The Value of Sihanoukville Coastal Area

As one of Cambodia’s three priority areas for national economic development, Sihanoukville is well recognized for its numerous valuable resources and strong economic development potential. Some of the most significant values of Sihanoukville include Sihanoukville’ s international port, the pristine beaches and waterfalls attracting a rapidly expanding tourism industry, and Ream National Park, the country’s only marine national park with numerous unique ecological habitats.

Historical and Cultural Values

Sihanoukville harbors several unique sites of cultural heritages, such as Victory Monument located on Victory beach, built in 1985 to symbolize friendship with Vietnam. Sihanoukville Port, Cambodia’s only international marine port, constructed from 1955-1960. Independence Square, constructed in 1985 in honor of independence and the Cambodians that lost their lives during the war. The now abandoned Independence Hotel, built in 1964 during Sihanoukville’s early development. The Golden Lions Monument (Viem Tao Meas), constructed in 1996 a prominent landmark symbolizing Sihanoukville, located in the middle of the traffic circle between Sokha and Occheateal beaches. There are also traditional fishing villages such as Kampong Pier Nup Lok near Hun Sen beach, Koh Kchong in Prey Nup and Toek Thla near Kampot province.

All three districts are home to a number of Buddhist pagodas, although many of them are in need of repair. The most famous pagoda is Wat Chotynieng, overlooking the town of Sihanoukville and featuring paintings depicting the life of Buddha and portraits of Prince Junot and Lok Om, leaders of the Buddhist community in the area. The other temple, Wat Khrom, contains a building solely dedicated to Ya-Mao, a local deity. Besides the pagoda there are other religious cultural centers including St. Michael’s Church, built in 1960, serving the Catholic community until 1975 when it became a prison and after 1979 when was used as a storage facility. The church reopened in 1993. The Iber Bilkhalifah Mosque, utilized by the local Cham community located near the town center is another important center of culture and religion.

Natural and Ecological Values

Perhaps Sihanoukville's richest values lie in it abundant and diverse natural resources. Map 1 outlines some of the key ecological sub-systems to be found in the area. Descriptions of each specific resource are provided.

Coral reefs and sea grass beds

Coral reefs can mainly be found around the islands and include: Koh Rong, Koh Rong Sanlem, Koh Russey, Koh Takiev, Koh Thmei and Koh Ses. There are approximately 24 species of commonly occurring hard coral and 14 species of soft coral found in the waters of Sihanoukville.

Enhalus acroides seagrass species known locally as Smao Kloy, is found in abundance near the mouth of Stung Hav, Kampong Som Bay in Sihanoukville. Other species that occur in the coastal area of include Cymodocea seradata, Syringodium isoetifolium and Halodule pinifolia.

Mangroves

Mangrove forest and mudflats are intimately associated with tidally inundated saline sediments, and are some of the most productive ecosystems, supporting a rich diversity of aquatic and benthic flora and important nursery grounds for a variety of marine species. Mangroves also function as pollutant sinks or filters and provide shoreline defense against erosion and flooding. Sihanoukville has a number of mangrove forest areas. These are located around Kompong Som Bay, along the coastline of Ream National Park, the Prek Toek Sap estuary and the estuarine area of Stung Kompong Smach and Veal Renh, in Prep Nup district. The coastal bay area of Sihanoukville features about 13,621 hectares of mangroves and 39,000 hectares of rear (in-shore) mangrove. Species of true mangrove include Avicennia marina, Rhizophora apiculata, R. mucronata, Bruguira gymnorhiza, B. sexangula and Ceriops spp. In the more brackish areas behind the mangrove, and along the rivers, rear mangroves can be found, dominated by the species Melaleuca leucodendron. These areas have not been exploited commercially, but are utilized by local inhabitants for construction materials and charcoal. Of the 13,621 ha of mangroves in 1995, it is estimated that 800 ha (35-45%) has been degraded.

Beaches

Beaches are one of the most prominent natural features of Sihanoukville, spanning most of the coastline of the peninsular and found on many of the islands. Many of the beaches of Sihanoukville feature Casuarina equisetifolia, the shrub Calophyllum inophyllum and the herbs Ipomaea pes-caprae and Ishaemum muticum. Some of the undeveloped beaches feature a beach forest formation, beaches that continue into dense lowland evergreen forest on their landward side. These habitats are particularly important to some of the water-bird species.