Future Solutions Now - The Tonle Sap Initiative October 2002

Abstract

The Tonle Sap is the most important inland wetland in Southeast Asia. It supports a huge population through its enormous fisheries productivity and water supply, and provides the last refuge for some of Asia’s most globally significant biodiversity. Human population and development pressures, however, are increasing. In response, the Government of Cambodia established the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (TSBR) in February 2001 as a focal point of environmental management. Not surprisingly, establishment of the TSBR has shed light on the numerous threats to the Tonle Sap: each has multiple root causes, the severity of which affect the speed and manner in which they can be addressed.