

Currently,outstandinginvestmentincludeaSpecialEconomicZone,cleanwatersupplyandelectricityfrom

Thailand,carsparepartinstallmentindustrybySouthKoreaninvestors,andspecialtownandresortinvestment

byChineseinvestors(UnionDevelopmentGroup)overlandareasof38,000hawithcapitalofUS$3.5billion.

Governmentsupporttoeconomicdevelopment

Mostofthetouristandrecreationsitesarelocatedinthecoastalareas.Therearesomenaturaland/orecosystem

touristsiteslocatedintheCentralCardamoms,theSouthernCardamoms,PeamKrasop,BotumSakor,andDong

Peng.

AccordingtotheKohKongTouristDepartment’sfuturetourismdevelopmentplan,therewouldbe20proposed

sitesdevelopedorrehabilitatedbetween2011and2013(eightinMondulSeimadistrict,seveninKohKong

district,fourinSmachMeancheydistrict,andoneinThmarBangdistrict).Minimuminfrastructureat

natural/ecosystemtouristsiteswouldhaveinsignificantnegativeimpactsonforest,landscape,andbiodiversity.

InfrastructuredevelopmentRoads:RenovationandmaintenanceofNationalRoad48;establishmentofcrossbordertransportationforgoods

andservicesexchange.

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Cleanwater:Constructareservoirthatcansupplythewholecity.Drainagesystem:Drainagerenovationtoregulatepollutedwaterinthecity’scorezone.

DevelopmentandconservationThenationalspatialplanforcoastalprovinceshasstronglyadvocatedforlanduseplanningandmanagement,and

abalancebetweendevelopment,conservation,andecology.

Figure9:Landuseandmanagementplanning

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Figure10:Coastalmasterplanfordevelopmentandconservation

4.Backgroundinformationavailability

Historicalinformationabouturbanizationisnotreadilyavailable.

5.Historyofengagement

• FormerprojectsupportedbyInternationalDevelopmentResearchCenterIDRConParticipatory

ManagementofMangroveResource1,MinistryofEnvironment(MOE).

• CoastalZoneDevelopmentProjecthasbeenactiveoverthelast10years.

1NowcalledPMCR(ParticipatoryManagementofCostalResource)

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• NationalcommitteeforcoastalzonemanagementthroughtheMinistryofLandManagement,Urban

PlanningandConstruction,MinistryofEnvironment,andMinistryofTourism.

• InternationalUnionforConservationofNatureworkingontwocommunes:PeamKrosaopandTuolKorky

onclimatechangevulnerabilityassessmentandproposedadaptation.

• TheMinistryofEnvironment,CambodianClimateChangeAllianceandUnitedNationforEnvironment

Program(2010)haveapilotprojectonCoastalAdaptationandResiliencePlanningcomponentthatcovers

allcoastalprovinces,inparticularSihanooukandKohKongProvinceAuthorities,provincialdepartments

anddistrictoffices.TheProvincialauthorityhasamandatetoimprovelocalpeople’slivelihoods,maintain

security,healthcare,andsustainabledevelopment.Theprovincialgovernorandrelevantprovincial

departmentsrecognizethatKohKongisaprovincewhereseawaterfloodsaffectagriculturalland.

Problemsofinundationandsaltintrusionhavebeenexperienced,withe.g.5,000haofricedamagedlast

year.Climatechangeprojectionsinthisprovinceestimateariseinsealevelof0.5meterstoonemeterin

thenext50years,basedonwhichnearlyhalfoftheKohKongtownwouldbeinundated.

• KohKongauthoritiesareveryconcernedaboutclimatechangeissuesandareseekingfundsfor

adaptationandmitigation.KohKongprovincialauthoritiesareveryinterestedinthecoastaladaptation

componentandlookforwardforitspromptimplementationthroughactiveparticipationofthelocal

government.

• PeamKrasaopCommunities,KohKongProvince.Accordingtothemostrecentinformation,thenumberof

familiesis1,883,withatotalpopulationof9,152residents.Almost95%ofvillagerslivinginPeamKrasaop

undertakefishingastheirmainlivelihoodsource.Followinggovernmenteffortstostopmangrove

destructioninthesanctuary,manyofthelocalpeoplechangedoccupationstoraisechickensandducks,

harvestcrabsandsnails,fishing,small-scalebusiness,hunting,smallspeedboatoperation,repairingboat

andfishinggear,thatchweaving,fishprocessing,andrepairinghouses.Thereisaconsensusthatcurrent

communitypovertylevelscontributesignificantlytothedeclineofnaturalresourcesinPeamKrasaop.

Thetablebelowisthesummaryofprojectinputsandoverallcost.Outputs Costs(USD)Output1:Methodologyfordesigningandimplementingadaptation

measuresdevelopedandadoptedbytheGovernment

336,500

Output2:Developmentanduseofindicatorsformonitoringclimate

changeimpactsinthecoastalzone

294,000

Output3:Vulnerabilityandriskassessmentsproducedforcoastal

communities,ecosystems,andinfrastructure

592,000

Output4:Vulnerabilitymapsproducedforplanningpurposes 172,000

Output5:Institutionalcapacityforidentifyingadaptationsolutionsbased

ondifferentclimatechangescenariosdeveloped

282,000

Output6:Improvedclimatechangeknowledgeintegratedintolanduse

andcoastaldevelopmentplans

232,000

Output7:Increasedresilienceofcoastalcommunitiesandcoastal

ecosystembufferstoclimatechangeandimprovedlivelihoods

1,636,000

ProjectManagement,MonitoringandEvaluation,Review 541,500

ProcurementandEquipment 339,000

Totaldirectcosts 4,425,000

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6.Accessibilityandaffordability

• GoodroadconnectionfromPhnomPenh.

• Diversetransportations;itcanbereachedbyregularbusesortaxi.

• Accommodationoptionsarealsodiverse.

• Thecurrentdeputydirectoroftheprovincialadministrationwastheformerheadoftheprovincial

departmentofEnvironmentinKohKongandusedtoworkwiththePilotProgramforClimateResilience

projectandknowsmanypeoplefromtheInternationalDevelopmentResearchCenterprogramin

Cambodia.HesupportstheprojectinKohKong.

7.Localinterestandpoliticalbuy–in

TheNationalCommitteeforCoastalZoneManagementandDevelopment(MLMUC)wasformallyre-established

in2013.TheMinistryofLandManagement,Urbanization,andConstructionispromotingspatialplanning,land

useplanning,andmasterplacedevelopmentoftownandcitydevelopments.Thismeansthattheydoneedmore

technicalcapacitytosupportstaffatthenationalandthesub-nationallevels.

Thisactionlinkstoacurrentroyaldecreeonthe

establishmentofanationalcommitteeon

coastalmanagementanddevelopment.Itis

honorablychairedbythePrimeMinsterof

Cambodiawithinterministerialmembersaswell

assub-nationalauthoritiesofthefourcoastal

provinces.

ItisalsolinkedtotheNationalAdaptation

ProgramofAction(NAPA)approvedbyacouncil

ofministers(MinistryoftheEnvironment2006),

specificallyfocusingoncoastalvulnerabilityand

adaptiontoclimatechange.

Thefirststrategicdevelopmentplan(2015-

2019)oftheKhemarakPhumintownwas

developedinlinewithprovincialdevelopment

planning.However,thereismoreneededin

termsofcapacitydevelopmentfortown

developmentplannersandlocalauthority

engagementinconductingvulnerabilitystudies,zoning,andengaginginadaptationplanning.

Thecurrentlanduseplanforthetown(asshowninthemapaboveasadoptedfromMr.SaoSithuon’s

presentationontownmasterplanduringthelaunchingofUCRSEAprojectedinKohKong,dated25May2015)is

basedonadevelopmentvisionuntil2030.Thevisionincludespovertyreductionandthedevelopmentofall

sectors.Thecurrentpopulationofthisnewlyestablishedtownisestimatedat27,015(13,819females),witha

populationdensityof270peoplepersquarekilometer.Thisishigherthanthenationalaverage.About1,500

peoplearenon-permenantresidentsand500arein-migrants.

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8.Replicabilityandtransferabilityofknowledgeorlessons

• Similarincertainaspectstoothercitiesintheregion,inparticularthoseincoastalprovinces.

• Tobeabletogeneralizebeyondspecificcaseswhichareinlinewiththegovernment’scoastal

managementmasterplan:"EnhancetheeffectiveimplementationofCambodia’scoastalzones

managementanddevelopmentthroughtheCircularonCoastalZonesManagementandDevelopment,

andtopushforadoptionandimplementationofintegratedstrategyfordevelopingCambodia’scostal

zonesandPreahSihanoukMasterPlanaimingtosustainablymaintaintheprestigeofthemostbeautiful

beachintheworldandthegreenenvironmentalzonesoftheCambodianSea."

• Capacitydevelopmentforthegovernmentandsub-nationallevelsrelatedtoclimatechangevulnerability

assessment,urbandevelopmentplanning,andsoon.

9.ConclusionInsum,KhemarakPhuminofKohKongprovincerepresentsacoastalzonetownthatfitstheUCRSEAproject

selectioncriteria.Therecentdevelopmentsinthetownhavecenteredontheissuesofclimatechange,

urbanization,regionalization,andpovertyreduction.Asaresultofnationalandregionalgrowth,ithas

encounteredrapideconomicandpopulationgrowthandregionalization.Therefore,itisworthexamininghowit

dealswiththesoaringeconomicactivityinthecontextofclimatechange,andwhatthisentailsintermsofpoverty

reductioninthetown.

Thecurrentliteratureseemstofocusontheseparateissuesofclimatechange,urbanization,regionalizationand

economicdevelopmentincoastalzonesandKohKongprovince.ItisthuscriticaltoinvestigatehowKohKong

provinceanditsKhemarakPhumintowncanenhanceitsresilienceandsustainabilityintherisinginterplayof

theseissues.Thisissignificantsincethetownisunderswiftdevelopmentinparallelwiththeincreasing

degradationofclimaticandnaturalresources.Thisstudywillcomplementandcontributetotheexisting

endeavorsofthelocalgovernmentanddevelopmentpartnersworkinginthearea.

10.References

AsianDevelopmentBank(2012)RapidMacroeconomicAssessmentandDevelopmentPressuresinBCIProvince:KohKongProvince.GreaterMekongSub-RegionCoreEnvironmentProgram(CEP)andBiodiversity

ConservationCorridorsInitiative(BCI).AsianDevelopmentBank:Manila.

DepartmentofEnvironment(2015)ClimateChangeImpactandAdaptationPlanning.ApresentationduringURCSEAdisseminationworkshop(Khmerversion):KohKongprovince.

ProvincialOfficeofInvestmentandInternationalCooperation(2015)PotentialofEconomicDevelopmentandASEANEconomyCommunityIntegrationReadinessinKohKong.ApresentationduringUrbanClimate

ResilienceinSoutheastAsiaPartnershipdisseminationworkshop(Khmerversion):KohKongprovince.

KohKongProvincialOffice(2015)FiveYearStrategicDevelopment2015-2019forKhemarakPhuminCity(Khmer

version).KohKongProvincialOffice:KohKong.

KohKongProvincialOffice(2011a)FiveYearStrategicDevelopment2010-2015forKohKongProvince(Khmer

version).KohKongProvincialOffice:KohKong.

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EnvironmentProgramme.MinistryoftheEnvironment:PhnomPenh.

MinistryoftheEnvironment(2005)VulnerabilityandAdaptationtoClimateHazardsandtoClimateChange:ASurveyofRuralCambodianHouseholds.MinistryoftheEnvironment:PhnomPenh.

MinistryoftheEnvironment(2002)PhysicalFrameworkPlanforKohKongProvince:EnvironmentalManagement

intheCoastalZone-Cambodia.PreparedbyKohKongWorkingGroup,MinistryoftheEnvironment:Phnom

Penh.

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