Land Degradation Land Degradation Assessment in Cambodia Sovuthy - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Land Degradation Land Degradation Assessment in Cambodia

Sovuthy Pheav, PhD (Agric. Sci.)

Di t D t t f A i lt l L d Director, Department of Agricultural Land Resources Management

Outlines Outlines

• Biophysical conditions of Cambodia

Biophysical conditions of Cambodia

• Land degradation situation analysis

L d d d ti i C b di

• Land degradation in Cambodia: case

studies

Biophysical conditions Biophysical conditions

• Cambodia is a tropical

country located on the peninsula of mainland peninsula of mainland Southeast Asia with a land area of 181,035 km2.

• It is adjacent to the gulf of
• It is adjacent to the gulf of

Thailand and has a coastline around 440 km. Its land border of 2,438 km runs , along Thailand to the west, Vietnam to the east and Laos PDR to the north.

• Cambodia is divided into 23

provinces, 1 municipality, 159 Districts, 08 Khans, 1 417 Communes 204 1,417 Communes, 204 Sangkats and 14073 Villages (NSDP, 2009-13).

Biophysical conditions (Con’t) Biophysical conditions (Con t)

• Cambodia’s population is 14,073,461 (MoP/NIS, 2008),

b t 90 % li i i th t l l l d i l about 90 % are living in the central lowlands region along the Mekong River and around Tonle Sap Lake which is characterized with fertile soils and abundant water resources (MAFF/SAW May 2009)

• resources. (MAFF/SAW, May 2009).
• The population growth rate is estimated at 1.54 percent

per annum. Gender proportion is 50 percent of the total population (MoP/NIS 2008) population (MoP/NIS 2008).

• The Cambodia’s climate is governed by monsoons and is

characterized by two distinct seasons of rainy (May to October) and dry (November to April) seasons October) and dry (November to April) seasons.

• In general, climate in Cambodia is varies based on

latitude, and classified into 4 four regions.

Biophysical conditions (Con’t) Biophysical conditions (Con t)

Rainfall, and minimum and maximum temperature, 2005-2009

No Region Average minimum Average maximum 1 Coastal region Level of rainfall (mm) 1777 2453 Temperature (oC) 24.1 31,8 2 Northern of Tonle Sap region Level of rainfall (mm) 1391 1757 Sap region Temperature (oC) 23.4 32.9 3 Southern of Tonle Sap region Level of rainfall (mm) 1207 1886 Sap region Temperature (oC) 22.2 35 4 Eastern of Mekong region Level of rainfall (mm) 1389 1777 g Temperature (oC) 23.6 39.9

Socio-economic Conditions influencing l d d d ti land degradation

• The Agriculture sector is the main economic driver,

ti f 34 4% f GDP i 2009 it l t f accounting for 34.4% of GDP in 2009; it also accounts for more than 60% of the total employment in the country.

• The government's rectangular strategy seeks to improve

i lt l d ti it d di ifi ti th h l d agricultural productivity and diversification through land reform, fishery and forestry reforms.

• The most important issue confronting is land use reforming,

and clearance of land mines and UXOs etc are still not yet and clearance of land mines and UXOs etc., are still not yet reach its maximum potential.

• A tension is the rapid growth rate of population is also

tended to put more strains on natural resources and tended to put more strains on natural resources and demanding on new settlement land.

• At present, agricultural cropland has been under threat in

terms of competitive demand for use between other non- terms of competitive demand for use between other non- agricultural development sectors, and the expansion of agricultural land is also threatening forestland.

Overall Land Degradation Situation Overall Land Degradation Situation

• Land degradation, as described by

the UNCCD and WOCAT takes the UNCCD and WOCAT, takes many forms. The main forms in Cambodia are soil degradation, and deforestation, and subsequent loss

• f biodiversity
• f biodiversity.
• At least two major natural

factors exacerbate the effects of land degradation in Cambodia: land degradation in Cambodia:

– The first is the inherent low soil fertility in substantive portions of agricultural lands. This was reported as early as the 1960s reported as early as the 1960s (Crocker, 1962). Related to this, is the natural limitation of most soils to retain/store water which tends to limit the organic matter tends to limit the organic matter content of soils, thereby contributing to low soil fertility.

Overall Land Degradation Situation (C ’t) (Con’t)

– The second major exacerbating factor would be the effects j g

• f climate change, primarily through increased intensity

and frequency of floods and drought (rice growing areas), and see water intrusion (3 costal agricultural provinces). ( g p )

• Land degradation caused by human-induced activities

are included: – population growth – inappropriate agriculture practices insecurity of land ownership – insecurity of land ownership – low awareness and insufficient support services from institutions, and inadequate governance. , q g

Overall Land Degradation Situation (C ’t) (Con’t)

• The FAO study (Douglas 2008) was made to determine

The FAO study (Douglas, 2008) was made to determine the extent of land degradation in 8 ASEAN countries through satellite imagery indicated that:

• The portion of degraded land to the total land area varied

from a low 41% (Vietnam) to a high 54% (Indonesia).

• Cambodia had the second lowest level of degradation (at
• Cambodia had the second lowest level of degradation (at

43%). However, this still involved about 7.7 million ha of land areas.

Overall Land Degradation Situation (C ’t) (Con’t)

Land degradation among Southeast Asian Nations Land degradation among Southeast Asian Nations

Country Degraded land (000 ha) Total land (%) Total NPP lost (ton/CO2/23yrs) Affected population Indonesia 102,894 54 67,679,850 86,656,550 Myanmar 35,889 53 23,625,068 23,608,512 Th il d 30 925 60 15 990 860 36 991 080 Thailand 30,925 60 15,990,860 36,991,080 Malaysia 17,582 53 9,257,510 10,401,113 Laos 13,340 56 7,232,762 3,304,253 Philippines 13,228 44 4,100,145 33,064,628 Cambodia 7,796 43 2,524,942 3,583,464 Vietnam 13 403 41 342 632 28 085 074 Vietnam 13,403 41 342,632 28,085,074

Source: Bai ZG, Dent DL, Olsson L, and Schaepman ME (2008)

NPP= Net Primary Productivity

The Change of Forest Cover: land degradation in forestland

The changes in forest cover from 1965 to 2010 g

No Assessment of forest cover by year Land Use Area with Forest cover Area without forest cover H % H % Ha % Ha % 1 1965 13,227,100 73.04 4,883,400 26.96 2 1992/93 10,859,695 59.82 7,293,290 40.18 3 1996/97 10,638,209 58.60 7,514,776 41.40 4 2002 11,104,293 61.15 7,056,383 38.85

• Three main reasons of the reduction of forest cover: forest and

5 2005/06 10,730,781 59.09 7,429,893 40.91 6 2010 10,339,826 56.94 7,820,848 43.91

• Three main reasons of the reduction of forest cover: forest and

forestland concessions, and illegal logging and forest land

• ccupancy.

The Change of Forest Cover: land d d ti i f tl d (C ’t) degradation in forestland (Con’t)

• The change of forest cover has caused soil erosion

g under the influence of rainfall that erode top fertile soil from upland to lowland, especially to the Mekong river and Tonle Sap Lake (maximum sediment loads: 1500 p ( and 3000 g/m3 in 1995 &2006).

• Because of insufficient cover, the rest soils have been

degraded its quality and productivity and this is the degraded its quality and productivity, and this is the primary cause of land degradation.

The Economic Land Concession (ELC) The Economic Land Concession (ELC)

• Government has issued a policy to support Economic

Land Concessions (ELCs) based on sub decree 148 Land Concessions (ELCs) based on sub-decree 148, dated in 07 July 2005, and modified it to a new sub- decree no. 131, dated 15 September 2008. G id li id d f i b i t

• Guidelines were provided for agri-businesses, tree

plantations and rubber plantations to help in maintaining land cover, forest recovery and improve biodiversity hil i ib i bj i resources while pursuing agribusiness objectives.

• Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) provided ELCs from the

forestland to investors since 1997, covering about 1.335 , g million ha.

• Ministry of Environment (MOE) also converted degraded

portions of Protected Areas to ELCs covering about portions of Protected Areas to ELCs, covering about 640,000 ha.

The Economic Land Concession (ELC) (Con’t)

• It is noticed that some lands remained unplanted, while

p most of the planted areas did not follow the proper planting systems that allow sufficient ground cover, and to meet the "land, climate and plant requirements for p q productive and sustainable agribusiness.

• Thus, after the MAFF working group on ELCs completed

their assessment in 2009 41 ELCs’ agreements which their assessment in 2009, 41 ELCs agreements which covered 373,034 ha were terminated. Only 38 companies were retained. More recently MAFF is due to terminate many more companies There are currently 55 companies many more companies. There are currently 55 companies who have renewed their contract with MAFF, covering 956,690 ha (MAFF, 2009).

The Economic Land Concession (ELC) (Con’t)

• It is generally believed that clearing operations of ELCs

g y g p may have exposed those areas vulnerable to soil erosion leading to land degradation. A i t l h lf illi h d ELC i ll i

• Approximately half a million ha under ELCs, especially in

the Southern lowland areas and North-eastern upland region of the country are now subject to land degradation.

Slash and Burn (Swidden) Agriculture Slash and Burn (Swidden) Agriculture

• Based on a recent policy land use analysis (Seng, 2009)

p y y ( g, ) indicated that slash and burn agriculture in the uplands

• f Northern Tonle Sap Lake and Eastern part of Mekong

river covers 349 636 ha river covers 349,636 ha.

• Some areas become illegal invasion and permanent
• ccupation by individual and private.
• This contributes to forest degradation and soil erosion

leading to land degradation.

Land degradation in agricultural lands Land degradation in agricultural lands

• Agricultural cropland of Cambodia comprises of about

g p p 24% of the total country’s land areas.

• The total land-use area for agriculture is about 4.37

illi h ( t i l d ELC d SLC ) d t t million ha (not include ELCs and SLCs), and at present, the total cultivated land area is about 3.06 million ha, suggesting that about 1.31 million ha of agricultural land have not been utilized.

Land degradation in agricultural lands (Con’t)

Land use categories and its extent of agricultural land use

P t f No. Land-use categories Land area (ha) Percentage of agricultural land

1 Paddy field 2,788,069 64 P dd fi ld (R di & 2 Paddy field (Receding & Floating) 194,864 4 3 Paddy field with villages 373,345 9 4 Field crops 260 145 6 4 Field crops 260,145 6 5 Rubber 84,758 2 6 Garden crops 311,031 7 7 Orchard 8,179 < 1 8 Others (Slash & burn) 349,636 8 Total Agricultural Land 4,370,027 24% Total Cropped Land (As of 2007) 3,053,697 70 Total Unused (As of 2007) 1,316,330 30

Source: Policy Analysis for Agriculture Land Use by Seng (2009)

Farming system characteristics and emerging land degradation related issues

Farming System and Characteristic Land Degradation related issues

• 1. Wet Season rice

Upland rice  involving slash-and-burn land preparation,  mainly located in less densely populated areas of

• slash and burn, loss of vegetative cover and soil erosion
• encroachment of forestland/ conversion of forest to

agriculture Northeastern provinces;  practice agriculture activities on slopes Lowland rice  poorly productive and rainfall dependent seasonal rice cropping

• inefficient use of fertilizers
• burning of rice straw and improper land preparation

rice cropping  frequently associated with sugar palm Dry season rice

• irrigated land, short period rice
• frequently associated with flooded area

inefficient and unsafe use of pesticides

• 2. Upland crop-based system

River bank farming  dominated by diversified cropping systems following the annual flooding cycle

• Pesticide/chemical over use affecting land, and surface

and ground water resources. g g y  seasonal crops, vegetables, tobacco plantation Red & black soil upland  rubber, cassava, pine tree farming is concentrated  other cash crops are developing

• Mechanized plowing up and down the slope (not

across the slope)

• Pesticide over use /miss-use

Industrial production system  rubber, cassava, pine tree farming is concentrated  other cash crops are developing

• Pesticide miss-use
• Mechanized farming that cause erosion and affect soil

fertility

Sources: Column 1 is from AUSAID,2006; column 2 is adapted from Suy et al., 2010.

Land Degradation: Hot and Bright spots (Case studies)

• Study on the Natural

and human causes of land degradation in i lt l l d i agricultural lands in Cambodia (Suy et al., 2010) indicated that land degradation took land degradation took different forms at different sites.

• These studied sites

These studied sites partly represent the different types of land degradation in the g country.

Case Study 1 Case Study 1

• Issue: Sandy Soils and

Issue: Sandy Soils and Deforestation

• Study sites: Kampong

Speu and Takeo provinces

• Hot Spot: e g Stung
• Hot Spot: e.g. Stung

Slakou stream

Degraded forests in watershed areas Degraded forests in watershed areas

Choam Sangker Prey Khmeng : Valley

Over grazing

Erosion prone -Lithosol type of soils in upstream

Soil study at Kirivoan Mohasang

Heavy sediment deposition in farms at downstream

Rice-field on the river bank has been damaged by sediments: the rice plant was buried ( September, 2009)

Scarcity of water in dry season & reduced productivity in downstream farms

Affected areas by sand deposit

Bright spot and mitigation i strategies

• Bright spot:

Bright spot:

– Some good practices of agriculture in Tram Kok region are considered as Bright spots – Use of multipurpose trees in Prey Mouk region, Takeo province ( GERES, 2010)

Miti ti t t

• Mitigation strategy:

– Reforestation and agroforestry in the upland portions Water resources management – Water resources management – Soil improvement through natural inputs (green manure, composts etc.,)

Case Study 2 Case Study 2

• Issue: Upland Agriculture

Mining and Deforestation

• Study sites: Pailin and
• Study sites: Pailin and

Battambang provinces

• Hot Spot: Denuded

summit of mountains

Loss of forest covers Loss of forest covers

The satellite images show the forest cover a little difference between in cover a little difference between in 1993 and 1997, and 2002, but the latter drops significantly from about 65% in 2002 to 35% in 2006.

Latosol type of soils in Pailin which is prone to erosion

Denuded Summit of mountains: Hot Spot Hot Spot

Plowing up and down the slope causes soil erosion

Plough along the slope

Sedimentation affecting downstream rice fields

Some mine activities at O Tavao (26 Sept 2009) l t t th i lif The canal linking Stung Pailin to the Sala Krau village bringing sediments from upstream 2009): some people try to earn their life with rare findings.

Sedimentation affecting downstream in Battambang province

Bright spot and mitigation strategies

• Bright spot:

g p

– Existing conservation efforts (Moddoxz Jolie Pitt project and CI), and existing community forestry

• Mitigation strategy:

Mitigation strategy:

– Contour plowing, low tillage, appropriate use of fertilizers, pesticide/herbicide etc.), and agroforestry Soil improvement through natural inputs (green – Soil improvement through natural inputs (green manure, compost etc.) – Remove sediments around Tonle Sap flood plain to allow water flow to improve agricultural soil in rice allow water flow to improve agricultural soil in rice fields – Enforce mining rule/regulations of Ministry of Industry, mines and Energy (MIME) mines and Energy (MIME) – Reforestation with post mining tolerant species plan

Case Study 3 Case Study 3

• Issue: Inappropriate

Issue: Inappropriate agriculture practices of cassava etc farmers/plantation farmers/plantation

• wners in Latosols
• Study site: Kampong

Cham province Cham province

• Hot Spots:

e.g. Cassava plantations g in Memot, Chuop and Chalong Rubber plantation areas p

Agriculture practices along the slope, h f bb t change from rubbers to cassavas

soil erosion and low fertilizer use ff efficiency and compacted top soils

Soil erosion observed along the slope (Feb., 2010) at Chuop Plantation

Bright spot and mitigation strategies

• Bright spot:

g p

– Cambodia Rubber Research Institute in Chuop-a very good example of soil improvement using cover crops, and good method of land preparation and planting and good method of land preparation and planting

• Mitigation strategy:

– Contour plowing p g – Plant adoptable species of cover crops (Mucuna, Stylosanthes, Bracharia, Desmodium etc.,) to minimize erosion and leaching minimize erosion and leaching – Discourage continuous ( yearly) mono-cropping of cassavas on this type of soil.

Case Study 4 Case Study 4

I Sl h d B

• Issue: Slash and Burn

Agriculture, Agriculture

• n hilly lands

y

• Study site : Mondul kiri

province

• Hot spot: Denuded

summit of mountains

Soil is fragile and prone to erosion Soil is fragile and prone to erosion

Slash and burn agriculture practices Slash and burn agriculture practices

Water and wind erosion Water and wind erosion

Pine Plantation blown by wind (8th March 2010)

Loss of biodiversity Loss of biodiversity

Bright spot and mitigation strategies

• Bright spot:

g p

– Pine plantation, Socfin practices on rubber plantation. – Case of fruit trees and vegetable farming in selected sites (GEF, SGP as reported by RUA, 2010) – NGOs working to protect forest and biodiversity and community forestry

• Mitigation strategy:

g gy

– Tree Windbreak to minimize wind erosion – Reforestation of the denuded summits – Practice of contour farming and alley cropping Practice of contour farming and alley cropping – Enrich fallow periods with perennial tree crops, – Creation of high altitude agricultural station ( e.g. Dalat station) to support low input, sub-temperate vegetable ) pp p , p g farming systems – Eco-tourism development to help safeguard traditions

Case Study 5 Case Study 5

I L d d d ti

• Issue: Land degradation

( strong acidic soils ) caused by natural factors

• Study site: Svay Rieng

province

• Hot Spot: All Alumisols

Hot Spot: All Alumisols are considered as Hot spot

Acidic and Toxic soil (alumisols) Acidic and Toxic soil (alumisols)

Scarcity of water resource in dry season Scarcity of water resource in dry season

Farmers use heavily pesticides and f ili f d i fertilizers for dry season rice

Bright spot and mitigation strategies

• Bright spot:

g p

– Selected villages in Svay Rieng incorporating trees in farming systems for fuel wood, fruit and support to fish raising – Cases demonstrating efforts to improve organic matter and soil structure/improve fertility and soil moisture retention – Practices of biogas development and using crop residues

• Mitigation strategy:

g gy

– Water resources management – Appropriate chemical fertilizers, such as natural tricalcide phosphate (Tuk Meas): 1-3 t/ha – For dry season rice, reduce chemical fertilizers by ¼, use 10 t compost/ha or apply green manure – Encourage utilization of agricultural residues for soil i t improvement – Reduce the use of fertilizers containing S: ( NH4)2SO4,

Many thanks for your kind attention! Many thanks for your kind attention!