MAP Asia is a partner in the PMCR project, which includes conservation of coastal resources and mangrove restoration in Koh Kong Province. PMCR is under the Nature Conservation and Protection Department of the Cambodia Ministry of the Environment. MAP Asia has been a partner on this project since 2003

(pdf 1.3 MB)

 
DATe is working on a project in Tonle Sap, the Great Lake region, to promote the use of improved cookstoves amongst floating fishing communities in an attempt to reduce the cutting of trees for fuel wood in the flooded forest. Although the flooded forest of Tonle Sap involves a fresh water ecosystem, it serves similar functions as a mangrove ecosystem.

Work is now expanding on introducing smoke house technology for fish smoking at Tonle Sap, also to reduce wood consumption.

DATe, with MAP support, built a floating Community Resource Center on Tonle Sap to increase conservation awareness, especially amongst students, as well as to provide a place for community meetings.

McKnight Foundation has generously supported the Conservation of Tonle Sap and Coastal Resources Project (2008-2010).
English brochure (pdf, 1p, 1.44 MB)
Khmer brochure  (pdf, 1p, 650 KB)

Read more about DATe projects:

Floating Community Resource Center on Tonlesap (685 kb)
Floated Forest Restoration at Tonlesap (pdf 91 kb)
Improved Fish Smokehouse Technology (pdf 705 kb)


Cambodian Improved Fish Smoke Stove Developed for the Environment and Women's Livelihooods

On October 2008 the Development and Appropriate Technology (DATe), a Cambodian NGO, finally launched the long awaited Improved Fish Smoke Stove (IFSS) after testing and modifying of a number of different models over a three year period.  The selected model uses a combination of heat and smoke to cure the fish. The proper use and maintenance of  IFSS was the focus of a of a training session for ten local Khmer women fish smokers stove recipients at Kampong Preah Village in Kampong Chhang on the Tonlesap (The Great Lake).   The IFSS is designed to lessen the amount of Tonlesap flooded forest trees used for fuel wood in smoking the fish.  It is also intended to improve the working conditions of the women who smoke the fish.  The construction of the new IFSS consists of a steel frame with sheet metal walls and racks for smoking fish.  The stove contains the smoke and heat without the risk of fire, allowing villagers to simultaneously go about other work tasks. The next step for DATe is to continue to monitor and evaluate the use of the IFSS and then disseminate it wider to more Tonle Sap fish smokers.
 
The 5 main benefits to the new prototype smoke stove:
 
- More efficient use of wood fuel (saves approximately 40 %).
- Reduces the time required to collect fuel wood and helps reduce the degradation of forest resources.
- Smoke fumes are more confined which reduces the risk of smoke inhalation and associated respiratory health implications. ~ Reduced eye and skin health problems.
- Improved preservation of fish increasing the storage life and quality of the product.
- Portable - can be moved to fish smoking camp
 
Smoking fish is a tradition of Tonlesap fishers used to preserve fish for times of the year when fish were scare.  Smoked fish, an important source of protein, is widely consumed throughout Cambodia and even exported. "Conservation of Coastal and Tonle Sap Resources Project" is supported by the McKnight Foundation through MAP-Asia.
 
Ms. Vathana Tithuot, MAP Cambodian Representative