Background
On 2 March 2026, an inter-ministerial meeting was held under the chairmanship of Samdech Tao Cheththa, Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology and the Tonle Sap Authority Chairman, to review and discuss draft decisions regarding land use conditions and urban management within Angkor tourism zones and the surrounding villages around Tonle Sap Lake.
Scope of Application
The discussion focused on three main zones classified as Zones 1, 2, and 3 within the Angkor World Heritage tourism area, covering a total of 114 villages across the Central Park area, Banteay Srei zone, and Rolous zone. These zones span an aggregate land area reassessed in 2024 across six provinces surrounding Tonle Sap Lake, with Zone 1 covering 436,879.11 hectares, Zone 2 covering 413,488.08 hectares, and Zone 3 covering 561,634.61 hectares.
Key Provisions or Decisions
The key draft decision sets conditions on land use according to six designated location types: 1) strictly protected zones, 2) buffer zones, 3) rural residential villages, 4) clustered residential villages, 5) business zones, and 6) agricultural zones. The meeting included review of land zoning maps and spatial plans intended to regulate urban development, heritage protection, and land management compliance within these sectors.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
These land use conditions will serve as an official framework governing property and construction activities within Angkor protected areas and the buffer zones around Tonle Sap Lake. Stakeholders including developers, local authorities, and environmental managers will refer to these provisions for land use permissions and sustainable development controls, ensuring alignment with conservation status and local planning requirements.
Official Source
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) Facebook post dated 2 March 2026: https://www.facebook.com/mowramcambodia/posts/pfbid02Eyr4HZbhNoyzBpS8wGi3bvVHQCax6QeWNPycLuKTSRo5MqwbnrZuvyZNMEjMeHmnl
