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The Tonle Sap Basin Strategy
Olivier Serrat
2005
Section Overview
The Tonle Sap at a Glance
The Poverty–Environment Nexus
Threats to the Tonle Sap
ADB's Response
The Tonle Sap at a Glance
The Tonle Sap at a Glance
The Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.
During the rainy season, the Mekong River reverses the Tonle Sap River's flow, raising the lake by up to 10 m and enlarging its area from 2,500–3,000 sq. km to 10,000–16,000 sq. km.
This unique hydrological cycle and the vast areas of seasonally flooded low forest and shrubs that it creates, in a tropical climate, drive a very high biodiversity of fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals, and engenders extremely productive fisheries.
The flooded areas offer seasonal breeding and nursery grounds and forage areas for fish that subsequently migrate to the Mekong River, providing thereby a regionally vital resource.
The Tonle Sap supplies 6% of the average annual flow of the Mekong River but 16% of its dry season flow, thus helping to control salinity intrusion and conserve mangrove in the Mekong delta.
The Tonle Sap at a Glance
The size, habitat diversity, and relative preservation of the Tonle Sap's floodplains are exceptional. They are essential to the survival of many globally significant species of birds, mammals, and reptiles.
The Tonle Sap was nominated as a biosphere reserve of the United Nations in October 1997.
The Tonle Sap at a Glance
The Tonle Sap at a Glance
The five provinces around the Tonle Sap host 2.9 million people (22% of the country's population), most of whom draw livelihoods from the lake's land, water, and biotic resources.
The lake's fisheries directly support more than one million people and provide the single largest source of animal protein for Cambodia's young and increasing population.
The Poverty–Environment Nexus
Population and development pressures are taking their toll: consumptive use of the lake's resources is intense.
The threats to the lake's ecosystem include overexploitation of fisheries and wildlife resources; dry season encroachment and clearance of the flooded forest; and degradation of native vegetation in watersheds.
These threats place the lake's ecosystem and the population that depends on it at risk. They also have transboundary environmental implications.
Despite the inherent richness of the lake, most indicators of poverty in the provinces surrounding it are more negative than those for the nation, or other rural areas of Cambodia.
Threats to the Tonle Sap
Climate Change
Cumulative Impact of Built Structures on the
Hydrology of the Mekong Basin
Deforestation of the Watersheds
Agricultural ExpansionIndustrial and Urban
Pollution
Conversion of the Flooded Forest to
Agriculture
Over-exploitation of Fisheries and Wildlife
ResourcesAgricultural Run-Off Mining
Habitat FragmentationCollection of Fuel Wood from the Flooded Forest
Introduction of Non-native Species
ADB's Response: Strategic Principles
ADB's Country Strategy and Program, 2005–2009 targets economic growth for countrywide poverty reduction, with a focus on the Tonle Sap basin.
The Tonle Sap basin covers 44% of Cambodia' total land area and is home to 32% of its population.
The strategic principles of the Tonle Sap basin strategy are (i) sustainable livelihoods, (ii) social justice, and (iii) basin-wide approach.
Human
Social
Physical Financial
Natural
Vulnerability Context
• Shocks• Trends• Seasonalities
Livelihood Strategies
Policies & Institutions
• Structures- Public Sector- Private Sector- Third Sector
• Processes- Institutions- Laws- Policies- Culture
Livelihood Outcomes
•Sustainable use of natural resources
•Income•Well-being•Resilience•Food security
Capital Assets
ADB's Response: Strategic Principles
National & Provincial Natural Resource ManagementLegislation & Policy
Water ManagementPlans
Regional VegetationManagement Plans
Other Natural Resource Management Plans,Including Inland Fisheries Management Plans
Tonle Sap Basin Blueprint
ADB's Response: Strategic Principles
Poverty Reduction
Pro-Poor, SustainableEconomic Growth
Access to AssetsManagement
of Natural Resources& the Environment
Core Areas of InterventionOperating Outputs
Activities
Core Areas of InterventionOperating Outputs
Activities
Core Areas of InterventionOperating Outputs
Activities
ADB's Response: Development Objectives
Section Overview
Delivering the Strategy
• Operating Principles
Operational Program
• Core Areas
• Crosscutting Themes
Cross Impact Strategy Matrix
Delivering the Strategy: Operating Principles
Long-Term Perspective
Selectivity and Concentration
Partnerships
Country Ownership and Delegation
Informing and Listening
Judicious Use of Modalities
Local livelihood needs Resource dependence, vulnerability
National Development PrioritiesInterests, strategies
Overseas Development AgenciesInterests, agendas
Private InvestmentsInvestment flows
Regional CooperationInterests, vulnerability
International MarketsConsumer interests and demands
NGOsInterests, agendas
Delivering the Strategy: Operating Principles
Operational Program: Core Areas
Rural Development and the Environment
Human Development
Operational Program: Crosscutting Themes
Vulnerable groups
Governance
Resource Cooperation
The Private Sector in Development
Core Area of Intervention Crosscutting Theme
Dev
elo
pm
ent
Ob
ject
ive
StrategicAgenda
RuralDevelopment
&the
Environment
HumanDevelopment
VulnerableGroups
Governance ResourceCooperation
The Private Sector in
Development
Pro-Poor, Sustainable Economic Growth
Access to Assets
Management of Natural
Resources & the
Environment
Cross Impact Strategy Matrix
Further Reading
• ADB. 2004. The Tonle Sap Basin Strategy. Manila. www.adb.org/documents/tonle-sap-basin-strategy
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