Sustainable development in a historic area

Angkor Archaeological Park, covering an area of some 400 km2, comprises 112 villages spread across the boundaries of the World Heritage site plus Siem Reap with its substantial tourist infrastructure and provincial administration. The Royal Khmer Government has made a firm commitment to secure the livelihood of the local population as an integral part of the park and will be actively engaged in park management and the benefits from community-based development. In 2008 restructuring of the APSARA Authority led to the formation of the Department of Land and Habitat Management in Angkor Park, which is responsible for analysis, evaluation, monitoring and actions closely related to the sustainable development of the population in this historic area. This case study focuses on achievements to date.

The total population of the park was about 120,000 in 2010. Each inhabitant has on average 1 ha of agricultural land. The annual rice production rarely reaches two crops. The shortage of food is supplemented, especially around the months of September and October, with rice purchased elsewhere. The income of the local communities has been broken down as follows: hand collecting firewood (27 per cent), rice cultivation (20 per cent), unskilled jobs (17 per cent) and several other minor activities (36 per cent). Literacy in the park stands at 32 per cent with a 2:1 ratio of men to women.