Projects

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Tonle Sap Environmental Management

The Tonle Sap, Cambodia, is the most important inland wetland in Southeast Asia covering an area of 250,000-300,000 hectares during the dry season, and 5 to 6 times more surface during the wet season. The large wetland system supports one of the world's most productive freshwater fisheries and the ecosystem is essential to the survival of many globally significant species. Although the lake provides for a huge population, human population and development pressures are increasing.

ADB recognizes that sustainable management and conservation of natural resources and biodiversity should be considered from the perspective of the basin feeding the Tonle Sap.

ADB first studied proposals for improved environmental management of the Tonle Sap under a regional technical assistance for Protection and Management of Critical Wetlands in the Lower Mekong Basin covering the Tonle Sap in Cambodia and Siphandon in the Lao People's Democratic Republic. Institutional strengthening and legislative reform were recommended with subsequent projects to follow.

The Tonle Sap Environmental Management Project aims to enhance systems and develop the capacity for natural resource management coordination and planning, community based natural resource management, and biodiversity conservation in the Tonle Sap biosphere reserve.

The Tonle Sap Environmental Management Project is financed by means of a loan providing

• $10.9 million equivalent from ADB's Special Funds resources
• a Global Environment Facility grant of $3.9 million
• a UNDP Capacity 21 grant for $623,000

An additional $3.9 million equivalent in local currency will be provided by the Cambodian Government.

In addition, ADB will provide a technical assistance (TA) grant of $540,000 for Improving the Regulatory and Management Framework for Inland Fisheries. The TA will be financed on a grant basis by ADB’s TA funding program.