PreprintArticleVersion 1Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed
Water Governance in the Cambodian Mekong Delta: The Nexus of Farmer Water User Community (FWUC), Community Fisheries (CFis), and Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) in the Context of Climate Change
Sithirith, M.; Sao, S.; de Silva, S.; Kong, H.; Kongkroy, C.; Thavrin, T.; Sarun, H. Water Governance in the Cambodian Mekong Delta: The Nexus of Farmer Water User Communities (FWUCs), Community Fisheries (CFis), and Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) in the Context of Climate Change. Water2024, 16, 242.
Sithirith, M.; Sao, S.; de Silva, S.; Kong, H.; Kongkroy, C.; Thavrin, T.; Sarun, H. Water Governance in the Cambodian Mekong Delta: The Nexus of Farmer Water User Communities (FWUCs), Community Fisheries (CFis), and Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) in the Context of Climate Change. Water 2024, 16, 242.
Sithirith, M.; Sao, S.; de Silva, S.; Kong, H.; Kongkroy, C.; Thavrin, T.; Sarun, H. Water Governance in the Cambodian Mekong Delta: The Nexus of Farmer Water User Communities (FWUCs), Community Fisheries (CFis), and Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) in the Context of Climate Change. Water2024, 16, 242.
Sithirith, M.; Sao, S.; de Silva, S.; Kong, H.; Kongkroy, C.; Thavrin, T.; Sarun, H. Water Governance in the Cambodian Mekong Delta: The Nexus of Farmer Water User Communities (FWUCs), Community Fisheries (CFis), and Community Fish Refuges (CFRs) in the Context of Climate Change. Water 2024, 16, 242.
Abstract
Cambodia faces the challenge of managing excess water during the wet season and insufficient water during the dry season. This harms human life and endangers aquatic and natural resources, agricultural practices, and food security. In order to ensure the well-being of both people and food security, water governance is crucial. However, Cambodia's water governance is hindered by various obstacles, including sectoral and centralized influences, top-down and large-scale strategies, a lack of coordination among relevant agencies, and limited involvement of local communities. This study delves into water governance across different sectors, from centralized to community-based natural resources management to tackle these challenges. Through analyzing literature and case studies of farmer water user communities (FWUC), community fisheries (CFis), and community fish refuges (CFRs) in three Mekong Delta provinces in Cambodia, the study concludes that although water governance has improved, it has resulted in a decline in fishery resources from rivers and water bodies and an increase in water conflicts among farmers and sectors in the face of climate change. To enhance water governance in Cambodia, it is critical to integrate it at the district level. This will promote sustainable water use and management across the country and pave the way for a brighter future.
Keywords
water governance; rice farming; irrigation; community fisheries; community fish refuge; water conflict
Subject
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Waste Management and Disposal
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
