Nature-based Solutions to Alleviate Flooding
Many sections in Takong Village of Sambour District in Siem Reap Province are under water for six months during the rainy season. The waters can be as deep as 1 meter, making it difficult for children to go to school and for adults to commute to work. Small children have to be carried through the flooded roads while bigger kids have to wade through the waters which are not always clean. Additionally, many adults have to park their motorbikes and other vehicles outside the village. It is difficult to predict how the floods will be each year, due to the impacts of climate change. But surely, certain parts of the village are under water for months.
In order to enhance the villagers’ livelihoods and provide better governance to counter the flooding, nature-based solutions were implemented in December 2025 to repair some of the village roads using only natural materials such as sand, clay and gravel. Additionally, the local Cambodian flame trees and grass were planted beside the road to prevent soil erosion, maintain groundwater, and provide shade to the village.
