Water resources policy and administrative management

The project site is located in Chhorng Horn Community Fishery, Chhorng Horn Village, Prek Thnort Commune, Teuk Chou District, Kampot Province. This community has 96 ha of mangrove forest along coastal line (low land) and thousands of sea grass and coral reefs in the sea, and forest, mountain at the upper land. most people about 70 % get income by fishing in mangrove and sea grass areas, 30 % they has rice field and farms. beside all these works, they has small jobs in the village such as pearl crabs, make dry shrimps, sell goods, fuel and fishing materials so on. The past several years, these resources were declining by differences ways, example: Mangrove forest was destroyed, cutting by local people under support from rich people and powerful for land encroachment and salt field. Sea grass and coral reefs was destruction and pollutions by big illegal fishing activity, illegal fishing gears which were used big fishing boats in the shallow water, in especially from big fishing boats and modern fishing gear from nearest outsider country and some time make conflict each other. Forest was cutting by villagers for wood, farms and land encroachment. This project site is implementing in the demonstration site of Strategic Action Programm for the South China Sea, so that, to involve for resolution these problems, the Chhorng Horn Community Fishery has developed a proposal submitted to GEF SGP UNDP for improving natural and coastal resources protection. The project is aiming at the protection and conservation of coastal natural resources through the establishment and protection of a community conservation area and reforestation of 40 ha of mangrove trees aiming at increasing fish stock and protection of 38 ha of existing mangrove and 250 ha of Sea grass protection areas funded by SCS project, which will help to improve the fish habitat, increase biodiversity and improve local livelihood. The project also provides capacity building to community Fisheries committee members, communities and stakeholders to appreciate and protect environmental resources which could lead to a decrease or end of illegal fishing. In addition to that the project will empower women in participation and leadership in group management through organizing 3 women saving groups (10-15 women each) to participate in protection and conservation of natural resources and actively take part in other community development activities. Key project outputs: Community committees has meeting quarterly regularly with technical department 10 times in cycles of project and solved 23 conflicts cases related to environmental, natural resources management, - Nursery/seedling 160,000 mangrove trees for replanting on the area of 40 ha, Created 03 saving groups to support women in creation other options for their livelihood and reduce pressure on natural resources 10 community committee members has trained on natural resources management - Educated and disseminated on environmental and fishery law to community members. Project Impacts: What measurable environmental impact has the project had (e.g. Area of mangrove replanted; reduction in effluent discharge; etc.) Have species, habitat or ecosystems been protected through the project If so, please describe - The project has supported community member for seedling mangrove 160 000 trees - Replanting mangrove 140 000 trees on the area 40 ha with participation from the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery and Sub- National Councils. - Community member gain more understanding the important of mangrove forest and sea grass for their living conditions and take active part in protection of those resources. - Through replanting and protection existing mangrove in the community, they observed that fish productivity is increasing in the mangrove forest, in especially increasing of mammals species lead to increasing fish catch and income of the fishers. - The project has also help villagers economic improvement because the poor fishers can loan money from saving group to buy fishing gears, small boats and make other jobs in the village such as selling goods, fuel and fish processing. - Through protection remaining mangrove in the village and more replanting mangrove, fishers now can catch more fish and it also protect their village from storm and other climate change events. - This project has been replicated to others community fishery after those community they came to visit this site, the activities replicated are: - Mangrove seedling, mangrove planting, boats repairing and also saving groups (crabs fattening), - Example: 1- Trapeang Sangke Community Fishery, Trapaeng Sanke Village, Kbal Romeas Commune, Kampot District and Province. 2- Sre Ambel Community Fishery, Koh Kong Province. 3- Peam Krasoap Community Protected Area- Koh Kong Province. - Close cooperation and solidarity with technical department and Sub- National Councils on project implementation can be successful of the project. - This community has skillful in mangrove seedling and they have nurseries for seedling mangrove trees for selling to others community. - The Climate Change make high tide for long time and low tide (go down) a little bit and also make sea water getting worm(increasing temperature), so that in this stage should not planting mangrove because can be damaged mangrove seeds.

Cambodia