Project Executive Summary: The proposed Aquatic Biodiversity and Farmland Project will be based in the Baray and Suntrouk district of the Kampong Thom province. Poor rural families in the 7 target villages make use of a variety of source of income and subsistence activities to make their living. Their subsistence needs are met from a complex mix of agro-ecosystems which are directly based on naturally occurring (wild) plans and animals on the farm, aquaculture, cropping, livestock, home gardens, and collecting of firewood and other natural products. Activities related to the use of natural resources are generally based on these short-term subsistence strategies with little attention being paid to their environmental implications including impacts on biodiversity and natural recourse conservation. The project is to enhance livelihood security for the rural poor families in Suntuk and Baray districts of Kampong Thom province whose futures are dependent upon the sustainable management of community natural resources by mean of enhancing aquatic environments and integration of sustainable agriculture principles.

Project Goal: The goal of this project is to enhance livelihood security for the rural poor families in Suntuk and Baray districts of Kampong Thom province whose futures are dependent upon the sustainable management of community natural resources by means of enhancing aquatic environments and integration of sustainable agriculture principles.

The Immediate Objectives: (1) Increase the overall population of aquatic resources in both farmers' fields and community pond in the target districts in Kampong Thom province. (2) Enhance ecological/organic agriculture productivity of local communities and promote agricultural market to ensure food security and to increase income.

Anticipated Results: The proposed project will directly benefit 250 rural farmers with an estimated 930 indirect family and other beneficiaries in a positive manner in that they better understand proper environment of aquatic organism, on the farm, natural pond and also understand sustainable ecological agriculture and how to better maintain it. and how to avoid or at least reduce risks to aquatic organism, environment and human health. The training provided by the ATSA field staffs is the proven FFS method of learning by doing, by demonstration and problem solving by the farmers themselves and as such belongs to the participants. Individual Action Plans allow every participant to focus on what they can do to improve their environment e.g. use botanical pesticides, make compost to improve the soil structure, enhance aquatic organism, use cover crops green manure etc. The formation of farmer groups and associations allow farmers to continue to monitor their environment and improve their agriculture production and incomes after the project finishes.

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