Communities team up for Tonle Sap clean-up
LOCAL authorities, civil society organisations, students and over 1,000 others have collaborated to clean up the environment and collect plastic waste during the low-water season at the Tonle Sap Lake, embracing the theme, “Clean community, Green Tonle Sap, Without plastic”.
The initiative commenced at the Kampong Khleang Ecotourism Community on January 27 and is set to continue for six months across all communities.
Pa Puor, chairman of the Kampong Khleang Commune Council in Siem Reap province, said the seasonal campaign is designed to enhance community awareness about environmental cleanliness.
He noted that in the past, despite repeated education efforts by the authorities, residents frequently disposed of rubbish in the open.
“Fish live in water and the presence of plastic in the water adversely affects biodiversity, leading to the destruction of natural resources. This is particularly critical in our area, where those in the fishing business rely on [these] resources for 85 per cent of their livelihood,” he explained.
Puor also voiced concerns over dwindling fishery resources, which pose a challenge to the daily lives of families residing around the lake.
“That is why all relevant units have established principles to clean up the environment around Tonle Sap Lake,” he said.
Sea Sophal, president of the NGO2 BambooShoot Foundation, noted his collaboration with local authorities and the private sector to promote sustainable environmental cleanup actions, focusing on plastic along the river, starting in late January.
He emphasised the importance of educating residents at home to enhance their awareness of ecological and health issues, encouraging them to collect and properly store refuse.
“Normally, Tonle Sap Lake experiences a dry season of six months … The water recedes until June before the rainy season commences. Therefore, we start cleaning … whenever the water begins to recede, depending on the specific geographical situation,” he said.
For the duration of this year’s campaign, efforts will be made in communities along the lake, including Kampong Phluk, Chong Khneas and Me Chrey in Siem Reap. The scope of the clean-up may expand to include Prek Toal in neighbouring Battambang province and other surrounding areas.
The programme aims to mobilise the public until the celebration of the National and World Environment Day on June 5, which marks the initiative’s conclusion.
The Ministry of Environment noted that the effort to reduce plastic use, themed “Today I will not use plastic”, which ran from September 1, 2023, to January 28, attracted over 4.4 million participants.
These included teachers, students, garment workers and others, who disseminated information to more than 10,000 schools, factories, pagodas and urban communities across the Kingdom.