9. Tonle Sap lake is threatenend

Tonle Sap: Source of Lives
Culture...
...Nature...
... and Man

Tonle Sap lake is slowly dying

Deforestation, i.e. the logging of forests, directly impacts the lake. In particular, the flooded forest around Tonle Sap was reportedly reduced from 1 million hectares in the 1960s to about 600,000 hectares 30 years later. Trees are being killed by increased exploitation of all kinds of forests for firewood and commercial purposes, and the clearing of land for agriculture. The forests can no longer act as nursery grounds and natural storm barriers, which kills wildlife and is causing the lake to silt up. Estimates of the lake's life expectancy range from 20 to 1,500 years…so to keep the lake alive, let's preserve its forests too!

Water pollution puts our health at risk

The water quality in the lake is getting worse and worse. It is an increasing concern. Water pollution happens when garbage is thrown into the lake or when too many chemicals, pesticides and fertilizers are used around the lake. Doing this is dangerous: it not only kills fish stocks and other wildlife, but also puts our own health at risk. People, animals and plants all live thanks to the Tonle Sap lake's resources. Whatever anyone does, it affects the others' lives…let's not forget that!

Tonle Sap's wildlife is seriously threatened

Many species of fish, birds, turtles, snakes, crocodiles and mammals, living around Tonle Sap are gradually disappearing, mainly because of human activities.

On the one hand, excessive fishing and hunting for the domestic and international markets prevents replenishment and causes species to disappear. On the other hand, many hunting and fishing methods are harmful to animals and often illegal. These include the use of explosives or chemicals to catch fish, poisoning, collecting of eggs and young birds, stretched hooked lines above the surface of the water to trap large waterbirds, and so on. These methods destroy natural habitat and injure or kill a large number of wild animals. They also threaten human livelihoods, which depend on nature to develop.

Tonle Sap is home to many species of international importance. Preserving its resources promotes Cambodia's image in the world: all of us can help by respecting nature. Just think about it! [next]

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