Mekong News
April - June
2003 / 2
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION
Contents
MRC Secretariat to relocate
MRC Secretariat to relocate
Healthy rivers, good food
Reflections on a four-year term
Mekong issues at Water
Forum
New atlas launched
New information products
Forecasts for flood-prone
LMNC
villages
Signing of Headquarters Agreement in Vientiane, 14 June 2003
Water for Peace in Southeast
Asia
The Mekong River Commission Secretariat
will move from its current location in
Research for real-life river
Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to Vientiane, the
basins
capital of Lao PDR, by June 2004.
The move was announced by the MRC's
The water came up to here . . . executive body, the Joint Committee, at the
close of its 17th Meeting in Phnom Penh
on 7 June. The decision was formalised on
LMNC
14 June in Vientiane in a signing ceremony
with the MRC Council, the organisation's
Ministerial-level ruling body.
The decision and timeline for relocation The Secretariat was first located in
reflects over a year of planning and Bangkok, at the home of the former Mekong
negotiation for a process that will keep Committee which was established there in
impacts on work routines and programme 1957. A new agreement between the mem-
implementation to a minimum. The move ber countries of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thai-
Mekong News is published quarterly by the
Mekong River Commission Secretariat in Phnom
will empty the four-storey building on land and Viet Nam in 1995
Penh, Cambodia.
Monivong Boulevard in Phnom Penh that created the Mekong River Commission in
currently provides a base for around 125
Please send comments, queries and ideas to:
its present form. The Secretariat moved to
Communications Officer, Office of the Chief
staff, and will fill a new purpose-built centre Phnom Penh in 1998.
Executive Officer MRC Secretariat, Phnom Penh.
on the banks of the Mekong in Vientiane.
(855-23) 720-979 ext 6322
Phone:
>> 2
(855-23) 720 -972
Fax:
delia@mrcmekong.org
E-mail:
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Mekong News
April - June 2003/2
MRCS to relocate...
Healthy rivers, good food
The agreement now confirms the
direction that was set before the
move to Phnom Penh, when the four
member countries agreed that the
Secretariat would rotate between the
two countries with capitals located
within the river basin, Cambodia and
Lao PDR.
The MRC consists of three
permanent bodies: a Council
Peter Degen
comprising one cabinet minister
from each member country, the Joint
Committee comprising senior
government officials, and the
Secretariat, which employs over 125
Two important international conferences healthy rivers "will only be achieved if
staff.
this year have highlighted the importance there is political will at all levels of
of rivers in ensuring food security.
society...The fisheries sector must not
In signing the new Headquarters
continue in isolation, but must
agreement on 14 June, H.E. Asang
At the 2nd International Large Rivers communicate clearly with the public and
Laoly, Deputy Prime Minister of
Symposium (LARS2) in Phnom Penh in other users of inland water reources in
Lao PDR, commended the changes
February, over 200 scientists from all over order to arrive at equitable solutions for
within the Mekong River
the world called for the improved sustaining the fishery."
Commission in recent years, saying,
valuation of the contribution of rivers to
"It is now a more and more
food production.
The LARS2 statement was timely.
developed intergovernmental body
Through the Mekong River Commission's
that stands on a sound
The declaration from the four-day LARS2 delegation to the 3rd World Water
financial footing and solid technical
Symposium noted that inland fisheries Forum in Kyoto in March, the statement
skills and has the support of the
were "generally undervalued" in terms of fed into the drafting process for the
donor community, thus ensuring the
their contribution to food security, income Forum's Ministerial Declaration.
betterment of the living conditions of
generation and the functioning of
the people of the Mekong." He also
ecosystems. Recent evidence shows that At the close of the Kyoto Forum, which
spoke of "the transformation of the
the number of people who use rivers for 12,000 people attended, ministers from
Mekong River into a river of peace
food and recreation is much higher than around the world agreed in a joint
and cooperation among the riparian
previously thought. Studies also show that declaration that inland fisheries are
countries and the countries in the
fish are particularly important to the indeed a "major source" of food, and that
region."
livelihoods and diets of the poor, " Freshwater fish production should be
providing a cheap source of animal addressed through intensified efforts to
The MRC is funded by contributions
protein and essential nutrients not improve water quality and quantity in
from its member countries and from
available elsewhere.
rivers and protection or restoration of
aid donors, with total operating costs
breeding areas."
of US$12 to $15 million a year.
The role of rivers in food security is
particularly important in a region such as The Ministerial Declaration represents
the Mekong, where many of the the first time that freshwater fish
population live very close to the poverty production has been addressed in a
line.
document of this kind - signalling,
hopefully, a healthy trend for those most
In a call for concerted action, the LARS2 dependent on the living resources of the
participants warned that maintaining Mekong and its tributaries.
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Mekong News
April - June 2003/2
Reflections on a four-year term
The Mekong River Commission's Chief Executive Officer,
Q: What would Lao PDR have to gain
Mr Joern Kristensen, completes a four-year term at the end
from the Secretariat's move to Vientiane?
of September this year. As the Secretariat is poised to enter a
new stage, he reflects on changes he has seen, and the
A: The Secretariat operates on the basis of
outlook for Mekong river basin cooperation.
principles of information-sharing and trans-
parency, and we communicate the results
of our work to a very wide range of stake-
Q: Mr Kristensen, looking back over
holders both within and outside the region.
your four-year term, what are the big-
And we also engage very actively in
gest changes that you have observed in
training and capacity-building of staff at
the four-country partnership?
all levels. The many partnership arrange-
Q: Similarly, what are the greatest ments or MOUs that MRC has developed
A: I have seen the four member countries changes that you have seen take place at with agencies all over the world is a
and their representatives taking on a much the Secretariat?
reflection of the importance that interna-
stronger ownership of the Mekong
tional donors, multilateral organisations,
cooperation and thereby of the Commission A: For organisations like MRC, engaged research institutions, universities and NGOs
and its Secretariat than just a few years ago. in scientific research, analytical work, place on social and economic development
They are now working together on basin- development planning and advisory service, in the Mekong River Basin. I think any
wide issues such as formulating rules for the quality and capacity of the staff are the developing country would benefit
equitable use of the Mekong water, they are backbone of its success. Since 1999 the staff immensely from being host to the
creating the first regionally-owned of the Secretariat has increased by about Secretariat and I think that is also what the
development plan for the Mekong Basin, 50 per cent and now are of 15 different Government of Lao PDR is looking forward to.
the so-called Basin Development Plan, and nationalities. Through agreements reached
they have taken steps to develop tools so in 2000 with the four member countries and Q: Could you point to some models,
that proper Environmental Impact donors, the Secretariat now recruits its own agencies or even personalities that have
represented some positive "turning
Assessments can be carried out on a staff, rather than accept secondments. We points" for the Mekong cooperation ar-
regional basis to ensure that development have been able to bring together a very rangements.
activities in one country will not harm talented group of regional and international
downstream neighbours.
experts, supported by well-trained and A: During the four years I have spent with
highly motivated Cambodian support staff, MRC I have had the privilege to meet a lot
This change of direction in the work of the with successful integration of external of true friends of the organisation all over
Commission that was introduced with our consultants that are hired to provide the world. It is as if the Mekong infuses a
new programme approach in 2000, specialist input to our work. I am very proud lasting passion with people who have once
effectively marked an end to the period of them and of the results that they have been in touch with the river.
where MRC and its predecessor the produced through their dedication and hard
Mekong Committee primarily was engaged work.
You know, before 1975, the US Government
in numerous small-scale, scattered research
was the biggest donor and most important
and development projects that were often Q: What, in your view, has Cambodia partner to the Mekong cooperation. Then
more national than regional in scope. It gained from the hosting of the Secretariat they left. But despite the many years that
marked the beginning of the four countries over the last 4 to 5 years?
they were absent, there are still a lot of
working together in the true meaning of
people in the US with interest and strong
international river basin management as A: Remember that when the Secretariat feelings for the MRC. The role of rivers in
clearly prescribed in the far-reaching moved here from Bangkok, Cambodia was food security is particularly important in a
region such as the Mekong, where many of
Agreement on the Cooperation for the still in the process of emerging from a the population live very close to the
Sustainable Development of the Mekong turbulent and tragic period in its history. poverty line. It is very good for the
river Basin that they signed in 1995. It is To end years of isolation, the Government organisation that the US is now returning
challenging and at times both difficult and was aiming at normalizing relationships as a partner.
sensitive as it requires that those representing with its neighbours and for regional
their country are willing to make compro- integration. In such a time, becoming host In recent years, the Government of
mises, even sacrifices. In international to a regional body such as MRC, I think Denmark has played an active role as the
cooperation nobody can get everything they provided a very real symbol of what biggest donor to MRC. In the difficult years
want. That is also what the Mekong regional cooperation meant in practical in 1997 and 1998, when several donors left
cooperation is about.
terms.
or scaled back their assistance,
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Mekong News
April - June 2003/2
Reflections...
Mekong issues at the Water Forum
Denmark stood firm...I think without the
very generous support from Denmark, who
remains a major donor, MRC might not
exist today.
Dr Arthit Ourairat who in his capacity as
Minister of Science, Technology and
Jim Holmes
Environment represented Thailand as
member of the MRC Council from 1999 to
2000 always showed great vision...He was
the architect behind the proposal to increase
River basin development and water were represented on a speakers' panel,
the annual member country contribution
transport issues were profiled in two consisting of high-ranking transport
that was adopted by the Council in 2000
separate sessions at the 3rd World Water officials, discussing approaches to
and which will enable the four countries to
Forum in Kyoto, Japan in March.
navigation on the Mekong.
fully cover the costs of running the
Secretariat from 2012.
Under the Integrated Water Resource The sessions highlighted the changes in a
Management theme, MRC Joint fast-developing region, and the need for
His Excellency Mr. Khy Tainglim,
Committee members made up a panel of regional cooperation to manage these
Minister of Public Works and Transport in
presenters discussing key issues in the changes appropriately. "It is a chicken-and-
Cambodia and the present Chairman of the
Mekong River Basin and answered egg question," said Lieven Geerinck,
MRC Council has played a most important
questions from the floor. In the audience Navigation Programme manager. "Should
role. He truly represents the often referred
were agencies with a "Mekong mandate", we first work on facilities, such as ports and
to "Mekong Spirit" that in its real meaning
donors, representatives of UN agencies, waterway improvements, in order to
is about putting national interests and
government officials from Japan and other promote navigation on the Mekong - or
cultures aside and focusing on regional,
countries, and NGOs. Topics discussed introduce the safeguards, before the volume
common interests when the cooperation
included the status of the MRC as an of river traffic increases? The Mekong is
turns difficult.
organisation, coordination with other one of the most pristine rivers in the world,
Q: What are your thoughts about the
agencies, water transport, dams and poverty so we have to be very careful."
future of the Mekong regional
reduction.
cooperation?
Many other sessions featured MRC staff on
In the Inland Water Transport theme, all their panels, including sessions on water
A: It is my hope that the strong foundation
six countries of the Mekong River Basin and peace and flood management.
that the organisation rests on today, in
combination with the ownership shown by
New atlas launched
the four countries, can help overcome the
major challenges ahead. MRC depends
Delegates at a Mekong business forum in The Atlas clearly shows that the Lower
almost entirely on the generosity of
Bangkok on 12-13 June were among the Mekong Basin, with its 55 million-strong
international donors. With declining
first in the region to see the new Social population, is poised on the brink of change.
budgets for ODA in many donor countries,
Atlas of the Lower Mekong Basin. The soft Cambodia and Lao PDR, located almost
only the best-performing projects can
launch of the new atlas on 12 June targeted completely within the river basin, will
expect to get funding.
over 600 businesspeople, investors and double their population in the next 20 years
researchers - many with potential to if current population growth rates continue.
The relocation of the Secretariat from
influence the direction and scope of However, malnutrition and lack of access
Phnom Penh to Vientiane in 2004 will be
to education are still widespread. Migration
one of the biggest challenges to the
development in the river basin - on the first
organisation in the immediate future. If that
day of the conference "Business in search of work opportunities is
is done successfully - and a lot of prepara-
Opportunities in the Mekong", organized by significant, with the key growth areas
tions have been made to secure that - then I
The Nation media group at Le Royal being Phnom Penh, logging areas and
see a bright future for the cooperation. To
Meridien Hotel in Bangkok.
areas of trade and cross-border travel such
remain strong the MRC needs a well
as Koh Kong and Krong Pailin provinces
functioning Secretariat with well-educated
The new Social Atlas contains a series of in Cambodia.
and experienced regional and international
51 maps showing comparisons at province
experts on its staff. And the people of the
level for indicators on population, labour The Social Atlas was produced by the
Lower Mekong Basin need a strong MRC
force, living standards, health and educa- Mekong River Commission Secretariat as
in the years to come, when there will be so
tion. It shows a river basin in which about part of the basin development planning
much more pressure on the shared resource
80 per cent of the population live in rural process currently under way in the region.
base from which they derive their
areas, including small, dispersed villages, Copies are available through the Documen-
livelihoods.
and district and provincial towns.
tation Centre of the Secretariat.
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Mekong News
April - June 2003/2
New Information Products
Maps
Books
Fish migrations in the Mekong River
Basin
A1 size US$12
Information on fish migration and spawning
Social Atlas of the Lower
A2 size US$10
patterns, based on the work of the MRC
Mekong Basin
A3 size US$8
Fisheries Programme between 1995 and 2002.
Book and CD-ROM
Includes digital maps showing migration
June 2003
routes.
Topographic map
CD-ROM
US$5.00
This map shows elevation in metres (11
The 51 maps show indicators for
classes), river network and water
population, labour force, living standards,
Where There Is Water, There Is Fish
bodies, major settlements and
health and education across the Lower
Educational documentary on fish migrations
administrative boundaries in the Lower
Mekong Basin, enabling useful
from Cambodia's Great Lake to the region.
Mekong Basin to the scale of 1:2,000,000.
comparisons to be made.
VCD, 26 minutes US$5.00
Forest and land cover in 1997
The CD-ROM version comes with a
How to order
This map shows forest and land cover with
mapping application enabling the output of
13 classes of land use, river
customised maps from the data.
network and water bodies, major
Book, 154 pages
US$25.00
All products can be ordered from
settlements, roads, railroads and
CD-ROM
US$10.00
the MRC Secretariat's Documentation
administrative boundaries in the Lower
Book and CD-ROM
US$30.00
Centre. Postage costs apply. Mekong
Mekong Basin to the scale of 1:2,000,000.
government agencies may write to the
The land use data is derived through
Mekong: Mother of Waters
MRC to obtain free copies.
visual interpretation of Landsat TM
By Mette Holm, first published by Danida
satellite images from 1996 and 1997.
in 2001
Check the MRC website for a full list
Full-colour picture book published for the
of products. Credit card sales are also
Sub-catchments
first time in English, offering a Danish
available through the website.
This map shows sub-catchments, river
journalist's account of her travels and daily
network and water bodies, major
life on the river.
For maps sent by mail, there is
settlements and administrative
Book, 44 pages US$4.00
US$3.50 charge for packing materials.
boundaries for the Lower Mekong
All maps are high resolution inkjet
Basin to the scale of 1:2,000,000. The
Biodiversity and Fisheries in the Mekong
prints on plain paper.
sub-catchments are derived from a
River Basin
digital elevation model produced with
Mekong Development Series No. 2. June 2003
source data from topographic maps to the
Fisheries experts from the region argue
Contact
scale of 1:50,000 and 1:100,000.
persuasively for the elimination of
boundaries between fisheries management
Watershed classification
and biodiversity conservation, showing that
Documentation Centre
This map shows five different
when biodiversity is well managed,
Mekong River Commission
watershed classes (from steep and
fisheries production goes up.
Secretariat
rugged to gently sloping and flat), river
Book, 36 pages US$5.00
P.O. Box 1112
network and water bodies, major
364 Monivong Boulevard
settlements, roads, railroads and
CDs
Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
administrative boundaries for the Lower
Mekong Basin to the scale of 1:2,000,000.
River Awareness Kit
Phone: (855-23)720-979 ext 1030
The watershed classes are from
February 2003
Fax: (855-23)720-972
topographic maps to the scale of 1:50,000
An introduction to basic scientific facts and
and 1:100,000.
concepts to do with river ecology.
Email: doc.centre@mrcmekong.org
Designed for self-study.
Website: www.mrcmekong.org
CD-ROM
US$10.00
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Mekong News
April - June 2003/2
Forecasts for flood-prone villages
Flood season preparations kicked off to crops and property on a weekly basis.
in May this year with the planting of 27
flood marks in 6 flood-prone villages near The readings will be compared against the
the Mekong at Neak Leung in Cambodia forecasts from the main station, with the
- part of a "flood-referencing" project expectation that in this way, each village
funded by the US government through the willdevelop its own "reference" to the
Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance station forecast, so as to be able to
(OFDA) to bring better flood warnings to consistently predict at what point
village people.
flooding will occur. If the Neak Leung
mainstream flood level is reached at 10 m,
The Mekong River Commission broad- for example, village X will be able to tell
casts daily flood forecasts on its website that they in fact flood when the
for 23 stations along the Mekong every mainstream is at 11 m, while village Y will
day during the flood season from June to know that they already flood when the
October. To ensure that the forecasts are mainstream station is at 9 m.
relevant at village level, four or five mea-
suring gauges - the flood marks - are The current pilot stage is now a test of
planted at a selection of low to high points how far the mainstream forecasts can be
in each village. Over the next few months, applied to usefully predict impacts of
through a partnership with the American flooding across the river basin. Meanwhile
and Cambodian Red Cross organisations, the community volunteers can be advised
Bun V
community volunteers will be trained to of the mainstream forecasts by telephone
record daily water levels at each mark, and and two-way radio through the Cambodian
easna
to make estimates of flood damage Red Cross' estabished networks.
Water for Peace in Southeast Asia
Peacebuilding efforts through the work industry. Where countries or practice. The Forum will also make
of river basin organisations will be a ma- administrative regions share water proposals for action, based on input from
jor theme at the 1st Southeast Asia Water resources, it is becoming more important participants and the outcomes of the 3rd
Forum in Chiengmai, Thailand, this to develop joint management approaches World Water Forum in Kyoto, Japan that
November.
for sharing of this precious resource.
was held in March this year.
The theme, "Conflict Resolution and The Southeast Asia Water Forum aims to
River Basin Organisations", will run over build capacity amongst water resources
two days in the four-day forum, to be held managers in the region, with an
from 17 to 20 November. It will feature emphasis on how policy can be put into
presentations and panel discussions on
case studies and approaches to resolving
issues between countries and different
stakeholder groups.
While Southeast Asia is a water-rich
region, more than 90 per cent of all water
used goesto agriculture - far above the
global average of 70 per cent. The rest of
Jim Holmes
the water use goes to households and
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Mekong News
April - June 2003/2
Research for real-life river basins
The water came
up to here . . .
Issues of governance, food security, land
"water-for-food challenge"- to find ways
use and water efficiency top the list of
of growing more food without
Mekong research topics currently pro-
increasing water use, while improving
posed for funding under the Challenge
rural livelihoods and protecting the
Programme, a global research programme
environment. Water use is closely tied to
aimed at solving real-life problems in
food security. In the Mekong region, 80
river basins around the world.
to 90 per cent of all freshwater use is
devoted to growing food. Rice-growing
Chhoy Pisei
As regional coordinator for the
is a heavy user of water, with a minimum
programme in the Mekong River Basin,
of 3,000 litres needed to yield one
the Mekong River Commission held a
kilogramme of rice.
kick-off workshop on 26-27 March in
Behind Mel Soy's house in Lovea Em
Phnom Penh, attended by representatives
The Mekong River Basin is one of seven
district, near the banks of the Mekong in
of government agencies, universities and
benchmark basins highlighted for study
Cambodia, two rows of young mango trees
other research institutions from five coun-
under the programme. Benchmark basins
stand on parallel dikes. They are a sign of
tries, including China.
are river basins in developing regions,
hope that somehow, this year, her family
facing the pressures of population growth
will be able to cope and the floods will not
The workshop, intended to help deter-
and economic development. Other river
be so bad.
mine research priorities for the region,
basins in the programme are the Nile and
sparked the input of concept notes for
Limpopo in Africa, the Sao Francisco in
Three years ago in the year 2000, heavy
proposed research into the programme
Brazil, the Indo-Gangetic river basin in
flooding brought chest-high water to the 55-
cycle. Out of 99 concept notes accepted
South Asia, Iran's Karkheh river basin,
year old woman's backyard, killing off their
by the programme for development into
and China's Huanghe (Yellow) river
mature stands of banana and mango. Since
full research proposals, 28 deal
basin. The Volta river basin in West
then, she says, the flooding has been quite
exclusively or in part with the Mekong
Africa and the Andes in Latin America
heavy every year.
region. After a final selection process, a
are also associated with the programme.
Like many others in the Lower Mekong
global Baseline Conference in Nairobi on
Basin, Mel Soy lives on a floodplain veined
1 to 6 November will launch the research
For more information on the Challenge
with streams and tributaries draining into
projects.
Programme, visit the website of CGIAR,
the Mekong. Lovea Em district lies between
the Consultative Group on International
the Mekong and Bassac rivers as they go
The Challenge Programme focuses on the
Agricultural Research, at www.cgiar.org
on their parallel courses before fanning out
into the broad Mekong Delta in Vietnam.
Further towards the river, on a low-lying
peninsula framed by the Mekong and a
tributary called Tonle Touc, Chie Kolap
lives in fear that her wooden house will
wash away. No tall trees survive here, for
every year the Tonle Touc's waters rise to
join the Mekong, and the area becomes an
Ovaltine-coloured sea. The village people
used to grow dry-season crops on this land,
but never lived here. But with the growing
Hard copies of the Mekong News
population in the area now, there is a land
shortage. "I married and had three children.
newsletter can be obtained from the
I just couldn't keep living on my parents'
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
land," the 40-year old woman says. Before
364 Preah Monivong Boulevard,
the floods come, her house will be braced,
Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
inside and out, with wood and bamboo
supports, and she has a small boat for
going places. All the same, she says, "The
You can request free email subcriptions through the MRC
flood season is the most difficult time of
website or by sending an email to kunthea.kea@mrcmekong.org
year for us."
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