Environmental research

The project on promotion of sustainable management and conservation of community fisheries areas to ensure local food security, wellbeing, and reduction of vulnerability to climate change was developed following Vulnerability Reduction Assessments conducted in 5 communities within 7 communes between 06 and 22 April 2011, and the following needs were identified: - Awareness and education on climate change; - Rehabilitation of Kai Ta canal and repair of the damaged dike; - Strengthening of the water user community committee and fisheries community committees; - Better agriculture technique for rice growing, vegetable and animal production and knowledge on production of bio-pesticide; - Repair of the damaged dike at Oh Kra Nhak reservoir for dry season rice irrigation and planting of trees on the dike to protect it from erosion; - Development of saving groups to help generate revenue for adaptation to climate change in target 17 villages, 7 communes, in 3 districts and covering five community fisheries, i.e., Boeng Rumpe, Boeung Banti, Boeung Tuk, Boeung Kouy, Boeung Char, Boeung Pram and Boeung Kra Nhak. These community fisheries consist of 1,188 members in total and of them 753 are women. There are 51 committee members, 9 women, who engage actively in leading the communities, patrol, protection of the lakes, and raising awareness on the significance of fisheries resources. The community committees had received support for capacity improvement through projects by PIU and COWS on project management, but more capacity is needed particularly on planning for boeung (lake) conservation, livelihood improvement, and adaptation to climate change. The communities do not have the necessary capacity to develop a proposal thus requested Khmer Support Organisation to help facilitate the submission of the application to access support from CBA. The project proposal aims to enhance resources, strengthen capacity to adapt to climate change, promote sustainable fisheries resource management and improve local livelihood. The objectives of the project are as follows: - By the end of the project, members and committees of the 5 Community Fisheries develop their capacity to manage and utilise 395.62 ha community area and protect existing 117 ha flooded forest on a sustainable manner; - Livelihood of the vulnerable people is improved so that they are able to adapt to climate change and reduce their vulnerability through enhanced agriculture production via repair existing reservoirs and canals between 2011 and 2012 in Prasat commune, Santuk district, and repair of a dike at Mean Rit commune, Sandann district; and - By the end of June 2012, 255 women increase their income by USD 76,500.00 a year through saving groups, reduce their fishing pressure in the natural lakes and reduce cutting down flooded forests in the communities, and are able to prepare for risks of climate change. 1.2 Goal To enhance resources and community s capacity to adapt to climate change, promote sustainable fisheries resources management and conservation, and improvement of local livelihood. Specific objectives: Objective 1: by the end of the project, members and committees of the 5 community fisheries develop their capacity to manage and utilise 395.62 ha community area and protect existing 117 ha flooded forest on a sustainable manner; Objective 2: livelihood of the vulnerable people is improved so that they are able to adapt to climate change and reduce their vulnerability through enhanced agriculture production via repair existing reservoirs and canals between 2011 and 2012 in Prasat commune, Santuk district, and repair of a dike at Mean Rit commune, Sandann district; and Objective 3: by the end of June 2012, 255 women increase their income by USD 76,500.00 a year through saving groups, reduce their fishing pressure in the natural lakes and reduce cutting down flooded forests in the communities, and are able to prepare for risks of climate change. 1.3 Project outcome Outcome 1.1 (Objective 1): management plan developed, and formally adopted by committees and members of 3 Community Fisheries (Boeng Rumpe, Boeung Ban Ti, and Boeng Tuk-Boeung Kuy) in 10 villages, 4 communes, in Santuk district; Outcome 1.2 (Objective 1): five Community Fisheries Committees gained adequate project management skills including those on report writing, financial management and CDP/ CIP and ability to solve problems in the communities effectively; Outcome 2.1 (Objective 2): 1,020 people from 17 villages (60 people from each village) participate in initiatives to adapt to climate change; Outcome 2.2 (Objective 2): 2,229 households improve their food production through repair of 2 dikes, 3,020 m long, and rehabilitate 1 damaged canal, 2,500 m long, running across 2 communes; and Outcome 3.1 (Objective 3): 255 households gained knowledge and access to improved agricultural techniques for household agricultural production to improve their income and enhance their food security. 1.4 Expected outputs and main activities Output 1.1.1 (Outcome 1.1, Objective 1): A three year community management plans (2012 2014) is developed and adopted, each for 3 community fisheries. Activities: - Coordinate with the fisheries administration to facilitate the review and development of new management plans; - Convene meetings of the communities fisheries committees and local authorities to review existing management plans and draft a new ones; and - Conduct meetings to adopt the management pla

Cambodia