The pressure to continue economic growth at its current rate is pressuring Cambodia to deplete its natural resources—especially in terms of land, forests and water, which are the main natural resources the nation holds. While there are environmental laws in Cambodia, they are often not as effective in reality as they are on paper and corrupt officials leads to poor enforcement.
Some laws include:
1. Mandatory EIAs for all projects by private and public companies.
2. An effort to reduce pollution of air, water, land, noise and toxic wastes and hazards
3. Monitoring, record keeping, and inspection of factories, industrial zones
While half of Cambodia is still forested, this rate has been declining rapidly over the past two decades as the nation has moved toward industrialization. One of the issues is the lack of forest protection—only 18% of Cambodia’s forests are considered protected, and even areas under protection are vulnerable to illegal logging—a major threat to Cambodia’s forests—by corrupt officials.
This environmental profile was compiled by Allie Horick November, 2013.
Country profiles are compiled and updated by students enrolled in the IES Kunming Center’s Regional Development in China and Southeast Asia program.
Sources
http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?c=cb&v=85
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/cb.html
http://www.cambodiainvestment.gov.kh/content/uploads/2011/09/Chapter2.pdf
http://atlas.media.mit.edu/explore/tree_map/export/khm/show/all/2009/
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/AG.LND.FRST.ZS/countries/1w-KH?display=graph
http://www.pria.org/docs/Changing-Civil-Society_Cambodia.pdf
http://www.pria.org/docs/Changing-Civil-Society_Cambodia.pdf
