Sustainable livelihoods analysis in the Tonle Sap Lake and its floodplain, Cambodia

Tonle Sap Lake is the largest body of freshwater in Southeast Asia, benefiting millions of Cambodians. Yet, the lake is under increasing pressure, causing great concern for hundreds of communities depending on the bounty of its natural resources. This research analyzed types of employment, sustainable livelihood, and provision mechanisms in the fishing communities in Tonle Sap Lake. Household surveys were deployed to collect quantitative data from 505 households, and participatory approaches were applied to collect qualitative data through key informants and group discussions. The research findings supported four main conclusions. First, agricultural jobs remained the dominant mode of employment for the villagers in the communities surrounding the Tonle Sap, followed by fishing. For example, fishing was the mode of work for (33.7%), rice farming for (24.2%), and horticulture for (11.7%). Fishery and rice farming played an essential role in daily livelihoods. Second, however, the villagers' livelihoods were not yet fully sustainable. Their daily income per capita (9,199.7 Khmer Riels) was not significantly lower or higher than the rural poverty line (8,908 Khmer Riels), at t (504) = 0.499, P = 0.618. Moreover, their daily income was significantly lower than the national poverty line (10,951 Khmer Riels) set by the Ministry of Planning in 2021, at t (504) = -2.997, P = 0.003. Third, the villagers’ livelihoods were constrained by limited access to the five livelihood assets, specifically, professional skills and social assets, support mechanisms to create alternative livelihoods, and local livelihood strategies. Fourth, the existing support mechanisms do not function to improve access to the five assets and engender local strategies for reducing vulnerabilities. Some suggestions are given to enhance sustainable livelihoods related to increased access to the five assets. Access to the five assets for sustainable livelihoods is required to establish robust support mechanisms for all the key stakeholders, which include government agencies, NGOs, and communities. Alternative livelihoods were found to be a viable option to decrease the burden on natural resources and improve sustainable livelihoods.