The Lower Mekong River Basin in Cambodia Mekong River Basin Cambodia Sky Dominguez.
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Transcript of The Lower Mekong River Basin in Cambodia Mekong River Basin Cambodia Sky Dominguez.
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!!!