Reading Lesson 9: Environmental Issues in Cambodia

Introduction:

Cambodia is a country of great natural beauty, but it also faces some environmental challenges. In this lesson, we’ll learn about some of these issues and explore what can be done to protect Cambodia’s environment.

Reading:

Cambodia’s environment is under threat from a variety of factors, including deforestation, illegal logging, overfishing, pollution, and climate change. These issues pose a serious risk to the country’s biodiversity, its natural resources, and the livelihoods of its people.

Deforestation is a major concern, as forests are being cleared for agriculture, timber, and other purposes. This loss of forests is contributing to soil erosion, water pollution, and climate change.

Illegal logging is another serious problem. Valuable timber is being harvested illegally, often with little regard for the environment. This is not only damaging forests but also depriving the government of much-needed revenue.

Overfishing is also depleting fish stocks in Cambodia’s rivers and lakes. This is affecting the livelihoods of fishermen and the food security of the country.

Pollution is a growing problem, especially in urban areas. Air and water pollution are causing health problems for people and damaging the environment.

Climate change is also having an impact on Cambodia. Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns are affecting agriculture, water resources, and coastal communities.

The Cambodian government and various organizations are working to address these environmental challenges. Efforts are being made to protect forests, combat illegal logging, manage fisheries sustainably, reduce pollution, and adapt to climate change.

Vocabulary:

• deforestation (noun): the action of clearing a wide area of trees.
• illegal logging (noun): the harvesting, transporting, processing, buying, or selling of timber in violation of national laws.
• overfishing (noun): depleting the stock of fish in (a body of water) by too much fishing.
• biodiversity (noun): the variety of plant and animal life in the world or in a particular habitat, a high level of which is usually considered to be important and desirable.
• livelihood (noun): a means of securing the necessities of life.

Tasks:

1. Answer the Questions:
   • What are some of the environmental challenges facing Cambodia?
   • Why is deforestation a concern?
   • How does illegal logging affect the environment and the economy?
   • What is overfishing and what are its consequences?
   • How is climate change impacting Cambodia?
2. Cause and Effect:
   • Create a chart or diagram showing the causes and effects of the following environmental issues:
     • Deforestation
     • Illegal logging
     • Overfishing
     • Pollution
     • Climate change
3. Different Perspectives:
   • Imagine you are:
     • A farmer whose land is being affected by deforestation.
     • A fisherman whose livelihood is threatened by overfishing.
     • A government official responsible for environmental protection.
   • Write a short paragraph from each perspective, explaining your concerns and proposed solutions.
4. Persuasive Essay:
   • Choose one environmental issue in Cambodia.
   • Research the issue in more detail.
   • Write a persuasive essay arguing for a specific solution to the problem.
   • Support your arguments with evidence and examples.

Answer Key:

1. Answer the Questions:
   • Deforestation, illegal logging, overfishing, pollution, climate change.
   • Leads to soil erosion, water pollution, and climate change.
   • Damages forests, deprives the government of revenue.
   • Depletes fish stocks, affects livelihoods, threatens food security.
   • Affects agriculture, water resources, and coastal communities.
2. Cause and Effect: (Check student’s charts for accuracy and completeness)
3. Different Perspectives: (Allow for individual answers, but assess for understanding of different perspectives and proposed solutions)
4. Persuasive Essay: (Assess for clear arguments, evidence, and persuasive writing techniques)

Outro:

Protecting Cambodia’s environment is crucial for the well-being of its people and the future of the country. By understanding the challenges and working together to find solutions, we can ensure that Cambodia’s natural beauty and resources are preserved for generations to come.