Contribution of the flooded forest to the livelihoods of rural families in Cambodia :a case study of two community fisheries in Aek Phnom District, Battambang Province | |
| Author | Rous Chanthy |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.NR-06-04 |
| Subject(s) | Fishery management--Cambodia--Battambang Fishery policy--Cambodia--Battambang Rain forests--Cambodia--Battambang |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Science, School of Envrionment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. NR-06-04 |
| Abstract | Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake is by a 20 to 40km wide, surrounded by flatland and dominated by flooded forest and rice fields. This Great Lake and ring of flooded forest support the livelihood of about 30% of total population in the country. The Great Lake and Tonle Sap River is able to support fish production about 50-60% of total inland fish production in Cambodia. This study has focused on finding out the effects of flooded forest degradation on the livelihood of the community fishery. Poverty and joblessness arc the main factors for flooded forest degradation due to encroachment of farmland, poaching, and fishing track. Flooded forests continue to be of great importance to local fishermen and fisheries. Fisheries productions rely on this flooded forest for the fish habitats, feed, spawning grounds and nursing grounds that it provides. The study assesses the contribution of flooded forest to rural livelihood and explores alternatives for sustainable use of the flooded forest area in two community fishery in Battambang province. 88 samples were selected for household survey. Questionnaire survey, direct observation, key informant interview, group discussion and PRA were used in this study for primary data collection. Data were analyzed by quantitative and qualitative analysis techniques. The findings of this study showed that the household income generation depending on the fish production is an important factor of income. The living standards of villagers varied based on the fish production, and small business. Labor, fish cage culture, wildlife and NTFP were other source of income for local rural livelihood. Fish production contributed to household consumption of 422 kg/year for their living. The fish consumption is 64 kg/person/year. Similarly wild vegetable and fuel wood is most important for daily subsistence of rural poor in floating village. The direct use value was the main source of income. Sustainable use of flooded forest enhances the rural livelihood and fishery resources. Villagers were satisfied with government policy but implementation of policy is not satisfactory. The meeting, training and media system were supported but the financial support was not offered by government or any concerned institution. Internal and external factors affected the management and sustainable natural resources use in community fishery. As the community fishery has been helpful in alleviating poverty for many years but due to the constraints and limitation mentioned above, the study has recommended for the sustainable management of the community fishery and local rural livelihood besides suggesting the capacity building, leaderships, planning, sources of funding support, and offering the right and power to local community, community participation and providing alternative job/business to fishermen community rather than solely depending on fishing |
| Year | 2006 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. NR-06-04 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Natural Resources Management (NRM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shivakoti, Ganesh Prasad; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Dietrich Schmidt-Vogt;Soparth Pongquan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida); |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2006 |