Cambodia’s mineral resources remained unexplored and its mineral industry undeveloped. The country is known to have a potential for existence of significant metallic mineral deposits. The Government was concerned with the effect of mining on the environment and with poor mineral resources management. The extraction of gemstones at Paillin has made the Tonle Sap increasingly shallower at its confluence in the south. Illegal and lucrative exploitation of construction materials at Phnom Basset, Tmar Pong, and other areas has caused deforestation and soil erosion. Uncontrolled gold mining also has caused soil degradation and landslides leading to the destruction of forests and water resources.

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