The aim of my research is to learn about environmental problems
and issues in Cambodia, and to recommend priority environmental
actions. Each week, I wrote a memo on a specific topic about
Cambodia, and then annotated articles. My research demonstrates
that Cambodia has many environmental problems, including
deforestation, pollution in the Mekong River, and vehicles
polluting the ruins of Angkor Wat. I recommend that Cambodia
increase its participation in reforesting groups, try to keep the
factories along the Mekong river cleaner, make their vehicles
environmentally friendly, and protect the ruins of Angkor Wat.
ABSTRACT
Slide 3
Data for this research came from government websites (like the
US CIAs World Fact Book) and from sources like Earth Encyclopedia.
I also read and annotated many news articles about Cambodia,
especially for my case studies. These articles and websites were
very useful, but some of them provided different information. I
found different figures for the number of people in Cambodia living
under the poverty line, for example. This is because different
information sources used different ways of measuring poverty. I
also had the chance to interview a Cambodian national citizen, Dr.
Rethy Chhem, Executive Director of the Cambodia Development
Resource Institute. He gave me very interesting responses to my
questions Dr. Chhem answered all of my questions and I used the
information in my report. He also told me that he grew up in Phnom
Penh, and left the country during the time of a great war. For many
years he worked as a medical doctor in other countries (and at the
United Nations). He returned to Cambodia to work just six months
ago. Some of the things Dr. Chhem told me were different than the
things I read in articles or in websites. This showed how important
it is to use and compare different sources of information when
doing research. These were the questions I ask Dr. Chhem: 1. Could
you tell me a little about where you grew up? 2. Where do you think
Cambodia should get their energy fro in the upcoming years? How
much of it? 3. Do you know about any projects to help the Mekong
River? I have read it has become very polluted. 4. Does the Mekong
River ever seem polluted to you? If so what do you think it is
from? 5. What do you know about the tuk tuks (motorcycle taxis)
they use at Angkor Wat? I have read that they are a big problem and
are causing lots of pollution. Are there any ideas to solve this
problem? 6. Has deforestation had an effect on the environment in
Cambodia? How? Do you know any projects that are helping
deforestation by replanting trees? METHODS
Slide 4
The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh. This country is located
in south-east Asia. Bordering countries are Laos Vietnam and
Thailand. Most of Cambodia is forest. GEOGRAPHY
Slide 5
Cambodia has multiparty democracy under a constitutional
monarchy. That means that they have more than one voice. They also
have a ruler/king but his power is limited under a constitution.
GOVERNMENT
Slide 6
Some of Cambodias imports are cigarettes, gold, machinery,
motor vehicles, construction materials, and petroleum products.
Some of Cambodias exports are clothing, timber, rice, fish,
tobacco, and footwear. IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
Slide 7
Cambodia has many natural resources, including minerals,
hydroelectric power, and forestry/timber. One of Cambodias main
exports is timber. One of its main imports is petroleum products.
NATURAL RESOURCES
Slide 8
Cambodia has seven different EcoZones. Zone 1 is Tonle Sap
freshwater swamp forests. Zone 2 is Tonle Sap-Mekong swamp forests.
Zone 3 is central Indochina dry forests. Zone 4 is Cardamom
Mountains rainforests. Zone 5 is Indochina mangroves. Zone 6 is
Southeastern Indochina dry evergreen forests. Zone 7 is Southern
Annamites montane rainforests. ECO-ZONES OF CAMBODIA
Slide 9
Angkor Wat is Cambodias most famous landmark. Angkor Wat gets
many tourists a day. It has become very polluted because of
tourists. It is now limited to just 2,000 visitors per day.
Different people say different things about what is causing the
pollution. Angkor Wat is at great risk ! Angkor Wat/Case Study
Slide 10
The Mekong River is Cambodias main water source. Along the
Mekong, there are many factories. These factories put most of their
waste in the river. I dont think that is very fair. They make the
pollution but the river gets it all? A lot of Cambodians depend on
the Mekong to survive. That is where they get their food. For some
people that is even where they get a house area. That is why it is
so important to keep the Mekong healthy. MEKONG RIVER/ Case
Study
Slide 11
Deforestation is a huge problem in Cambodia. One of their main
exports is timber. Cambodia is cutting down their trees just so
they can make some money. There is a group that is trying to
reforest Cambodia. The civil war in Cambodia was largely paid for
by illegal logging. Cambodias forest coverage in the 1980s was over
80%. Today it is 3.1%. Since most of Cambodia has always been
forest, it seems like they will never run out. But really they
will. DEFORESTATION/CASE STUDY
Slide 12
This is a map of the comparison of Cambodia to the United
States. I would say that Cambodia is about the size of Oklahoma. If
you lived in Cambodia rather than the United States you would die
15.78 years sooner. You would also be 8.3% more likely to die in
the first 3 years of your life. You would have 81.82% more
children. You would also make 95.08% less money. Most of this data
is from the US CIA, pulled together on the if it were my home
website. CAMBODIA COMPARED TO THE UNITED STATES
Slide 13
Here are some things I think Cambodia should do for its own
good. If they are going to cut down so many trees, they can at
least put some of their money into reforesting groups. And the
factories around the Mekong River can try to produce less or put
their waste somewhere else. PRIORITY ACTIONS
Slide 14
I still have many things to learn about Cambodia. I would like
to interview people in Cambodia, and visit many of the different
eco-zones and observe how people live in them. .... MORE RESEARCH
IS NEEDED
Slide 15
BEAUTIFUL CAMBODIA!
Slide 16
Lena Rae Fortun is a fourth grade student at Tamarac Elementary
School, Brunswick NY. Her favorite subjects are math, gym, music,
art, and most of all, science. After school she enjoys playing the
piano, playing soccer, and dancing. In college she wants to study
chemistry or teaching or maybe both. When Lena grows up she wants
to be a high school chemistry teacher. RESEARCHER PROFILE
