Baseline Survey at Koh Kapik Ramsar Site

Koh Kapik Ramsar Site is one of Cambodia’s important wetland areas along the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. The site is home to extensive mangrove forests, the largest and among the most important in Cambodia, and provides critical habitat for a wide range of threatened and biodiversity-rich species.

From 30–31 July 2026, NatureLife Cambodia conducted a baseline survey under the three-year project “Empowering Coastal Communities for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Livelihoods at Koh Kapik Ramsar Site, Cambodia,” funded by the 30×30 Southeast Asia Ocean Fund. The survey aimed to establish a clear pre-project baseline and better understand the current conditions, challenges, opportunities, and needs of local communities and site management.

Three Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 50 participants, including 17 women, representing local authorities, rangers, CPA committees, village chiefs, school directors, and fisheries processing groups. Discussions focused on livelihoods and income opportunities, fisheries and markets, site and CPA management, biodiversity and threats, law enforcement, capacity needs, gender and youth participation, environmental awareness, and community engagement in conservation.

The findings will provide an important foundation for measuring project progress and strengthening collaborative approaches to biodiversity conservation, sustainable livelihoods, and community stewardship at Koh Kapik Ramsar Site.