April­June
Issue 2006/2
Mekong News
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F T H E M E K O N G R I V E R C O M M I S S I O N
MRC turns spotlight on Mekong
challenges at 4th World Water Forum
ocal Actions for a Global
kept busy attending multiple sessions
L Challenge was the theme of the
of interest to their work and relevance
4th World Water Forum held in
to their programmes. The forum,
Mexico City from March 16-21 and a
which was spread over five days,
delegation from the Mekong River
was an excellent opportunity for all
Commission took this opportunity to
participants to build capacity by
discuss the challenges facing the
upgrading their knowledge and
Lower Mekong Basin with water
meeting counterparts from many other
experts from around the world.
countries to discuss ideas about water
resources management and exchange
Representatives from the four
experiences.
National Mekong Committees, Line
Agencies and a delegation from the
Dr Cogels was also present at the
MRCS participated enthusiastically in
Ministerial Meeting to inaugurate the
the 4th World Water Forum, which
Asia Pacific Water Forum, which will
attracted around 11,000 attendees.
include Japan and China as members.
He took this occasion to explain the
The MRC was also represented in
important role MRC played as a river
the World Water Fair where its stand
basin organisation in the region and
illustrating the work of the MRC and
how it demonstrated the importance
irginia Addison
the Mekong Programme drew a wide
V
of transboundary management. He
range of international visitors from
said MRC was happy to support this
The MRC stand attracted a wide range of interested visitors from around the world.
water-related organisations,
new forum as it would further
government bodies, research facilities
Resources Management held in the
enhance transboundary management
and civil society.
French Pavilion.
capabilities within the region.
MRCS CEO Dr Olivier Cogels
Navigation Programme Officer Mr
"The 4th World Water Forum
made three presentations at the forum:
Sin Chhay gave a presentation on
represented a wonderful chance for
The first, on hydropower potential in
Regional Economic Integration
MRC to promote its work and the
the Mekong River Basin, was made in
through Improved Mekong
Mekong Programme, as well as
association with the Worldwide Fund
Navigation at the session on Water
giving our delegates an avenue to
for Nature at the session on Ensuring
and Transport, while Flood
meet people from all over the world
Dams are a Platform for Growth and
Management and Mitigation
who are working in river basin
Sustainable Development and the
Programme Chief Technical Advisor
organisations or involved in water
second, on the Mekong Programme,
Mr Nicolaas Bakker discussed
management," Dr Cogels said.
was made at the synthesis session on
Satellite Observations With Regard to
"It gave us a chance to interact with
Transboundary Basin Management:
Floods at the session on Space-Based
senior members of governments and
Regional Consensus as a Driving
Water Observations ­ Alliances for
to cement our good relationships with
Force for Progress and Development.
Providing Information Essential for
some of our donor countries and
Managing the World's Water
At the second talk Dr Cogels joined
international organisations who are
Resources.
a panel which included experts from
Khuon Komar
interested in working in partnership
Israel, Palestine, Finland, Japan,
The MRC was also well represented
with MRC. It also provided an
H.E. Mr Wang Shucheng, China's
Canada and Belgium and took the
at the session on Sustainable Paddy
opportunity for a friendly discussion
Minister of Water Resources, shares a
opportunity to explain the challenges
friendly exchange with Dr Cogels.
Water Use and its Multifunctionality
with China's Minister for Water
facing the Mekong Basin and then
with Better Governance with
Resources H.E. Mr Wang Shucheng."
The third presentation on
detailed how the MRC countries are
Operations Division Director Dr.
Hydropower Potential and
The forum also presented the MRC
working together meet these
Trong Dao Tu on the discussion panel.
Development in the Mekong River
with the chance to explain its work to
challenges and successfully dealing
Basin was made at a session on
NMC delegates, Line Agency
representatives of the international
with transboundary issues.
Transboundary Integrated Water
representatives and MRCS staff were
press and other interested parties.
INSIDE
Introducing Mekong from Space
4th Annual Mekong Flood Forum
JRPs evaluate programme achievements
4th Annual Mekong Flood Forum
Angkor Century Hotel, Siem Reap, Cambodia 18-19 May 2006
For information about the MRC please contact: Tel: 856 21 263 263 Email: mrcs@mrcmekong.org Website: www.mrcmekong.org

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French help MRC in fight against floods
Improved
warning systems
n January Agence Francaise de
I Développement (AFD - the
key theme for
French Development Agency) signed
4th Flood Forum
an agreement with the Mekong River
Commission for an 800,000 Euro
he Mekong River Commission's
(around US$966,000) grant to finance
T Regional Flood Management and
an institutional support project and as
Mitigation Centre will hold its 4th
a first contribution to develop the
Annual Mekong Flood Forum from
Mekong-HYCOS - a regional
18-19 May 2006 at the Angkor
hydrological cycle observing system.
Century Hotel in Siem Reap,
The MRC Secretariat's Chief
Cambodia.
Executive Officer Dr Olivier Cogels
The theme of this year's forum is:
signed the agreement with Mr Etienne
"Improving Flood Forecasting and
Woitellier, Director of AFD in
irginia Addison
V
Warning Systems for Flood
Vientiane, in the presence of H. E.
From left: H. E. Maurice Portiche, Dr Cogels and Mr Etienne Woitellier sign the agreement.
Management and Mitigation in the
Maurice Portiche, Ambassador of
Lower Mekong Basin".
France to Lao PDR.
The Mekong-HYCOS project will
Each country will be responsible for
The 4th Annual Mekong Flood
The main objective of the Mekong-
establish a basin wide
the operation and maintenance of its
Forum aims to raise the awareness of
HYCOS, which has been developed
hydrometeorological information
part of the system with the support
the current state of flood forecasting
in partnership with the World
system, which spatially covers the
and co-ordination of the MRC.
and warning systems at the national
Meteorological Organisation, is to
mainstream and main tributaries of
The funding agreement has three
and regional levels in the Lower
establish an efficient, reliable and
the Mekong river system. It is
components.
Mekong Basin (LMB) and will also
accurate real-time
expected that under the project, more
provide an opportunity for
hydrometeorological data collection
than 20 hydro-meteorological stations
1. Financial support of 150,000
participants to discuss emerging
and transmission system at basin
will be upgraded. The Mekong-
Euros for programme coordination.
needs within the basin and to review
level, while also strengthening
HYCOS system will be integrated
2. A further 150,000 Euros to be
the progress each country has made
relevant national and regional
into the existing MRC monitoring
allocated to the MRC Water
towards a holistic and balanced flood
capacities. This information will be
system, while improving the national
Management Trust Fund to allow for
management plan.
shared between Cambodia, Lao PDR,
hydrological networks and river
short-term consultancies to help
Thailand and Viet Nam.
monitoring/forecasting capacities.
Flooding is an annual event on the
satisfy member countries' requests.
Mekong and each year it takes a huge
The development goal of the project
The project will be managed by the
3. The first contribution of 500,000
economic and social toll on the
is to minimise the loss of lives and
Information and Knowledge
Euros to develop the Mekong-HYCOS
people of the basin. Now the
property through reducing flood
Management Programme, which will
regional hydrological system. A
magnitude of flood damage in the
vulnerability in the Mekong River
ensure that all data collected basin
complementary financing of 2.5
LMB is increasing due to human
Basin, by strengthening integrated
wide are available in a timely manner
million Euro from the AFD and the
intervention, i.e. rapid economic and
water resources management in the
at the Regional Flood Management
French Global Environment Facility is
infrastructure development and
context of transboundary river basin
and Mitigation Centre in Phnom
expected to finalise the Mekong-
intensified land use.
management.
Penh, Cambodia.
HYCOS financing plan in 2006.
One way to minimise the flood
damage is to improve flood
forecasting and warning systems and
Website offers snapshot from space
in recent years, the demand for
accurate flood information has
increased both at a national level at
he MRC's Information and
T
within those communities most
Knowledge Management
affected. There is now a real need to
Programme launched its MRC-IS
improve the quality of this
Portal web service for internal use in
information to be more accurate, be
January 2006 at the Secretariat.
more timely and be more easily
At the same time the Secretariat's
understood by all users
communications function launched a
The MRC's Flood Management
redesigned, user-friendly MRC
and Mitigation Programme believes
website, (www.mrcmekong.org),
that reliable flood forecasting and
followed one month later by the
warning systems will give people at
addition of a new educational
risk enough time to prepare for
segment called Mekong from Space.
floods and give them confidence to
The portal and the Mekong from
start planning with a long-term
Space page were developed with the
perspective. MRC's ultimate goal is
assistance of the Canadian Space
to ensure the safety and security of
Check out how earth looks from space and learn more about satellite imagery.
Agency, the Canadian Centre for
the public and to protect property
Remote Sensing, Hatfield Consultants
a "one-stop-shop" for data and
contains a user guide and data
and the environment.
and Strata60.
information on the basin. It offers
catalogues for online maps available
Stakeholders from Cambodia, Lao
Designed to attract a younger
access to interactive maps, all MRC
in the MRCS soft copy maps archive,
PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam, Line
audience to the MRC website, its
metadata and spatial (GIS) data, the
as well as hard copy maps kept in the
Agencies, donor agencies,
easy-to use design allows the user to
MRC Document Management System
MRCS Archive Repository.
representatives from MRC
learn about the environment,
(which facilitates sharing and
Data and information in the MRC-
programmes, regional and
topography, climate etc of the
exchange of soft copy documents
IS comes from the member countries,
international scientists and
Mekong Basin through quizzes,
such as reports, presentations and
line agencies and ministries, MRC
researchers, upstream dialogue
informative illustrations and sections
tabular data) and a search function for
Programmes and projects and through
partners China and Myanmar,
on the uses of satellite imagery.
the MRCS Documentation Centre.
partner organisations.
international and national civil
There is an imagery archive that
society organisations, and local
The MRC-IS portal is a web-based
At present the MRC-IS Portal is
contains a user guide and data
communities are expected to
gateway to data and information on
restricted to internal use, but there are
catalogues for online satellite and
participate in the 4th Annual Mekong
the Mekong Basin including powerful
plans to integrate it into the MRC
aerial imagery available in the MRCS
Flood Forum.
tools to search, view and, in a
website and it is hoped that it will
controlled fashion, also download
soft copy and hard copy imagery
become available to external users in
For more information contact:
data and information. It is intended as
archive, while the maps archive
the near future.
hatda@mrcmekong.org

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TAB powers ahead with ambitious work plan
he Technical Advisory Body for
T Fisheries Management (TAB) is
not only meeting its goals, it is
progressing so well it has achieved 70
percent of its three-year work plan in
only 18 months.
Members attending the TAB
meeting held in Vientiane in February
heard that the TAB had now reached
the halfway point in its three-year
work plan and as well as making such
headway it was also well on schedule
to successfully complete this
challenging programme.
athanatham
The TAB provides a regional forum anh V
where senior representatives from
Khamt
national fisheries agencies and
Attendees at a TAB-promoted workshop on the management of deep pools held at the Technical Symposium late last year.
National Mekong Committees can
develop an understanding of the
early 2006 in Viet Nam and Thailand.
communities. It advocates the use of
participated in several international
issues that span the borders between
One of the TAB's major functions is
these approaches in fisheries and
and regional conferences, workshops
their countries. The body makes
the commissioning of research into
resource management
and forums, including the Meetings of
recommendations about the uptake of
areas of particular interest and using
Gender and Fisheries in the Lower
Regional Fisheries Bodies, held by
regional fisheries related issues into
the results for management and
the Food and Agriculture
national policies and action plans.
Mekong Basin: This study looks at the
development of fisheries in the
role of women in the fisheries of the
Organisation (FAO) in Rome.
The TAB's 2004-2006 Work Plan is
Mekong Basin. Three of these studies
LMB and at ways gender issues can
The FAO is keen for the Mekong
an ambitious programme of
were completed in 2005:
be addressed at a regional level. It
River Commission/TAB's
management training, targeted
Triggers for Fish Migrations. This
involved input from all members of
involvement in these meetings as it
research and information flow ­ all
study provides a synthesis of the
the Gender in Fisheries Network.
considers the TAB to be an example
designed to increase knowledge of
knowledge on cues for fish
for other developing countries of a
regional fisheries issues and improve
The MRC will publish these reports
migrations available in literature in
functioning fisheries management
capacity among fisheries managers.
later in the year.
the public domain. It discusses
body for inland fisheries.
During the year, TAB members and
possible effects water-resource
During 2005 the TAB published the
TAB members also attended the
senior fisheries managers from each
developments may have on these
first three of its Mekong Fisheries
Regional Consultation on Rights-
member country helped design and
triggers, fish migrations and stocks.
Recommendations. These 4-6 page
based Fisheries and Co-management
prepare training courses on regional
booklets provide a précis of technical
Livelihoods and Fisheries in the
systems for Small-scale Fisheries, in
fisheries management for mid to
studies commissioned by the TAB
Lower Mekong Basin. This study
Jakarta in July 2005. This meeting
senior level managers.
and are considered important vehicles
examines the application of
developed regional collaborative
for transfer of information and
These courses were run in Luang
"livelihood approaches" in
mechanisms that will facilitate
Prabang, Lao PDR and Siem Reap,
knowledge to fisheries managers.
understanding the role of fish and
future developments in small scale
Cambodia and more are planned in
fisheries in the livelihoods of rural
In 2005, TAB members also
fisheries.
I n f o r m a t i o n p r o d u c t s
Proceedings from the
Fisheries Information in the
Proceedings from the Annual
Overview of the Hydrology of
International Forum on
Lower Mekong Basin
Technical Meeting of the
the Mekong Basin
Integrated Water Resources
(Version 2)
Environment Programme
Management
This two CD set holds
Siem Reap, Cambodia, 2-3 November
This report is intended
Chiang Rai, Thailand 28-29 November
the complete the
2005
as an introduction to
2005
complete portfolio of the
This CD contains the
This CD contains edited
the hydrology of the
MRC Fisheries
proceedings of the
papers, abstracts and
Mekong River, based
Programme's technical
Environment Programme's
PowerPoint
on analysis of the most
publications up to mid 2005 in PDF
Annual Technical Meeting
presentations, a
recently observed data.
format. it also contains a set of
held on 2-3 November
summary of discussion
It provides basic
databases relating to catch
2005 in Siem Reap Cambodia as well as
and a selection of photographs from
insights into the regime of the river.
assessment and migration and
proceedings from its 2004 Annual
the International Forum on Integrated
spawning, an extensive library of
Technical Meeting. It contains papers,
Water Resources Management in the
December 2005 $10 (plus postage)
high-quality photographs, a
PowerPoint presentations and a summary
Mekong Basin, held in Chiang Rai,
bibliography detailing many fisheries
of discussion.
For access to the latest reports
Thailand.
related papers and books and 18
and research on development
pre-made GIS maps.
February 2006. US$3.00 (plus postage)
issues visit www.mekonginfo.org
March 2006. US$3.00 (plus postage)
February 2006. US$10.00 (plus postage)
How to order
Contact
All products can be ordered from the MRC Secretariat's Documentation Centre.
Documentation Centre
Postage costs apply. Mekong region government agencies may write to the MRC
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
to obtain free copies.
P.O. Box 6101, 184 Fa Ngoum Road, Unit 18, Ban Sithane Neua,
Sikhottabong District, Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR
Check the MRC website for a full list of products. Credit card sales are also
Phone: (856 21) 263 263 ext: 1122 Fax: (856 21) 263 264
available through the website.
Email: doc.centre@mrcmekong.org Website: www.mrcmekong.org

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Workshop evaluates JRP project
MRC hosts Challenge
Programme meetings
he MRC Secretariat's Junior
The Evaluation workshop also
TRiparian Professional (JRP)
identified some areas where the
In February 2006, the MRC
project is coming to the end of the
project could be improved.
Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR
current phase in June 2006 when the
hosted a series of meetings held by
There is a need to have flexibility
third batch of JRPs complete their
the Challenge Programme on Water
in regard to the duration and type of
second year on-the-job training and
and Food (CPWF). CPWF is an
the training under the project,
assignment at the MRC Secretariat
international research programme
depending on the identified needs of
and the Human Resources
that aims to develop methods to
each individual JRP, NMCs and line
Department took this as a good time
improve water productivity in
agencies.
to reassess the programme.
agriculture; an issue in which the
The training cycle needs
MRC has a keen interest.
In December 2005 past and present
redesigning to ensure that all JRPs
Junior Riparian Professionals (JRPs)
On February 13-14, the programme
acquire basic integrated water
representatives from MRC
held a Workshop on Impact Pathways
resources management and integrated
Programmes and National Mekong
Analysis. This is an innovative
river basin planning competencies
Committees (NMCs) were invited to
system of identifying desired
and practical experience in their
attend an evaluation workshop to
impacts, monitoring progress to
Inthaneth Norasingh
respective specialised fields..
assess the impact of the project and
attaining them, and then assessing
come up with some concrete
whether they can logically and
Today's JRPs are tomorrow's managers.
There is a need to create a
recommendations on improvements
critical mass of young professionals
realistically be expected.
for the next phase.
The JRPs have been introduced
in IWRM and extend the JRP
On February 16-17, CPWF Project
opportunity to young professionals
The workshop also aimed to gauge
to a multicultural work environment
Leaders from four of the CPWF's
working in administration and
the benefits gained by individual
and multinational experts in different
"Benchmark River Basins" ­ the
coordination as well as academics
JRPs and the NMCs and sought
fields, which will help them build a
Karkheh (in Iran), the Indo-Gangetic,
from the Mekong tributary river basin
strategic inputs and comments to aid
foundation of common understanding
the Mekong and the Yellow River ­
organisations.
further development of the project
within the region and beyond.
held their meeting. Presentations
within the MRC's Integrated Capacity
addressed a very wide range of
The JRPs gained theoretical and
There is a need to address gender
Building Programme (ICBP)
issues, including basin management
practical knowledge through intensive
imbalance. Out of the nine JRPs in
phase one, only two are women.
and governance, landscape
The positive outputs of the project
training courses and working in close
management, integrated farming
were considered to be as follows:
collaboration with experts.
There is a need for better
systems and improved crop varieties.
coordination between the Project
Over the period the project has
Each JRP had the chance to be
Team and targeted institutions in
Project Leaders provided overviews
been operating nine young
involved in a full range of programme
order to respond to the needs and
of their projects, their progress, early
professional from the Mekong
activities including discussions,
priorities of the MRC related agencies
results and innovation.and these
riparian countries have been recruited
planning and practical work.
at national and provincial levels.
presentations provided insights into
and received technical training on
The programme is seen as a good
issues of water productivity,
water related issues at the MRC
way for the MRC to work to build
The MRC and its ICBP will now take
associated technology and
Secretariat, at institutes within the
future pools of expertise in the Lower
these comments on board for the
management systems from both the
riparian countries and in the region
Mekong Basin.
second phase of the project.
Mekong and elsewhere in Asia.
10,000th user for MekongInfo
MekongInfo Users
The number of MekongInfo's registered users has
been growing rapidly since about mid 2003, as this
In January 2006 MekongInfo - the
altogether records more than 500,000
chart shows:
MRC's public information database
hits per month.
celebrated the registration of its
A recent survey has shown that
10,000th user. Mr. Nam Seng is a
MekongInfo's users come from many
young Cambodian, who holds a BSc
different backgrounds: government
in agronomy from the University of
agencies, the private sector,
Agriculture and Forestry in Thu Duc,
development agencies, universities,
Ho Chi Minh City.
and many others. We are especially
Some 200 to 300 new users join
proud that about half of the users
MekongInfo every month.
come from the Lower Mekong Basin
MekongInfo also gets many visits
countries ­ Cambodia, Lao PDR,
Mr Nam Seng is the 10,000th user.
from unregistered users, and
Thailand and Viet Nam.
Upcoming events
4th Annual Mekong Flood Forum
10th International Conference on Wetland Systems for Water Pollution
18-19 May 2006. Angkor Century Hotel, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Control
hatda@mrcmekong.org
23-29 September 2006, Lisbon, Portugal
Organiser: International Water Association (IWA)
International Conference on Rivers and Civilization: Multidisciplinary
http://www.unesco.org/water/water_events/Detailed/1202.shtml
Perspectives on Major River Basins
25-28 June 2006, La Crosse, Wisconsin, U.S.
3rd International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources
http://www.unesco.org/water/water_events/Detailed/1166.shtml
Management
26-28 September 2006, Bochum, Germany.
2006 World Water Week in Stockholm
Mrs Jana Radoi, +49 3641 35 33 221, Fax: +49 3641 35 33 271,
20-26 August 2006. Stockholm, Sweden
water@conventus.de.
www.worldwaterweek.org E-mail: sympos@siwi.org
Mekong News is published quarterly by the Mekong River Commission
9th International Riversymposium
Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Please send comments, queries and ideas to:
4-7 September, 2006, Brisbane, Australia
Communications Officer, Office of the CEO, MRC Secretariat,
www.riversymposium.com Email: emily@riverfestival.com
Vientiane, Lao PDR
Phone: (856-21) 263 263 ext. 1122 Fax: (856-21) 263 264
Email: virginia@mrcmekong.org

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