PRESS RELEASE

                                             
 CAMBODIA: The Cambodian coastal and marine ecosystems, including mangrove forests, coral reefs, seagrass beds, salt marshes and estuaries, are all extremely important to Cambodia's economic development as well as to the livelihoods of the local communities.

However, coastal fishing communities in Cambodia are amongst the most vulnerable, due to a high dependence on natural resources, direct exposure to climate vectors (i.e. storms, sea level rise and changing rainfall patterns), overall poverty, remoteness and marginalization. Women even have less adaptation options as they traditionally have less influence over the decisions, including those related to climate adaptation.

There is a range of policy, legal, and technical measures and investments taking place to support coastal development and ecosystem management. However, the current response strategies mainly focus on addressing the root causes and challenges of environmental degradation and other socioeconomic factors not accounting for future climate change. Without additional financing to generate effective adaptation models, establish support frameworks and empower vulnerable communities, the anticipated challenges and costs to address them will increase with climate change.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)​ will meet officials and experts from the departments of Marine and Coastal Zone Conservation of the Ministry of Environment (MoE), and the provincial departments of Environment; the Fisheries Administration (FiA) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and fisheries cantonments on 14 June 2019 to present the findings of the consultation missions from the provincial workshops, discuss and finalize all the key elements related to project design, seek agreement and support by project stakeholders, and discuss next steps previous to submitting the Project Document to Global Environmental Facility or GEF.

Speaking of the Climate Adaptation and Resilience in Cambodia’s Coastal Fishery Communities or “CamAdapt”, Mr Antonio Schiavone, FAO Representative a.i. in Cambodia states that “Last month, four  provincial validation workshops took place in each one of the coastal provinces, to present the findings and discuss various aspects related to coastal ecosystems and livelihoods, climate change impacts, proposed climate change adaptation activities, and coordination mechanisms including the proposed CampAdapt’s project management frameworks, etc.” He further notes that National Validation Workshop provides a great opportunity for project stakeholders to meet, discuss and agree on key final draft project documents including objectives, outcomes, outputs and implementation arrangements as well as activities and timeline.

The CamAdapt project – funded by the Least Developed Country Fund of the Global Environmental Facility or GEF, jointly implemented by FAO, the MoE, and FiA of the MAFF – will contribute to appropriate adaptation measures, enhancing the exiting initiatives related to fisheries and coastal management, and supporting the coastal fishery-dependent communities in their effort to adapt to climate change through strengthening coastal ecosystems and adapting their livelihoods.

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For media inquiries, please contact Mr. Oum Sokkhoeun, National Communications and Advocacy Officer, FAOCambodia.

Tel: 012 529 296, Email: [email protected]