Cambodia floods put spotlight on risk of trading lakes for land

By Shaun Turton and Mech Dara

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Floods from the Mekong River and its tributaries annually inundate the landscape in Cambodia and its neighbors, playing a vital role in agriculture, fisheries and the environment. But the recent flash floods, which result from intense downpours, are the worst in years.

Coming on the back of a prolonged drought, experts say they appear in line with predictions that climate change will intensify extreme weather events.

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Marc Goichot, a freshwater systems expert focused on Asia at the World Wildlife Fund, said it was "convenient" to "blame the sky" and focus just on climate change, but governments needed to take responsibility for the impact of land use change within flood plains.

"We are creating the conditions that expose us to more disasters," Goichot said. "We call them natural disasters, but they are man made."

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"What is missing, is first an understanding of the socioeconomic patterns of the country and second a plan that clarifies how a tropical city like Phnom Penh can address its water security. Without a diversified and strong economy, it is difficult to only focus on wetlands."