Mekong IWRMP Transboundary Project Data Sheet
The five projects are:
- ● Xe Bang Hieng and Nam Kam Wetland Management Project
- ● Mekong and Sekong Rivers Fisheries Management Project
- ● Sesan and Srepok Sub-Basins Water Resource Management Project
- ● Tonle Sap Lake and Songkhla Lake Basins Communication Outreach Project
- ●Mekong Delta Water Resource Management Project
Please click one of the coloured markers on the map to view related project details.
| Mekong and Sekong Rivers Fisheries Management Project | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Cambodia and Lao PDR |
| Project Commencement | July 2014 |
| Project Status | Ongoing |
| Budget | US$ 535,200 |
| Description | The project aims to improve fisheries management in the bordering provinces of Stung Treng and Kratie in Cambodia and Champasak and Attapeu in Lao PDR, connected by the Mekong and Sekong Rivers. It is supporting the two countries to establish a joint fishery monitoring system and a fishery management action plan to be implemented by a joint fisheries management body. These mechanisms will address issues facing the two river basins, in particular a decline of migratory whitefish species due to exploitative fishing, deterioration of watershed and impacts from hydropower projects. These efforts will help restore fisheries resources that support food security and increased recreational fishing opportunities. |
| Outcome |
|
| Progress | A joint fishery monitoring system with agreed methodologies is being developed, and a joint issues paper has been finalised. The project teams are moving towards drafting a joint fishery management plan for rebuilding populations of five priority whitefish species that migrate long distances to both rivers, are valuable for food security, and remain commercially important. They are also reviewing existing mechanisms for the development of a coordinated approach for jointly managing fisheries resources in project areas and beyond. |
| Tonle Sap Lake and Songkhla Lake Basins Communication Outreach Project | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Cambodia and Thailand |
| Project Commencement | October 2014 |
| Project Status | Ongoing |
| Budget | US$ 457,000 |
| Description | The project aims to promote good governance of Cambodia’s Tonle Sap and Thailand’s Songkhla lakes for sustainable communities’ livelihoods, through community outreach activities and knowledge exchange between the two lakes. It bridges the sister-lake communities through a forum where people can communicate and share good practices for addressing common challenges facing both lakes, including unsustainable fishing practices, lack of income generation opportunities, and less predictable climate patterns. In addition, the project helps strengthen institutional capacity on IWRM-based lake management and raises communities’ awareness on the importance of developing a healthy state of the natural lakes. |
| Outcome |
|
| Progress | The project has strengthened the capacity of government agencies’ project management through various training workshops, and supported awareness-raising of. IWRM-based governance principles at national and community levels. Exchange visits between the two lakes have been carried out for learning and sharing of good practices on lake governance, including community-based fisheries management, women’s empowerment and climate change adaptation. A participatory video exchange initiative has been launched to facilitate peer-to-peer learning through joint video production and community video screenings. The project is moving towards producing a handbook on healthy lakes. |
| Sesan and Srepok Sub-Basins Water Resources Management Project | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Cambodia and Viet Nam |
| Project Commencement | May 2014 |
| Project Status | Ongoing |
| Budget | US$ 354,000 |
| Description | The project aims to enhance transboundary dialogue, promote effective collaboration, and improve data and information sharing between Cambodia and Viet Nam on water resources management in the Sesan and Srepok sub-basins. Major issues that pressure the sub-basins include hydropower and irrigation development causing social and environmental impacts such as soil erosion, deterioration of watershed, increased flash floods and droughts and pollution, and water quality degradation. Building on the existing governments’ mechanisms, the project is assisting the two countries to institutionalise bilateral mechanisms for better management of water resources at both national and community levels. |
| Outcome |
|
| Progress | Key issues for water resources management have been jointly identified by Cambodia and Viet Nam, and a joint issues paper has been finalised. The issues include lack of transboundary cooperation mechanisms; limited sharing of data and information on flows of downstream, flood forecasting, flood control and warning mechanisms; and limited capacity of implementing agencies and communities. The project is moving towards discussing activities and mechanisms to address these issues. |
| Mekong Delta Water Resources Management Project | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Cambodia and Viet Nam |
| Project Commencement | May 2014 |
| Project Status | Ongoing |
| Budget | US$ 354,000 |
| Description | The project aims to enhance cooperation between Cambodia and Viet Nam, improve data and information sharing mechanisms, and facilitate implementation of joint activities to promote sustainable use of shared water resources in the Mekong Delta. Joint coordination approaches are needed to address impacts of upstream development and the implications of climate change. These pressures cause floods, droughts, acid sulphate soils, and saltwater intrusion that threaten the basin’s sustainability. The transboundary project is supporting the two countries to analyse these issues and promote cooperation for development of data and information sharing mechanisms and basin monitoring strategies for harmonized water resources management and future investment in the Mekong Delta. |
| Outcome |
|
| Progress | The project has identified common issues for water resources management and data sharing needs, and finalised a joint issues paper that lists significant transboundary issues including a lack of joint planning for better infrastructure development and a lack of coordination mechanism for date sharing and management. It is now moving towards identifying coordinated mechanisms and joint activities for improving water resources management in the Mekong Delta. |
| Xe Bang Hieng and Nam Kam Wetland Management Project | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Lao PDR and Thailand |
| Project Commencement | December 2013 |
| Project Status | Ongoing |
| Budget | US$ 354,000 |
| Description | The project aims to strengthen bilateral dialogue for knowledge sharing to improve wetland management in Lao PDR’s Xe Bang Hieng and Thailand’s Nam Kam river basins. Both basins provide a heaven for important biodiversity and ecosystems that supports the livelihoods of local populations. This makes them ideal for the exchange of knowledge and sharing experiences on water resources management. The project promotes peer-to-peer learning at national and community levels through meetings and exchange visits, and enhances IWRM-based management practices to support river basin planning, flood management, and sustainable irrigation development. It is expected to help pro-poor development and sustainable livelihoods. |
| Outcome |
|
| Progress | Local river basin working groups have been established, and a capacity building plan for the groups is being developed. The bilateral teams have conducted a literature review, field research and exchange visits to learn similar wetland issues on water management, natural resources utilisation and climate change adaptation, and best management practices for mutual learning and future cooperation. A joint report capturing lessons learned is being finalised. The project teams have begun joint learning activities, including the development of GIS mappings, to prepare community-based wetland management plans for selected communities. |