Sand Mining and Villagers' livelihood in Prek Angkun village of Koh Kong city, Cambodia

Abstract

A research topic of "Sand Mining and Villagers' Livelihood in Prek Angkun village, Koh Kong city, Cambodia" proposed to understand impact of sand mining on local villagers' economic livelihood. To guide the research, three research questions utilized: 1) to analyze impact of sand mining on villagers' economic livelihood, 2) to identify villagers'coping strategies utilize to cope with the challenge, 3) to examine whether those coping strategies can help villagers to ease their livelihood challenges. DFID's sustainable livelihood conceptual framework utilized in the study. Qualitative research method is chosen to conduct the study, and a number of qualitative research techniques utilized: semi-structured interview, focus group discussion, key informant interviews, and seasonal calendar. 14 villagers, village headman of the village, and an officer of Koh Kong Department of fishery requested to participate in the interviewing. Nine villagers are asked voluntarily to join the interview, five other villagers in the village are also requested to participate in group discussion, and two key informants, one village head and one officer of department of fishery are pledged to join the interview. The research reveals that sand mining produces adverse impacts on the villagers' economic livelihood because the sand mining cause depletion of fish stock which is villagers' main livelihood. In order to cope with the challenge, villagers utilize a number of coping strategies to response to the adverse effects. Although they are pursuing those coping strategies, their livelihoods are not same as before. A lot of villagers migrate outside of the village to look for job opportunity and receive loans from bank. Overall, it can be said that sand mining produce negative effects to Prek Angkun villages' economic livelihood. Although for the time being, the current coping strategies could possibly help them to survive, but in the long run if natural resources are not recovered their livelihood would possibly encounter more challenge