ENVIRONMENTALISTS have called on the government and private sector to preserve the bio-ecology of Tonle Sap lake and its surrounding wetlands, which they say is threatened by illegal fishing and uncontrolled agricultural development. Speaking at a national workshop addressing Tonle Sap lake yesterday, Ganesh Pangare, coordinator of the Regional Water and Wetlands Programme in Asia at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said that despite the lake’s “rich array” of natural resources, illegal fishing and floating villages had taken their toll on its bio-ecology. Tek Vannara, programme manager at the Culture and Environment Preservation Association, said the lack of law enforcement was to blame for many of the problems on the lake and in other wetland areas.