Cambodia Environmental Report Card

The aim of my research is to learn about environmental problems and issues in Cambodia, and to recommend priority environmental actions. Each week, I wrote a memo on a specific topic about Cambodia, and then annotated articles. My research demonstrates that Cambodia has many environmental problems, including deforestation, pollution in the Mekong River, and vehicles polluting the ruins of Angkor Wat. I recommend that Cambodia increase its participation in reforesting groups, try to keep the factories along the Mekong river cleaner, make their vehicles environmentally friendly, and protect the ruins of Angkor Wat. ABSTRACT

Data for this research came from government websites (like the US CIA’s World Fact Book) and from sources like Earth Encyclopedia. I also read and annotated many news articles about Cambodia, especially for my case studies. These articles and websites were very useful, but some of them provided different information. I found different figures for the number of people in Cambodia living under the poverty line, for example. This is because different information sources used different ways of measuring poverty. I also had the chance to interview a Cambodian national citizen, Dr. Rethy Chhem, Executive Director of the Cambodia Development Resource Institute. He gave me very interesting responses to my questions Dr. Chhem answered all of my questions and I used the information in my report. He also told me that he grew up in Phnom Penh, and left the country during the time of a great war. For many years he worked as a medical doctor in other countries (and at the United Nations). He returned to Cambodia to work just six months ago. Some of the things Dr. Chhem told me were different than the things I read in articles or in websites. This showed how important it is to use and compare different sources of information when doing research. These were the questions I ask Dr. Chhem: 1. Could you tell me a little about where you grew up? 2. Where do you think Cambodia should get their energy fro in the upcoming years? How much of it? 3. Do you know about any projects to help the Mekong River? I have read it has become very polluted. 4. Does the Mekong River ever seem polluted to you? If so what do you think it is from? 5. What do you know about the tuk tuks (motorcycle taxis) they use at Angkor Wat? I have read that they are a big problem and are causing lots of pollution. Are there any ideas to solve this problem? 6. Has deforestation had an effect on the environment in Cambodia? How? Do you know any projects that are helping deforestation by replanting trees? METHODS

The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh. This country is located in south-east Asia. Bordering countries are Laos Vietnam and Thailand. Most of Cambodia is forest. GEOGRAPHY

Cambodia has multiparty democracy under a constitutional monarchy. That means that they have more than one voice. They also have a ruler/king but his power is limited under a constitution. GOVERNMENT

Some of Cambodia’s imports are cigarettes, gold, machinery, motor vehicles, construction materials, and petroleum products. Some of Cambodia’s exports are clothing, timber, rice, fish, tobacco, and footwear. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

Cambodia has many natural resources, including minerals, hydroelectric power, and forestry/timber. One of Cambodia’s main exports is timber. One of its main imports is petroleum products. NATURAL RESOURCES

Cambodia has seven different EcoZones. Zone 1 is Tonle Sap freshwater swamp forests. Zone 2 is Tonle Sap-Mekong swamp forests. Zone 3 is central Indochina dry forests. Zone 4 is Cardamom Mountains rainforests. Zone 5 is Indochina mangroves. Zone 6 is Southeastern Indochina dry evergreen forests. Zone 7 is Southern Annamites montane rainforests. ECO-ZONES OF CAMBODIA

Angkor Wat is Cambodia’s most famous landmark. Angkor Wat gets many tourists a day. It has become very polluted because of tourists. It is now limited to just 2,000 visitors per day. Different people say different things about what is causing the pollution. Angkor Wat is at great risk ! Angkor Wat/Case Study

The Mekong River is Cambodia’s main water source. Along the Mekong, there are many factories. These factories put most of their waste in the river. I don’t think that is very fair. They make the pollution but the river gets it all? A lot of Cambodians depend on the Mekong to survive. That is where they get their food. For some people that is even where they get a house area. That is why it is so important to keep the Mekong healthy. MEKONG RIVER/ Case Study

Deforestation is a huge problem in Cambodia. One of their main exports is timber. Cambodia is cutting down their trees just so they can make some money. There is a group that is trying to reforest Cambodia. The civil war in Cambodia was largely paid for by illegal logging. Cambodia’s forest coverage in the 1980’s was over 80%. Today it is 3.1%. Since most of Cambodia has always been forest, it seems like they will never run out. But really they will. DEFORESTATION/CASE STUDY

This is a map of the comparison of Cambodia to the United States. I would say that Cambodia is about the size of Oklahoma. If you lived in Cambodia rather than the United States you would die years sooner. You would also be 8.3% more likely to die in the first 3 years of your life. You would have 81.82% more children. You would also make 95.08% less money. Most of this data is from the US CIA, pulled together on the “if it were my home” website. CAMBODIA COMPARED TO THE UNITED STATES

Here are some things I think Cambodia should do for its own good. If they are going to cut down so many trees, they can at least put some of their money into reforesting groups. And the factories around the Mekong River can try to produce less or put their waste somewhere else. PRIORITY ACTIONS

I still have many things to learn about Cambodia. I would like to interview people in Cambodia, and visit many of the different eco-zones and observe how people live in them. ……………………… …………………….... MORE RESEARCH IS NEEDED

BEAUTIFUL CAMBODIA!

Lena Rae Fortun is a fourth grade student at Tamarac Elementary School, Brunswick NY. Her favorite subjects are math, gym, music, art, and most of all, science. After school she enjoys playing the piano, playing soccer, and dancing. In college she wants to study chemistry or teaching or maybe both. When Lena grows up she wants to be a high school chemistry teacher. RESEARCHER PROFILE