BCR FACTSHEET April 2013
Building Resilience to Climate Change Impacts: Coastal Southeast Asia Pilot adaptation activities The improved understanding of the highly connected sediment dynamics, coupled with rehabilitation and Koh Kong Province, Cambodia To address these issues and make local communities erosion prevention strategies, offers a pathway to and ecosystems more resilient to climate change, the protect livelihoods and build greater coastal project is implementing several pilot activities. resilience in PKWS.
Waterway rehabilitation Development of PKWS Management Plan The community has set up an action plan for the The project, together with local authorities and rehabilitation of the waterway by removing the community representatives, is developing a PKWS excessive sediment in the two-kilometer long channel. Management Plan in order to ensure the sustainable The sediment removal has been scheduled between management and use of natural resources and to September and December 2013 and the cost will be conserve threatened species within the protected fully charged to BCR project. area. A first consultation workshop took place in late The villagers also agreed on measures to ensure that 2012, and in 2013 the project will work towards full the rehabilitation will cause no negative impacts to the development of the management plan. The project mangrove forest lining the channel. Furthermore, has also identified the potential for transboundary mangroves will be planted on the excavated earth and collaboration with Thailand e.g. for dolphin the community will carry out regular maintenance of conservation. the channel. Recommendations for further action Access to freshwater The project team, together with the local community, The project recommends and supports the analysed solutions to improve freshwater access and integration of climate change adaptation strategies empower community members of Koh Kapik village to into policy development and local planning. sustainably manage their water resources. Options Particularly, it promotes ecosystem-based solutions include the improvement of rainwater harvesting, well that allow for interaction between people and nature. drilling and reverse osmosis (desalination). The project Background The pilot activities in PKWS show that well-managed has investigated the financial feasibility and protected areas can play a critical role in climate As part of the European Union funded project Building Resilience to Climate Change Impacts in Coastal sustainability of these options in light of the need to change adaptation. The PKWS Management Plan is Southeast Asia (BCR), Koh Kong Province, Cambodia, has been selected for pilot activities to reduce promote community-based management and socio- a crucial tool in promoting the conservation of vulnerability to climate change. The four-year project, which started in 2011, aims to strengthen the ability of economic equality. Different options for water filtration, natural resources and endangered marine species, local governments and local people in Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam to plan for, and adapt to, future particularly biosand filters, are also being analysed with and in enhancing the resilience of local ecosystems climate risks. In Cambodia, this IUCN project collaborates with the Department of Climate Change, Department the local community. and local communities to climate change. of Wetlands and Coastal Zones of the Ministry of Environment and w ith provincial authorities.
Beach barrier migration In Koh Kong Province, Cambodia, the two communes Koh Kapik and Peam Krasop have been selected An IUCN study has analysed the causes of the beach after the project team, together with the provincial line departments and the local communities, carried out a migration and established priority zones for Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) that identified the communes as particularly sensitive to the rehabilitation on the beach barrier. It recommends the impacts of climate change. Both Koh Kapik and Peam Krasop are entirely situated in the Peam Krasop use of vegetative rehabilitation methods that are more Wildlife Sanctuary (PKWS) and their communities are mainly dependent on natural resources for subsistence sustainable than structural engineering solutions. livelihoods and income generation. Revegetation of local plant species will prevent or at least slow down further landward migration of the The pilot activities are promoting the sustainable management and strategic rehabilitation of natural beach barrier and protect livelihoods. Furthermore, Contacts resources in order not only to make local ecosystems more resilient to climate change, but also to improve more sustainable sand mining techniques have the Dr Robert Mather, BCR Project Manager, IUCN Asia, Bangkok the food and livelihood security of local communities. The activities will subsequently be subject to potential to slow beach migration. Community [email protected] participatory evaluation to capture lessons learned to improve future planning at the local and provincial members discussed these strategies during a Kimsreng Kong, Senior Programme Officer, IUCN Cambodia levels. provincial workshop held in November 2012. [email protected]
Dararat Weerapong, Senior Communications Officer, IUCN Asia IN TERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE [email protected] Funded by Partners BCR Website: www.iucn.org/building-coastal-resilience
INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE
This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole EUROPEAN UNION respon sibility of IUCN and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.
Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary Identification of priority issues
The Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary (PKWS) is Priority issues identified in Koh Kapik include the entirely located in Koh Kong Province and covers an acute siltation of the waterway that connects Koh area of 25,897 hectares. Mainly composed of small Kapik village to other villages due to excessive alluvial islands, it supports one of the largest and most sediment deposition, as well as access to freshwater undisturbed mangrove forests in Southeast Asia. The and coastal erosion. mangroves play a critical role in supporting fisheries, preventing erosion, providing storm protection, Siltation of the waterway conserving biodiversity and sequestering carbon. The waterway in Koh Kapik comprises a two- PKWS is rich in biodiversity and is home to the kilometer long channel situated along mangrove Irrawaddy dolphin and other threatened species. The forests in a long estuary. All year round, the locals livelihoods of approximately 10,000 habitants rely on Koh Kapik village use it as their primary access route for the Villagers in Koh Kapik fisheries and ecosystem services that the sanctuary importation of freshwater, access to healthcare, provides. Furthermore, the dry season is expected to become secondary education and exchange of goods, mostly Priority issues identified in Peam Krasop include longer and hotter. Climate change doesn’t just bring food products. However, the water level of the increased storm frequency and intensity as well as Koh Kapik consists of three villages – Koh Kapik I, about catastrophic disasters, but leads to negative channel is increasingly shallow due to soil erosion, coastal erosion leading to beach migration and loss Koh Kapik II and Koh Sralao. The total population in impacts on marine and coastal resources through accumulation of decayed leaves and sedimentation. of habitat. A high rate of green mussel mortality has the two villages of Koh Kapik I and II is 1,618 residents, more gradual changes, notably an increase in sea This prevents the community from accessing the also been recently observed. about 90 percent of whom are artisanal fishers and the temperature, changes in salinity levels, acidity, eastern side of the channel during low water levels. rest are civil servants and local merchants. Koh Sralao turbidity and loss of habitat due to sea level rise, and Thus, the livelihoods of local people are at risk, and Beach barrier migration has 1,309 inhabitants and their main livelihood is in turn affects community livelihoods. their exposure to hazards including rough seas and A four-kilometer long barrier beach, which fishing in shallow waters and in the open sea. storms is increasing. moderates salinity levels and shelters much of the However, other factors also affect the livelihoods of mangrove forest from high storm wave energy, is Peam Krasop includes two villages, Peam Krasop I the communities. For instance, fish productivity has Access to freshwater migrating landwards at an increasing pace, leaving and II, and their total population is 950 inhabitants. reportedly declined in recent years due to the Koh Kapik is an island surrounded by salt water. The mangroves smothered by sand and dead in the Most of the villagers are engaged in fishing activities, increased number of fishers, the loss of some availability of freshwater, particularly during the dry ocean. Mud crab and clam populations, previously green mussel cultivation and aquaculture, while a small mangrove areas, pollution and developments season, appears to have decreased in recent years, abundant in the mineral-rich mud of the proportion works in ecotourism and agriculture. including sand mining and dam construction. and may get worse under future climate scenarios. The mangroves, have lost large areas of habitat. Since isolated location of the village and limited access to the 1973, the beach barrier has moved 390 m, resulting 2 Climate Change Vulnerabilities Reducing existing vulnerabilities of Koh Kong’s mainland heighten the need to provide clean drinking in the loss of 0.60 km of mangrove forest. The communities is therefore key to adapting to climate beach migration is caused by a combination of water, particularly in light of climate change risks on change and increasing resilience. The community- different factors such as extensive river sand Climate change scenarios for Koh Kong Province the coast. Water is currently purchased from the based conservation, management and restoration of mining, longshore drift, sea level rise and changes indicate stronger winds, higher waves and an increase nearest town and transported by motorboat to Koh natural ecosystems are critically important in this in storm frequency and intensity. in the frequency of storms. Sea level in the Gulf of Kapik. adaptation process. Thailand is rising by 3 to 5.5 mm per year.
Waterway leading to Koh Kapik
Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary Identification of priority issues
The Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary (PKWS) is Priority issues identified in Koh Kapik include the entirely located in Koh Kong Province and covers an acute siltation of the waterway that connects Koh area of 25,897 hectares. Mainly composed of small Kapik village to other villages due to excessive alluvial islands, it supports one of the largest and most sediment deposition, as well as access to freshwater undisturbed mangrove forests in Southeast Asia. The and coastal erosion. mangroves play a critical role in supporting fisheries, preventing erosion, providing storm protection, Siltation of the waterway conserving biodiversity and sequestering carbon. The waterway in Koh Kapik comprises a two- PKWS is rich in biodiversity and is home to the kilometer long channel situated along mangrove Irrawaddy dolphin and other threatened species. The forests in a long estuary. All year round, the locals livelihoods of approximately 10,000 habitants rely on Koh Kapik village use it as their primary access route for the Villagers in Koh Kapik fisheries and ecosystem services that the sanctuary importation of freshwater, access to healthcare, provides. Furthermore, the dry season is expected to become secondary education and exchange of goods, mostly Priority issues identified in Peam Krasop include longer and hotter. Climate change doesn’t just bring food products. However, the water level of the increased storm frequency and intensity as well as Koh Kapik consists of three villages – Koh Kapik I, about catastrophic disasters, but leads to negative channel is increasingly shallow due to soil erosion, coastal erosion leading to beach migration and loss Koh Kapik II and Koh Sralao. The total population in impacts on marine and coastal resources through accumulation of decayed leaves and sedimentation. of habitat. A high rate of green mussel mortality has the two villages of Koh Kapik I and II is 1,618 residents, more gradual changes, notably an increase in sea This prevents the community from accessing the also been recently observed. about 90 percent of whom are artisanal fishers and the temperature, changes in salinity levels, acidity, eastern side of the channel during low water levels. rest are civil servants and local merchants. Koh Sralao turbidity and loss of habitat due to sea level rise, and Thus, the livelihoods of local people are at risk, and Beach barrier migration has 1,309 inhabitants and their main livelihood is in turn affects community livelihoods. their exposure to hazards including rough seas and A four-kilometer long barrier beach, which fishing in shallow waters and in the open sea. storms is increasing. moderates salinity levels and shelters much of the However, other factors also affect the livelihoods of mangrove forest from high storm wave energy, is Peam Krasop includes two villages, Peam Krasop I the communities. For instance, fish productivity has Access to freshwater migrating landwards at an increasing pace, leaving and II, and their total population is 950 inhabitants. reportedly declined in recent years due to the Koh Kapik is an island surrounded by salt water. The mangroves smothered by sand and dead in the Most of the villagers are engaged in fishing activities, increased number of fishers, the loss of some availability of freshwater, particularly during the dry ocean. Mud crab and clam populations, previously green mussel cultivation and aquaculture, while a small mangrove areas, pollution and developments season, appears to have decreased in recent years, abundant in the mineral-rich mud of the proportion works in ecotourism and agriculture. including sand mining and dam construction. and may get worse under future climate scenarios. The mangroves, have lost large areas of habitat. Since isolated location of the village and limited access to the 1973, the beach barrier has moved 390 m, resulting 2 Climate Change Vulnerabilities Reducing existing vulnerabilities of Koh Kong’s mainland heighten the need to provide clean drinking in the loss of 0.60 km of mangrove forest. The communities is therefore key to adapting to climate beach migration is caused by a combination of water, particularly in light of climate change risks on change and increasing resilience. The community- different factors such as extensive river sand Climate change scenarios for Koh Kong Province the coast. Water is currently purchased from the based conservation, management and restoration of mining, longshore drift, sea level rise and changes indicate stronger winds, higher waves and an increase nearest town and transported by motorboat to Koh natural ecosystems are critically important in this in storm frequency and intensity. in the frequency of storms. Sea level in the Gulf of Kapik. adaptation process. Thailand is rising by 3 to 5.5 mm per year.
Waterway leading to Koh Kapik
BCR FACTSHEET April 2013
Building Resilience to Climate Change Impacts: Coastal Southeast Asia Pilot adaptation activities The improved understanding of the highly connected sediment dynamics, coupled with rehabilitation and Koh Kong Province, Cambodia To address these issues and make local communities erosion prevention strategies, offers a pathway to and ecosystems more resilient to climate change, the protect livelihoods and build greater coastal project is implementing several pilot activities. resilience in PKWS.
Waterway rehabilitation Development of PKWS Management Plan The community has set up an action plan for the The project, together with local authorities and rehabilitation of the waterway by removing the community representatives, is developing a PKWS excessive sediment in the two-kilometer long channel. Management Plan in order to ensure the sustainable The sediment removal has been scheduled between management and use of natural resources and to September and December 2013 and the cost will be conserve threatened species within the protected fully charged to BCR project. area. A first consultation workshop took place in late The villagers also agreed on measures to ensure that 2012, and in 2013 the project will work towards full the rehabilitation will cause no negative impacts to the development of the management plan. The project mangrove forest lining the channel. Furthermore, has also identified the potential for transboundary mangroves will be planted on the excavated earth and collaboration with Thailand e.g. for dolphin the community will carry out regular maintenance of conservation. the channel. Recommendations for further action Access to freshwater The project team, together with the local community, The project recommends and supports the analysed solutions to improve freshwater access and integration of climate change adaptation strategies empower community members of Koh Kapik village to into policy development and local planning. sustainably manage their water resources. Options Particularly, it promotes ecosystem-based solutions include the improvement of rainwater harvesting, well that allow for interaction between people and nature. drilling and reverse osmosis (desalination). The project Background The pilot activities in PKWS show that well-managed has investigated the financial feasibility and protected areas can play a critical role in climate As part of the European Union funded project Building Resilience to Climate Change Impacts in Coastal sustainability of these options in light of the need to change adaptation. The PKWS Management Plan is Southeast Asia (BCR), Koh Kong Province, Cambodia, has been selected for pilot activities to reduce promote community-based management and socio- a crucial tool in promoting the conservation of vulnerability to climate change. The four-year project, which started in 2011, aims to strengthen the ability of economic equality. Different options for water filtration, natural resources and endangered marine species, local governments and local people in Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam to plan for, and adapt to, future particularly biosand filters, are also being analysed with and in enhancing the resilience of local ecosystems climate risks. In Cambodia, this IUCN project collaborates with the Department of Climate Change, Department the local community. and local communities to climate change. of Wetlands and Coastal Zones of the Ministry of Environment and w ith provincial authorities.
Beach barrier migration In Koh Kong Province, Cambodia, the two communes Koh Kapik and Peam Krasop have been selected An IUCN study has analysed the causes of the beach after the project team, together with the provincial line departments and the local communities, carried out a migration and established priority zones for Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment (VCA) that identified the communes as particularly sensitive to the rehabilitation on the beach barrier. It recommends the impacts of climate change. Both Koh Kapik and Peam Krasop are entirely situated in the Peam Krasop use of vegetative rehabilitation methods that are more Wildlife Sanctuary (PKWS) and their communities are mainly dependent on natural resources for subsistence sustainable than structural engineering solutions. livelihoods and income generation. Revegetation of local plant species will prevent or at least slow down further landward migration of the The pilot activities are promoting the sustainable management and strategic rehabilitation of natural beach barrier and protect livelihoods. Furthermore, Contacts resources in order not only to make local ecosystems more resilient to climate change, but also to improve more sustainable sand mining techniques have the Dr Robert Mather, BCR Project Manager, IUCN Asia, Bangkok the food and livelihood security of local communities. The activities will subsequently be subject to potential to slow beach migration. Community [email protected] participatory evaluation to capture lessons learned to improve future planning at the local and provincial members discussed these strategies during a Kimsreng Kong, Senior Programme Officer, IUCN Cambodia levels. provincial workshop held in November 2012. [email protected]
Dararat Weerapong, Senior Communications Officer, IUCN Asia IN TERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE [email protected] Funded by Partners BCR Website: www.iucn.org/building-coastal-resilience
INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE
This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole EUROPEAN UNION respon sibility of IUCN and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union.