Koh Kong Province (Cambodia)

Geography and natural features

The province stretches from coastal mangrove estuaries and sandy shores into the western reaches of the Cardamom Mountains. Its landscape includes tidal flats, river deltas, evergreen rainforest, and offshore islands. This variety of habitats supports rich biodiversity and provides important ecosystem services such as coastal protection, fisheries nursery grounds and freshwater catchments for local communities.

Parks, wildlife and protected areas

Koh Kong contains or borders several important conservation areas. The most prominent is Botum Sakor National Park, which is among the largest protected areas in the country and includes lowland forest and coastal zones. Much of the provincial uplands are part of the Cardamom massif, a regional biodiversity stronghold. Mangrove stands and estuaries along the coast are also locally valuable for birdlife, fish and crustaceans.

Administration and population

Administratively the province is divided into several districts and a municipality; overall it contains six districts and one municipality administered from the capital. These subunits combine rural communes, forested areas and coastal villages. Governance balances local livelihoods—fishing, smallholder agriculture and forest use—with provincial development objectives and conservation planning. See local administrative listings for details on each district and commune (administrative divisions).

Economy, transport and human uses

The economy is principally based on fisheries, small-scale agriculture, forest products and a growing tourism sector. Visitors are attracted by boat trips into mangroves, wildlife observation, island beaches and trekking in the foothills. Road and river connections link the provincial capital to other parts of Cambodia and to border points, supporting trade and seasonal labour movement.

Notable issues in Koh Kong include the challenge of reconciling development and conservation: land-use change, infrastructure projects and commercial concessions have at times raised tensions with long-standing community uses and protected-area management. At the same time, the province’s extensive natural areas offer significant potential for sustainable ecotourism, research and conservation initiatives that support both biodiversity and local livelihoods.

• Key natural assets: Cardamom Mountains, mangrove coasts, islands and estuaries.
• Main town and administration: Khemarak Phoumin.
• Principal protected area mentioned: Botum Sakor National Park.
• Administrative structure: six districts and one municipality (details).