Community-led change is the key to thriving with nature — not against it. And eco-tourism is more than travel; it is an act of solidarity with those on the frontline of climate change. Anchored in tradition, yet sailing towards renewal, this is Chrouy Svay’s story.
In Cambodia’s coastal province of Koh Kong, the community of Chrouy Svay has always lived by the rhythms of the sea. For generations, families here have depended on the tides, the mangroves, and the fish that once filled their nets.
But today, their way of life is under threat. Overfishing, reckless exploitation of natural resources, and the brutal advance of climate change are draining the ocean and putting livelihoods at risk.
From Struggle to Strength: Building Resilience
Coastal families refuse to be victims.
They are not waiting. Instead, they are rising up and charting a new course – building alternatives that protect both people and planet.
With the support of Action Education / Aide et Action’s CO-SAVED project, co-funded by the European Union, Chrouy Svay is building resilience: turning to eco-tourism and fish farming as ways to survive, adapt, and thrive.
Seng Teng, a community member, welcomes visitors aboard his boat to show what is at stake. He navigates through mangrove forests that shield the coast from destruction, introduces fellow fishers whose livelihoods hang by a thread, and points to fish farms where survival and resilience ripple across the water.
“We went to visit the mangrove forest, the fishers, and the fish farms,” he says proudly, because here, every root planted and every fish raised is an act of resilience.
Restoring Forests, Reviving Communities: Tourists Make a Difference
Marong Chhoeung, Programme Manager at Action Education / Aide et Action, adds:
“In this community, we support holistic development – education, WASH, agriculture, livelihoods, eco-tourism, and conservation. Before the project started, tourists did come here, but not many. With awareness and advertising, today far more visitors come to support eco-tourism and the Chrouy Svay community.”
Visitors to Chrouy Svay can do more than sightsee; they can also:
- Sail with fishers whose livelihoods are on the frontline of climate injustice
- Replant mangroves, nature’s defence against rising seas
- Witness fish farms that ensure survival against the odds
- Stand with a community striving for a lifestyle in harmony with sea and forest
The story of Chrouy Svay is not just one of resilience — it is one of renewal and change. It is about tides turning, forests regrowing, and families rising up against isolation.
Stand in solidarity. Choose eco-tourism. Choose dignity.
