Background
On March 5-6, 2026, the Ministry of Environment, represented by Undersecretary of State Van Muninath, convened the first inter-ministerial meeting of the Steering Committee tasked with promoting sustainable management of transboundary groundwater resources in the Cambodia-Vietnam Mekong sand zone. The meeting took place in Kampot province and involved participation from multiple ministries, institutions, and international partners including FAO, IUCN, UNESCO, MERFI, as well as representatives from the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Environment.
Scope of Application
The committee’s work focuses on the analysis, evaluation, and management of groundwater shared across the Cambodia-Vietnam border within the Mekong sand area. It encompasses multidisciplinary coordination between ministries and relevant agencies to address environmental and resource sustainability challenges in the transboundary zone.
Key Provisions or Decisions
The meeting reviewed the current data and analysis pertaining to transboundary groundwater conditions, discussing challenges such as groundwater depletion, land subsidence, arsenic contamination, saltwater intrusion, ecosystem system degradation, and the formulation of long-term strategic approaches and action plans. Participants also engaged with local communities in the Anlong Preing protected area to gain socio-economic, ecological, and environmental insights that will inform site selection for pilot projects.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
This initiative establishes a framework for government-coordinated management and sustainable use of shared groundwater resources in an environmentally sensitive cross-border region. It highlights the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration for ecological preservation, which may affect future project planning, environmental compliance standards, and resource allocation in the area.
Official Source
Ministry of Environment Facebook Post, March 2026
