Conversations with the Ocean: Lessons from Song Saa Foundation in Cambodia

Nov 6

I have always wanted to understand the ocean but then I also had a fear of this powerful force. For years and years whenever I travelled I always just stood by the waters edge, staring into the eyes of the ocean. Sometimes I had a little chat and went in, but never deep enough. I wanted to have a little heart to heart with the corals, understand the little parrot fish, observe the colorful giant clams and study, my personal favourite, the puffer fish.

Learning about the treasure chest of the ocean has always been a passion of mine as has taking action to improve its well-being. I always wanted to take part in citizen science-style ocean conservation projects, however my fear of diving always held me back. That is, until I found the Song Saa Foundation in Cambodia.

What is the Song Saa Foundation doing for ocean conservation?

The Song Saa Foundation is a non-profit organisation which was established in 2013 to protect the habitats and biodiversity of the Koh Rong Archipelago in Cambodia with a secondary focus of improving the welfare of local communities. The foundation established the kingdom’s first marine reserve, cementing their reputation as a prominent coastal marine NGO that has since played an important role in monitoring the health of coral reefs and seagrass by involving the fisher community and tourists.

On top of ocean conservation, the foundation also plays an important role in improving the lives of local people through various initiatives. These include providing school education, organizing classes and fun activities for children in the village, and creating opportunities for the community to develop alternative sources of income with a focus on capability building. Their work also extends to offering medical care and promoting solid waste management. Overall, their programs can be viewed from three key perspectives: water, people, and land.

Despite not being a professional diver, I joined the team to study the process of seagrass monitoring and coral restoration. Hands-on activities led to me being in the water everyday, wobbling on the boat rides and seeing beautiful marine ecosystems; reaffirming my commitment to positively impacting our oceans and raising awareness about these kinds of activities in my own field of study which is coastal and eco tourism.

What can tourism operators and resorts learn from Song Saa?

The Song Saa Foundation and resort asks the right kind of questions, helping them form their values around sustainability and ensuring that their team is curious, caring and professional at what they do.

By answering these important sustainability questions, Song Saa has built a strong base for sustainable tourism development, integrated into their management in planning.

How can plastic that washes up the shore be tackled?
Can we serve fresh seafood without jeopardizing fish stocks?
How can we have more Cambodian women in the workforce?
What can the guests take back with themselves after their trip?
How can we educate travellers about the importance of the biodiversity of the ocean and the land through fun and engaging activities?
How can we move from education to action?

Any coastal resort aspiring to begin operating sustainability should begin by asking themselves these very same questions, using them as a guide to create change that benefits both the environment and local communities.

How is sustainable tourism being practiced at Song Saa?

Coming from a background in hospitality and sustainability, I’ve developed a habit of observing and taking note of sustainability initiatives wherever I go, whether I’m staying somewhere, dining, or simply exploring.

From the moment you arrive at the Song Saa Foundation and walk through its on-site Discovery Center, adorned with underwater photographs, displays of coral nurseries, and books on marine species, you can immediately sense Song Saa’s deep passion for the ocean.

Song Saa provides guests with the chance to join the Koh Bong tour with the resort’s naturalist to learn about local plants and their medicinal uses. You can also participate in making essential oils or incense, an especially cozy and engaging experience, guided by the resort’s enthusiastic naturalist, who is currently writing an entire book about the plants and insects of the Koh Rong Archipelago.

My favorite activity is the house reef snorkel with the marine scientists from the foundation. It’s an incredible experience to learn about the various corals and the many species that live around the island. The scientists also show you their coral nursery and transplantation area, where they’re working to restore damaged reefs by transplanting coral fragments in the hope that they will grow back.

There is also the opportunity to join a community tour to learn about the classes and activities the foundation organizes for local children, as well as the ongoing development of the village schools. During the tour, visitors are introduced to the waste management project, an initiative that started over 15 years ago. The team operates a plastic shredder and injection machine to create souvenirs from recycled materials, providing sustainable employment opportunities for the community.

Other experiences include a mangrove walk, meditation and yoga sessions within the island’s forest, and meals prepared with locally sourced ingredients.

All of these activities have one thing in common: they encourage reflection on how we travel, how we can take lessons home and reduce our impact in the future.

Takeaways

My experience with Song Saa Foundation was not only a personal journey and a way to face my fear and improve my diving skills, but a reflection on finding ways to give something back. Now, with a little keychain made from recycled plastic in the village, new understanding about our oceans and a few yoga sessions shared with the local kids, I feel more inspired than ever to continue learning life lessons from our oceans. It is my hope that other resorts and tourism operators like Song Saa will follow suit and find ways to bring tourists closer to marine biodiversity and the host communities that rely on it.

Sea Going Green is a sustainable tourism consultancy that works together with hotels, resorts and tourism operators to support their sustainable tourism efforts. Want to know more? Get in touch.