The protected “Zone 3” lands of the Tonle Sap Lake serve as the lifeline of the Kingdom’s largest body of water, and deliver economic benefits of around $2 billion annually to the people.

Despite this, warned Deputy Prime Minister Say Sam Al, Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, some individuals who own agricultural land in Zone 2 are attempting to expand their rice fields by clearing some of the flooded forests of Zone 3.

During a recent workshop in Phnom Penh, he explained that all of the land around the lake has been designated as belonging to one of three zones.

Zone 1 is residential land or villages where citizens have legal ownership rights, while Zone 2 is land used for flood-recession rice farming. Zone 3 is the permanently flooded forest area, where development activities are strictly prohibited, to ensure conservation.

“The zoning of the Tonle Sap area is completed. Zones 1, 2 and 3 have been clearly designated. However, not everyone agrees, because the process is complicated. Many people don't understand why things must be done this way. They question why there must be Zones 1, 2 and 3,” said the minister.

“Zone 3 is the flooded forest area, a critical fish habitat — it is the life of the Tonle Sap, alongside its water levels. We must preserve it. But some landowners in Zone 2, where they can already grow rice and earn income, still want to encroach into Zone 3 to expand their rice fields,” he added.

A view of the land around the lake shows the clear delineation between Zone 2, where people farm, and Zone 3, which is protected flooded forest. Tonle Sap Authority

Nonetheless, he explained that the government — acting as the “parents” of the people — must guide and explain to them to ensure the survival of Tonle Sap Lake and the livelihoods it supports.

“If we allow them to clear the flooded forest for farming, they will cut everything down. They could clear all of it. But then it would be over — the Tonle Sap Lake would be gone. As a responsible government, we must say ‘No,’ to protect it for the future,” he said.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology reported that after the third phase of field inspections and mapping in six provinces were completed, the three zones were finalised. Zone 1 covers just over 436,879 hectares, Zone 2 is over 413,488 hectares  and Zone 3 is more than 561,634 hectares.

Sam Al also noted that the Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong River together generate approximately $2 billion annually through fishery yields and river transport, among other activities.

“We are protecting the interests of everyone, not just a few. The Mekong and Tonle Sap bring $2 billion a year to the Cambodian people. Therefore, what we must do is simple: preserve it. We now know clearly where our boundaries are, and people are gradually becoming more aware,” he said.

He also expressed concern over the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides by farmers around the lake, as they damage soil health and harm aquatic life.

“Some of the fertilisers in use are not organic but chemicals that force rice plants to absorb nutrients faster to boost yields. However, after three to four years, the soil becomes depleted and turns into sand. Nothing will grow anymore, not even with added fertiliser,” he added.

In response to this issue, the Tonle Sap Authority and other relevant agencies carefully analyse water samples and monitor potential pollution sources in key parts of the lake and its surroundings.

The authority pointed out that water quality in the lake is negatively impacted by poor sanitation, such as wastewater from washing, cooking and cleaning and solid and liquid waste discharge, including boat engine oil, fish feed station waste and domestic waste from floating villages.

Another major concern is the use and runoff of chemical fertilisers and pesticides without proper technical standards, and discharges of untreated industrial wastewater.

“Water quality deterioration is most severe during the dry season, particularly near densely populated floating communities and areas where agricultural chemicals are used inappropriately,” it stated.

The authority called for broader participation in water quality monitoring and for the implementation of measures that will safeguard the lake’s ecological balance and health for future generations.

A Tonle Sap Lake Policy Book has also been prepared. According to Sam Al, the policy aims to ensure “food security”, by managing Tonle Sap Lake as a sustainable food production and storage hub for Cambodia, “food safety”, by ensuring the food produced is safe and healthy for the nation and “self-reliance” by protecting Cambodia from external shocks that could affect daily food supplies.