Cambodia
Nationally
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The country's greatest natural assets
are tropical
forests rich in bio diversity, rare animal and plant species, and old
growth Teak, Rosewood, and other valuable trees.
The plunder of Cambodia's forests began
in 1970 primarily to finance military forces.
Since 1989 it's reached frenzied levels to finance elections and
build personal fortunes for the country's elitists and generals. For
a comprehensive view of this situation, see an Asia
Society article.
According to
the UN Development Program and the World Wildlife Fund, until
1965 73%
of the country was covered with forests but as of 1998 only
half remained. At 0.58% Cambodia's annual
rate of deforestation is among the world's highest and
continues due to institutionalized corruption. "The political and
economic future of the country is held in the fragile balance between
natural resource management and destructive plunder." 1
Having
previously logged their valuable timber, the governments
and lumber barons of Thailand, Vietnam, and mainland China are
duplicitous as markets for Cambodian wood. The
European garden furniture and American luxury wood markets bear equal
blame.
The
forests of Ratanakiri and Mondolkiri have suffered damage
from both logging concessions and illegal timber cutting.
Regarding
development impacts at regional
level, since 1992 the
six
countries of the Greater
Mekong Subregion (GMS) have been cooperating
for infrastructure development and cross border trade. These
countries consist of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (Burma), Thailand,
Vietnam, and
mainland China. On paper the environment and needs of the
peasantry rank
as high considerations but in practice
mean little to the governments and development entities 2
.
An example of this reckless "development" is the
impact on the Se San River Basin in northeast Cambodia which
has severely disrupted the lives
of some 55,000 mostly hill tribes people.
The headwaters are just across the border in Vietnam's Central
Highlands; the river runs west into Cambodia through
Ratanakiri
Province and intersects with the Mekong River in Stung Treng
Province. Since 1999 a callously
conceived hydroelectric
plant in Vietnam has severely polluted the Se San and the
unannounced water releases from the dam has caused flash
flooding downstream. These floods have drowned 36 people and
countless
livestock, and caused millions of dollars in
damage to houses, farm fields, fishing boats, and livelihoods.
The
Cambodian and Vietnamese Governments have done nothing to address this
situation moreover Vietnam plans to build more such dams on the Se
San.
In the past decade or so there have been strides towards
democracy including elections in Cambodia. Assassinations, police
state tactics, and legislative and constitutional coups however
persist. Government corruption has
impeded foreign investment, economic development, and other badly
needed government reforms. The ruling party
installed by the
Vietnamese following their 1979 invasion remains in power. The
only election they've lost was in 1998 which was quickly remedied by a
bloody coup. Without foreign aid the government would collapse
and the
country would be thrown into turmoil. Donor nations and
international aid organizations threaten to withhold funds unless
meaningful reforms are implemented. Although none have been, the
money keeps
flowing and Cambodia's rulers continue doing as they
wish. See recent political
events .
1. Asia
Society article
2. Rockefeller
Foundation