August-October 2005
Issue 2005/3
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 progresses with development goals
he preparation of MRC's Strategic
framework for drought forecasting and
T Plan 2006-2010 is making good
management.
progress and has involved consultation
The JC also reviewed and approved
with member countries, NMCs, staff
a concept paper on the MRC's
members, partners, donors and the
Hydropower Programme.
civil society.
The JC heard that one of the year's
Dr Olivier Cogels made the
key achievements was the start-up of
announcement in his CEO report at the
the Flood Management and Mitigation
22nd Joint Committee meeting held in
Programme. The flood forecasting
Vientiane on 30-31 August.
function was relocated from the MRC
The meeting was an opportunity to
Secretariat to the Regional Centre in
highlight recent achievements made
Phnom Penh in June 2005. The
by MRC's various programmes. JC
existing flood forecasting system will
members were informed that the BDP
now be further enhanced and new
planning process has allowed the
Chaleunxay tools will be developed to improve
identification of more than 300
The Joint Committee members made positive moves towards programme development.
forecasting. A regional kick-off
projects, which are now stored in a
meeting is planned for October 2005
Environmental Conditions as well as
Water Utilisation Programme.
projects database. The BDP has
to finalise the Programme
These procedures concern the
completed an initial short list of 69
Guidelines for a Transboundary EIA
Implementation Plan.
joint projects. It has also drafted a
System.
maintenance of acceptable minimum
Preparations have also been
The Joint Committee approved the
document on Strategic Directions for
monthly flows of the Mekong
continuing for the formulation of the
Guidelines for the Procedures for
Integrated Water Resources
mainstream in the dry season, the
Decision Support and Information
Notification, Prior Consultation and
Management in the Lower Mekong
acceptable natural reverse flow of the
Management Programme.
Agreement and endorsed the text of
Basin to serve as a blueprint for
Tonle Sap (in Cambodia) during the
Dr Cogels added that, following a
the Procedures for the Maintenance of
development of water and related
wet season, and the prevention of
visit to Beijing in June at the invitation
Flows on the Mainstream.
resources in the next 20 years.
unnatural peak flows.
of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign
This latter agreement will facilitate
Dr Cogels said that the Environment
In addition to providing benchmark
Affairs, the MRC had identified a
the approval of this procedure by
flows against which to assess future
Programme has also been working
number of potential areas for concrete
Council in December this year and
development proposals, these
steadily toward its two milestones for
cooperation with China.
marks an important milestone for the
procedures will also help put in place a
2005: The Basin Report Card on
Gender mainstreaming project kicks off
he MRC's Gender Mainstreaming
women equally, according to their
development at both project and
Programme activities.
T project has moved into phase II different needs, and with the input and institutional levels. The formulation of Women in Fisheries Focal Points
with the appointment of a Gender
equal participation of men and women
MRC Gender Strategy was one of the
were formed in 2000 and a network set
Project Coordinator attached to the
at all levels.
key recommendations from this
up in the four riparian countries. The
Human Resources Section in MRCS.
In 1996 the Human Resources
Project, and it was approved by the
network was subsequently changed to
The second phase, which was
Development unit of MRCS initiated a
MRC Council in October 1998.
the Network for the Promotion of
launched in July 2005 and will extend
project on Studies of Roles of Women
The next year 19 gender trainees
Gender in Fisheries (NGF).
into 2007, will deal with Gender
in Water Resources Development in
from four riparian countries
In 2004 SIDA granted a three-year
Mainstreaming in Water and Related
four riparian countries. Funded by the
formulated the MRC Gender Action
project to the Technical Advisory
Resources Development in the LMB
New Zealand Government, this project
Plan and in 2000 the Council approved
Body (TAB) called "TAB Gender and
and is funded by NZAID.
was the first attempt to bring gender
the MRC Gender Policy.
Women in Fisheries" to assist the
The overall objective of the Project
issues to basinwide attention.
During this time work was also
riparian line agencies integrate gender
is to bring the MRC's Gender Policy
In 1997 researchers and study teams
under way within the Fisheries
issues into fisheries management.
into operation. This will ensure there
presented country reports at the
Programme. In 1998-1999 (with
is a gender mainstreaming perspective
Regional Workshop in Nong Khai,
support from DANIDA) the FP
For futher information contact Napat
in all MRC development efforts,
Thailand and called for the need to
initiated a small project on Women in
Gordon napat@mrcmekong.org.
ensuring that they benefit men and
address gender concerns in
Fisheries and integrated the issues into
I N S I D E
Local fishers join research team
River health results in
MRC to host International Forum
The 12th Meeting of the MRC Council
to be held in Chiang Rai, Thailand on 29-30 November 2005
For information about the MRC please contact: Tel: 856 21 263 263 Email: mrcs@mrcmekong.org Website: www.mrcmekong.org

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Fishers prove net worth to programme
r Kung Chanthy from Stoeng Treng,
communities across the region and the
MCambodia has been fishing for 26
Fisheries Programme's work in fostering
years and makes his money from selling
these practices, which has already increased
fish, growing crops and raising livestock.
the size of catches in targeted localities.
But the 39-year-old has another important
Dr Chris Barlow, Fisheries Programme
role to play: he is one of the vital cogs in the
Manager updated delegates on the planned
Fisheries Programme's research team
work programme and the funding status of
spread throughout villages in the basin.
Fisheries Programme Phase 2. Other MRC
Since April 2003 Mr Kung and his
programmes and agencies in the fisheries
friends have been recording their daily
sector gave presentations on their activities
catches for the programme's Assessment of
as well. The MRC Environment
Mekong Capture Fisheries component
Programme reviewed work relating to
(AMCF).
integrated basin flow management
The AMCF component has been
(particularly its impact on fisheries) and the
employing fishers and traders for some
WUP-FIN Programme presented data on
years now to capture all types of statistics at
the consequences of changes in flow on the
the base level and their information has
Great Lake and the delta region.
proved invaluable.
Delegates heard about the Fisheries
The fisherman was one of three local
Programme's work related to IFReDI and
people who rely on the Mekong fishery for
Chan Sokheng the Mekong Field Academy. Oxfam
their living who brought their grassroots
America presented work on income
Mr Kung measures a trey kaek (Labeo chrysophekadion) part of his daily catch.
stories to the MRC Fisheries Programme's
security for subsistence fishers in the Lower
12th Annual Meeting held in Siem Reap,
data in logbooks since August 2003. She
than alien species and was now also
Mekong Basin. The IUCN-Mekong
Cambodia, from 2-4 June 2005.
told the meeting that her fish were easy to
educating neighbouring villagers on the
Wetlands Biodiversity Programme
Mr Kung said that while there were still
sell but it was more difficult to buy fish now
importance of fish culture with indigenous
described initiatives to preserve the Mekong
many big fish in his part of Mekong, they
as she had to buy from more fishers and the
fish species. He wants the fisheries
giant catfish. The FAO reviewed fisheries
are fewer than 10 years ago and there are
area of water was less. Her income had
programme to identify other indigenous fish enhancements in the Asia-Pacific region.
more people are fishing nowadays.
stayed the same, but inflation had cut the
species for aquaculture.
WorldFish Centre described its Mekong
His catches had declined from 70-80 kg
value of her earnings.
These three people exemplify those the
Initiative and SEAFDEC reviewed its plan
per day in the peak period 20 years ago to
Mr Tey Hon, 41, is predominately a rice
Fisheries Programme is trying to help. The
for inland fisheries in the LMB. NACAalso
only 5-20 kg for the peak period today. He
farmer, but with nine mouths to feed in his
delegates agreed that their participation
described its work on genetics and
thought this was due to lower water levels
family in 2001 he branched out into
demonstrated the value of the involvement
biodiversity for resource management and
causing deep pools to become shallow,
aquaculture to meet his increasing financial
of rural communities in the success of the
animal health.
coupled with overfishing and use of illegal
demands. His new venture now constitutes
programme and the use of accurate and
Deputy Director of the Cambodian
fishing gears, poisons, and explosives in the
12 % of his income and reduces his reliance
extensive monitoring of catches as a means
Department of Fisheries Mr Sam Nuov co-
dry season.
on agriculture and raising animals.
to value the fisheries and identify changes in
chaired the meeting and also presented a
Another local Ms Nyaim Vantha, has
Pond aquaculture is not as common in
fish populations. They said these surveys
new film on the Tonle Sap fisheries.
been selling fish for 22 years. She buys her
Cambodia as in the other MRC member
should be incorporated into the work
The strong support provided to the
fish from Boeng Cheung Aik, a large
countries and the Fisheries Programme is
programmes of national fisheries agencies.
Fisheries Programme by Danida, Sida,
wetland south of Phnom Penh. She and her
promoting it where suitable. Mr Tey said he
The delegates applauded the continued
ACIAR and MRAG was recognised with
daughter have been recording their fish sale
preferred to stock indigenous fish rather
uptake of co-management among fishing
gratitude.
EP ready with river health results
he MRC has monitored chemical
conducted at these sites to establish
T water quality in the Mekong
the causes of, and propose possible
Basin since 1985. But over the past 20
solutions to, the problems.
years, approaches to monitoring river
health have evolved.
Monitoring on the Mekong is used to
ensure that the aquatic life and
Recently, the MRC has developed
ecological balance of the river is
methods to conduct direct biological
protected. Such efforts can be used to
assessments of river health. After
detect problem localities where the
testing some possible methods in
ecological balance may have been
2003, sampling programmes were
disrupted. It can also detect trends
conducted at 20 sites in 2004 and a
over time ­ ultimately whether the
further 16 sites in 2005. Sampling is
river health is being maintained or
conducted by an international team of
deteriorating.
experts from the 4 countries working
with 2 international mentors.
However researchers know that
V
i
r
ginia Addison
monitoring alone is not sufficient to
Following each sampling campaign
ensure that the ecological health of the
Two of the regional water quality testers discuss their data during an analysis workshop in Vientiane.
the team holds a workshop to analyse
river is being maintained. No
the results and compare their findings.
chemical monitoring programme can
The ecological balance of a river may
Four biological indicators are being
The most recent workshop, held from
measure all the possible contaminants
be disrupted by a number of factors
used for the ecological health
the 8-10 August at the Mekong River
that can affect the biota of a river.
other than water pollution. For
monitoring. These are invertebrates,
Commission Secretariat, considered
There are too many possible
example the habitats of the riverine
insects, worms, snails and crustaceans,
all the results to date.
contaminants, and some are very
organisms may be altered through
from the middle of the channel and the
expensive to measure. The best that
engineering works, or even driftwood
river edge, zooplankton which drift in
Most of the 36 sites studied were in
can be done is to focus on
harvesting by local people. Changes
the water, and diatoms, microscopic
good ecological health, but there were
contaminants most likely to cause
in river flows can also impact the
algae which grow on rocks and other
some sites where conditions were not
problems ­ which is what the MRC's
biota, which is adapted to the natural
solid objects in the river.
so well off, including sites near some
current chemical monitoring
flow regime.
major cities. Further studies will be
programme does.

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M R C E v e n t s
Papers welcome
MRC on display around the world
for Technical
he MRC shared a booth with the
Related Disasters'. The
T Challenge Programme on Water
MRC co-convened this
Symposium
for Food (CPWF) during World Water
session with the Japan Bank
he MRC Fisheries Programme will
Week, this year 21-27 August, in
for International
T hold its 7th Technical Symposium on
Stockholm, Sweden. (The MRC is the
Cooperation and the
Mekong Fisheries in Ubon Ratchathani,
coordinating institution for the CPWF
International Flood
Thailand on 15-16 November 2005. The
in the Mekong region). Dr Kim Geheb
Network. Six papers were
symposium will feature both oral
manned the booth, and said the
presented during the
presentations and poster sessions. As in
display received a large numbers of
session, which included one
previous years, the structure of the
visitors and queries. Mr Thim Ly also
by Dr Chayanis
symposium will centre on the topics of the
attended the conference, and Mr
Manusthiparom, Dr Chusit
Fisheries Programme's three components:
Choomjet Karjanakesorn, team leader
Apirumanekul and Ms.
Assessment of Capture Fisheries,
of the MRC's Water Utilisation
Manithaphone Mahaxay
Aquaculture of Indigenous Mekong Fish
Programme, made a presentation.
entitled 'Flood Forecasting
The Southeast Asian Water Forum in Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia
Species and Management of River and
Two days later, the MRC hosted an
and River Monitoring
Reservoir Fisheries.
additional display at The Southeast
System in the Mekong River
The symposium will be held at the Art
Asian Water Forum in Nusa Dua,
Basin'. Results from the
and Culture Centre, Ubon Ratchathani
Bali, Indonesia, 29 August - 3
session and
Rajabhat University, Muang district, Ubon
September. Manned by Mr Esben
recommendations were
Ratchathani Province, Thailand. Afield
Sverdrup-Jensen, Mr Oudomsack
presented to the SEAWF
excursion to visit the fishery station at Pak
Philavong and Dr Kim Geheb, the
Plenary, for reference to the
Moon dam and the Pha Taem National
booth presented the relevance of the
Forum's Ministerial
Park will follow on 17th November.
MRC in Southeast Asia, the
Meeting and for delivery to
People wishing to give presentations or
organisation's experience in
the World Water Forum, to
display posters should submit abstracts to
transboundary water management,
be held in Mexico in March
the appropriate MRC Fisheries Programme
monitoring and cooperation and
2006. The MRC sent several
Component Advisor by 1 October 2005.
attracted many visitors with queries.
delegates, as did the
Guidelines detailing the procedures,
Dr Geheb, on behalf of the Flood
National Mekong
formats and standards authors should use
Management and Mitigation
Committees, funded by the
when preparing presentations, posters and
Programme, also convened a session
FMMP and WUP.
World Water Week, held this year in Stockholm, Sweden
papers can be obtained by contacting Dr
entitled 'Reducing Vulnerability to
Tim Burnhill at tim@mrcmekong.org.
Floods, Drought and Other Water
L a t e s t i n f o r m a t i o n p r o d u c t s
Environmental Training Kit
Proceedings of the 12th Annual
was conducted in Vientiane, Lao PDR
CD US$5 (plus postage)
Meeting of the MRC Programme
from 7-8 April 2005 including text of
Hard copies US$50 (plus postage)
This CD-ROM contains
for Fisheries Management and
presentations, text of PowerPoint
eight courses designed for
Development Cooperation
presentations and photographs.
environmental scientists
US$3.00 (plus postage)
from operational to expert
This CD-ROM contains the
levels and covers integrated
Proceedings of the Second
proceedings of the 12th
resource management, tools
Annual Meeting of the
International Symposium on
techniques and decision making and
MRC Fisheries
the Management of Large
cumulative effects assessment. All materials
Programme conducted
Rivers for Fisheries (LARS2)
are available in Khmer, Lao, Thai or
in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Vietnamese.
from 2-4 June 2005 including text of
This CD-ROM contains the edited papers
Also soon to be available as a free
presentations, text of PowerPoint
from LARS2 held from 11-14 February
download from www.mrcmekong.org.
presentations and photographs.
2003 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The
US$5.00 (plus postage)
US$3.00 (plus postage)
theme of the conference was Sustaining
Livelihoods and Biodiversity
Catch and Culture
Proceedings of the 3rdAnnual
in the New Millennium.
Riparian edition
The papers are in PDF
Mekong Flood Forum
form in two
Acompilation of selected
volumes.
articles translated into
This CD-ROM contains
Also available as
Khmer, Lao, Thai and
the proceedings of the
two hardback
Vietnamese. Also available
Third Annual Mekong
volumes.
Technical data maps are available
as a free download on
Flood Forum - Flood
from the Documentation Centre.
www.mrcmekong.org.
Management and Mitigation
Free (postage costs apply)
in the Mekong Basin, which
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 to
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
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 available
Phone: (856 21) 263 263 ext: 1122 Fax: (856 21) 263 264
through the website.
Email: doc.centre@mrcmekong.org Website: www.mrcmekong.org
Contact

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Screening toolkit speeds up project Shared ideas
add balance
he Basin Development Plan
RAM) and relying on project
priorities in the Basin.
T (BDP) team has developed a
information taken from a simplified
The first phase of the BDP saw the
to strategy
Project Screening Toolkit that is now
Project Identification Note stored in
development and formulation of a
being used to screen the initial set of
the BDP Projects Database.
number of planning systems and
The MRC's strategic planning
69 joint development projects
The purpose of the screening is
acquired substantial knowledge,
team got together with
identified under the project's first
mainly to ensure that projects meet
which can be used by other MRC
representatives of civil society in
phase. This process will continue until
three important aspects (economic,
programmes, NMCs, Line Agencies
Vientiane in August at the first
the end of BDP Phase 1.
social and environmental
and others working in the Lower
regional stakeholders meeting
The member countries have selected
sustainability) of project design. The
Mekong Basin.
to be held by the MRC.
these joint projects as those they see of
whole process of project
Most importantly, this includes an
The main reason behind the
maximum benefit to their shared
identification, screening and
established process of transboundary
meeting was to obtain input
development goals.
prioritisation has computerised
consultation between the member
from others working in the
The design of the Project Screening
support through the recently
states; a well-developed public
region on what they perceived
Toolkit has been based on past
established BDP Projects database.
participation process and the use of
as the strengths and weaknesses
discussions of the Resource Allocation
To date, the BDP team at the MRC
"sub-areas" as geographical planning
of the MRC and discuss how
Model (RAM, an economic valuation
Secretariat has screened nine joint
units. The development of basin-wide
they could work together for the
of resources), the Strategic
projects and programmes. The
scenarios, integrated river basin
future of the Basin's people.
Environmental Assessment (SEA) and
National Mekong Committees in each
planning training modules and the set-
It was important to take into
the Social Impact Assessment (SIA)
country are responsible for screening
up of a specific hydropower database
account the views and
instruments.
their own national priority projects.
are further achievements.
suggestions of everyone with
This social, economic and
Projects screened by the BDP project
The BDP has also established a core
whom the MRC worked, or
environmental screening assesses the
and endorsed by the JC will establish a
library of its research documents and
might work, when formulating
available project outlines by using
projects shortlist, which will be
reports, which is now available on
the strategic plan for 2006-2010,
checklist questions (coming from
continuously refined and updated, and
www.MekongInfo.org.
CEO Dr Olivier Cogels told the
earlier discussions of SIA, SEA and
used to promote development
group.
He said the MRC had always
recognised the important role
Watershed team
played by stakeholders and civil
society within the basin and it
boosts regional
was now trying to put this on a
firmer footing by instituting
information skills
regular discussion groups, such
as this one, to share ideas and
here is a great need for better
integrate feedback.
T information and knowledge
For its part, the MRC would
management in the Mekong region
like to share access to its
and the Watershed Management
knowledge base and planning
Project of the Mekong River
tools, to allow partners to see
Commission (MRC)/GTZ
how simulation of the impacts
Cooperation Programme is working to Iris Richter
of development on the river and
improve this situation.
the flow regime can help them
Over the past few months the WMP
Workshop participants learn more about information and knowledge management.
make the right choices.
has held training workshops on
The training aimed to improve
functions in order to show the
"We want to use this capacity to
Information and Knowledge
information and knowledge sharing
participants better ways of sourcing
support development
Management (IKM) in the riparian
and networking between the MRCS
information on the Internet.
programmes to improve the
countries. The first three training
and the countries as well as within the
The MRC/GTZ Cooperation
lives of the people of the basin,"
workshops were held in Bangkok,
countries.
Programme also conducted an
Dr Cogels said.
Vientiane and Phnom Penh in July. A
The different sessions introduced
information needs assessment and a
Representatives of Oxfam
fourth training workshop took place in
participants to the basics of IKM, to
group discussion on approaches used
America, the FAO, UNEP,
Hanoi in mid-August.
the work of the MRC, as well as to the
with information and knowledge
UNDP, IUCN and the World
In each of the four riparian countries
information provided by the MRC
sharing so it can further improve
Food Programme attended the
15 participants from government
Secretariat on the Internet, including
support to regional information and
meeting.
institutions, non-government
the web-based information system
knowledge management.
organisations, universities and the
MekongInfo.
private sector attended the two-day
Trainers provided instruction on
training workshops.
using advanced Internet search
The 7th Technical Symposium on Mekong Fisheries
4th International Water History Association Conference: Water and
15-16 November 2005, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
Civilization
Contact: Barlow@mrcmekong.org
1-4 December 2005, Paris, France
http://www.unesco.org/water/water_events/Detailed/917.shtml
12th World Water Congress of IWRA
Water for Sustainable Development Towards Innovative Solutions.
1st International Conference on Water Resources in the 21st Century
22-25 November 2005, New Delhi, India. http://cb.cbip.org:5050/index.jsp
26-28 December 2005, Alexandria, Egypt
http://www.unesco.org/water/water_events/Detailed/1066.shtml
12th Meeting of the MRC Council
29-30 November 2005, Chiang Rai, Thailand
The International Forum on IWRM of the Mekong River Basin
Contact: Schiefer@mrcmekong.org
January 2006 (date to be confirmed) Chiang Rai, Thailand.
Contact: kim.geheb@mrcmekong.org
12th Meeting of the Donor Consultative Group
1 December 2005, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Mekong News is published quarterly by the Mekong River Commission Secretariat
Contact: Schiefer@mrcmekong.org
in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Please send comments, queries and ideas to:
Communications Officer, Office of the CEO, MRC Secretariat,
Phone: (856-21) 263 263 ext. 1122 Fax: (856-21) 263 264
Email: virginia@mrcmekong.org

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