Jan 06 - March 06
Issue 2006/1
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
International IWRM Forum shares
lessons from experts around world
round 180 regional and international
through coordinated development.
A participants gathered in Chiang Rai,
Sustainable development and integrated
Thailand in November for the MRC's
water management must still be subject to
International Forum on Integrated Water
cooperation between the parties concerned,
Resources Management in the Mekong
be they users or riparian states.
River Basin.
Forum participants heard that the
The forum, which was held partly to
complexity of water resource development
celebrate the MRC's 10th anniversary,
and management in the Lower Mekong
discussed the issues facing the application
Basin requires a shared set of goals and the
of IWRM in the sustainable development
need to take into account common
of the Mekong River Basin and attempted
priorities, such as the identification of
to identify suitable actions to be considered
synergies between proposed national
for this implementation to be successful.
projects, combining projects into joint
The forum was supported by AusAID,
TNMC
and/or cross-sectoral programs and
GTZ, SENSA and SIDA and organised by
Partipants had plenty of chances to listen and later discuss issues raised.
identifying an agreed set of indicators to
the MRC Secretariat and the Thai National
assess trade-offs between sectors.
Mekong Committee.
team which drafted the 1995 Agreement
Cooperation, Maintaining Ecological
The navigation sector was an area
The forum was officially opened by the
and Mr Les Roberts, General Manager
Balance and Building Capacity.
singled out as one in urgent need of
Thai Vice Minister of Education H.E. Mr
Natural Resources Murray Darling Basin
Papers and presentations were made by
coordinated development and the
Limskul Kitti. Dr Olivier Cogels, Chief
Commission.
regional and international experts,
introductin of common safety rules and
Executive officer of the MRCS and H.E.
The forum featured four themed sessions
representatives of overseas and regional
environmental safeguards to ensure social
Mr Somphong Mongkhonvilay, MRC
each with several presentations and time
river basin organisations, MRC partners
and economic benefits of development.
Council Member for Lao PDR also gave
for questions and discussion. The themes
and research groups
There were calls for changes in planning
speeches. Special addresses were made by
were tied to the four pillars of the MRC's
One key message arising from the forum
at all levels in each member country in
H.E. Dr Krit Kraichitti, Thai ambassador to new Strategic Plan 2006-2010: Meeting
was that if development is to be successful
order to meet their own needs without
Viet Nam, who was part of the negotiation
Development Needs, Strengthening
and helpful to the basin's people it must be
Continued page 2
Council calls for more development in basin
RC Council members are looking forward to
MRC's 2006 Work Programme, the 2006 Operating
M seeing more concrete and tangible outputs
Expense Budget and the 2006-2010 Strategic Plan
from the Basin Development Plan and say that the
as a document still open for further donor input.
MRC's Strategic Plan 2006-2010 reflects the real
They also approved important BDP documents and
needs and aspirations of MRC countries and that
Phase 2 of the Fisheries Programme.
investment in the projects identified by the BDP
The BDP Strategic Direction of Integrated Water
will show the people of the basin the real value of
Resources Management in the Lower Mekong
the MRC.
Basin sets out strategic directions for development
The Ministers from the four member countries
of water resources in the LMB for the next 20
met at the 12th Meeting of the MRC Council in
years and aims to synthesise directions identified in
Chiang Rai, Thailand on 29-30th November 2005.
national plans and strategies and add a basin
At the meeting they expressed their satisfaction
irginia Addison
V
dimension. It spells out the concepts, principles,
with the work achieved by the MRC and the MRC
Council members sign the minutes of the meeting.
practices and guidelines that constitute good
Secretariat in the past 10 years.
IWRM and explains why it is important for such
Council Members said this spirit of cooperation
The region faced floods, droughts and the rapid
concepts and guidelines to drive the next phase of
would be the way to find joint solutions to
development of the hydropower sector, but the
Mekong basin water resources development.
sustainable development needs in the next decade.
MRC has successfully been transformed into a hub
One of the main achievements of BDP phase 1
All countries expressed their desire to include the
for information and regional cooperation, in
has been the formulatin of the first list of
MRC's upstream neighbours and dialogue partners
contrast to the previous regional operation which
development projects which have been agreed on
China and Myanmar in long term plans.
focused on safeguarding national interests. The
During the meeting the Council approved the
Continued page 2
INSIDE
Flood Centre swings into action
New funding for Fisheries and Navigation
BDP launches training programme for planners
23rd Joint Committee Meeting to be held in Lao PDR
in April 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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FMMP swings into action at new flood centre
he MRC's interim Regional Flood
Levels in the Lower Mekong Basin
T Management and Mitigation Centre
(Phase II)" is being carried out in
(RFMMC) officially opened in mid-
partnership with the Asian Disaster
August, and its work is now under way.
Preparedness Centre.
Some flood forecasting work started
The Danida-funded project to support
prior to the opening.
FMMP Coordination will start soon and
The RFMMC's first task has been to
will help harmonise coordination
hire staff. Currently, there are 16 staff on
between the components of FMMP as
board and recruitment of component
well as between FMMP and other MRC
managers, programme officers, experts,
programmes, donors, partners and line
and support staff is expected to be well
agencies.
in hand by February 2006.
In the next six months the RFMMC
The Centre is now also in the process
anticipates developing a Road Map for
of installing regional network system for
improving systems and capabilities of
financial management and
irginia'Addison
V
the RFMMC for short, medium and
communication links between the MRC
long term basin wide forecasting
Secretariat and the Centre.
Programme work is well under way at the RFMMC in Phnom Penh.
functions, aimed at exchanging more
According to Flood Management and
decision-making, financial and
Two projects under Component 4 ­
reliable information with the four
Mitigation Programme (FMMP)
administrative procedures, and will
(Flood Emergency Management
riparian countries at higher speeds.
Coordinator RFMMC Dr. Truong Hong
guide staff on how to implement the
Strengthening) are in operation. The
It will also produce the 2005 Flood
Tien, initiation of the FMMP
programme.
implementation of a project funded by
Report ­ the first of the programme's
implementation is on track.
The centre produced a daily flood
USAID-OFDA: "Provision of Early
annual reports on the impact of flooding
An FMMP Programme
forecast for the Mekong mainstream
Warning to the Flood-Vulnerable
in the Lower Mekong Basin.
Implementation Plan (PIP) has been
from June 2005 through to the end of
Communities in the LMB, Phase 1 in
Component 5 ­ Land Management ­
developed and consultations have
October 2005, taking data from a series
Cambodia and Lao PDR" is now in its
will move to the RFFMC in early 2006
occurred at national and regional levels
of 44 monitoring stations stretching
third year of implementation after its
and start implementation.
to agree on the programme concept,
from Northern Thailand to the Mekong
integration into the FMMP-RFMM
In May 2006 the Centre will organise
institution arrangement, staffing,
Delta. China, one of MRC's Dialogue
Centre.
the 4th Annual Mekong Flood Forum
planning, monitoring and evaluation,
Partners, also provided daily
An ECHO-funded project entitled
around the theme "Improved Flood
and reporting. The PIP will provide the
hydrological information from two
"Capacity Building for Planning and
Forecasting and Warning System for
basic framework for implementation,
stations in its southern province of
Implementation of Flood Preparedness
Flood Management and Mitigation in
including systems for coordination and
Yunnan during the flood season.
Programme at Provincial and District
the LMB".
Council calls
International IWRM Forum...
for development
From page1
From page1
compromising the capacity of future
by all members. These projects will
generations to meet their own. Participants
form the first concrete steps in
also said increased cooperation with
instigating the MRC's Mekong
China and better knowledge of the
Programme for Sustainable
Mekong River's flow regimes were
Development of Water and Related
required in order to promote development.
Resources in the Mekong Basin.
The National River Basin Organisations
The Fisheries Programme is ready
have a key role to play at the regional
to move into Phase 2 with substantial
level, but there is a need for closer
support from Danida funding. During
communication and collaboration
this next five-year phase it will
between riparian countries, promotion of
concentrate on four areas of work:
data and information sharing and
Fisheries ecology, valuation and
development of common basin
migration; fisheries management and
development and management schemes
governance and aquaculture of
through an integrated approach. There is
indigenous Mekong fish species.
also a need for an organisational structure
TNMC
The 2006 MRC work programme
at the nationwide basin level as well as
Presentations offered valuable lessons to be learned from overseas experiences.
will introduce a Drought Management
sub basin level, coordinating with other
Environmental Flows can be a useful tool
within the development sphere. WWF and
Programme and an Information and
regional initiatives.
for IWRM and water-related negotiations
MRC are now producing materials that can
Knowledge Management Programme
When the discussion turned to capacity
and their role as a component of water
be used as decision-making tools when
to the MRC structure.
building it was noted that participatory
governance is important if ecosystem and
considering development options and
Council heard that the work
water governance, stakeholder participation livelihoods agendas are to be factored into
MRC has a useful role to play in providing
programme was well supported by
and management at the lowest appropriate
IWRM processes.
relevant research data.
donors. The MRC now has 37 multi-
level have implications for institutional
The forum participants suggested that,
Participants were also encouraged to take
year ongoing agreements with donors
arrangements, roles and responsibilities.
with the new economic corridors opening
a new look at how natural ecosystems can
from Australia, Belgium, Canada,
For IWRM to be implemented at the basin
up in this region, there was a need to
be enhanced to become development
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany,
level, stakeholders need to be incorporated
examine cumulative impacts, economic
options.
Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
into the decision-making process,
costs and benefits of such infrastructure as
"It was a productive and stimulating
Sweden, Switzerland, the US, the
supported by the requisite capacity and
roads and hydropower dams and make
forum," Dr Cogels said. "We have
ADB, CGIAR, the EC, UNDP and
systems. Local experience is one key to
concrete recommendations to mitigate any
gathered some useful knowledge on the
the World Bank. Funds for MRC
successful capacity building.
negative outcomes.
challenges facing implementation of
programmes in 2006 amounted to
The eco-systems that sustain water
It was also proposed that an integrated
IWRM in the Mekong River Basin and
US$16.2 million. The Council
resources must be protected in order to
river basin approach to planning in the
how it might best be managed to achieve
members expressed their thanks for
satisfy and reconcile human water needs.
basin could be used as a conservation tool
sustainable development outcomes."
this continued support.

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Fisheries gains US$5 million
support from Denmark
he Government of Denmark, through
Mekong fish species and disseminates
T its aid arm Danida, will provide 30 information to policy makers and planners
million Danish kroner (approximately
in the four Lower Mekong countries. It
US$5 million) to fund the first three years
has been operating since the MRC was
of the second phase of the Mekong River
formed in 1995 and has developed a wide
Commission Fisheries Programme.
range of programme activities throughout
The new funding agreement was signed
the four member countries.
by H.E. Mr Peter Lysholt Hansen,
"The Mekong River Basin has the
Ambassador, Royal Danish Embassy in
largest inland fishery in the world and is
irginia Addison
Hanoi, and MRC Chief Executive Officer
the single most important means of food
V
Dr Olivier Cogels at the conclusion of the
and livelihood for millions of the poorest
Mr Alfred Fickers and Dr Olivier Cogels finalise the navigation funding agreement.
10th Donor Consultative Group Meeting
people in the basin," Dr Cogels said. "It is
held in Chiang Rai, Thailand.
essential that this resource is maintained
Belgium supports MRC
The funding will be spread over the
and monitored carefully if we are to secure
Navigation Programme
years 2006-2008 and represents a
its future diversity and abundance. If we
continuation of the solid support Danida
can develop ways of improving yields,
n October 2005 the Mekong River
of the river system. It will seek to balance
has given the MRC Fisheries Programme
through better systems and use of
I Commission signed an agreement
the demand for expanded use of the river
in the past.
aquaculture we will be able to improve
with the Government of Belgium for the
with environmental needs.
The MRC Fisheries Programme aims to
food security and alleviate poverty."
provision of a one million Euros (around
The NAP is currently involved in the
manage the productive Mekong fisheries
He applauded the Danish Government
US$1.2 million) contribution for
start up of the Design of the Master Plan
so as to sustain their high yield and
for its generous support of this very
implementation of the MRC Navigation
for Waterborne Transport on the Mekong
economic output well into the future. The
important programme, saying that it
Programme (NAP).
River System in Cambodia, which is
programme undertakes research into
showed the value the international donor
This initial funding agreement for one
funded under bilateral cooperation by
capture fisheries, trains fisheries managers,
community placed on the work being done
year is the first step in a larger funding
Belgium.
promotes aquaculture of indigenous
by the Mekong River Commission.
agreement of 5 million Euro over five years
Dr Cogels said that the MRC was very
through the Belgian Government's Federal
grateful to the Government of Belgium for
Public Service Foreign Affairs Directorate-
its generous support of the Navigation
General for Development Cooperation.
Programme - a programme which would
The agreement was formalised by Mr
be of enormous benefit to the millions of
Alfred Fickers, Attaché Development
people living in the Mekong River Basin.
Coordination, the Embassy of Belgium in
Mr Fickers said the funding agreement
Hanoi, and Dr Olivier Cogels on
demonstrated the trust the Belgian
Wednesday 5 October at the MRC
government had in the MRC and its work.
Secretariat in Vientiane.
"This agreement emphasises the
The NAP is now in the first stages of
importance of the MRC's role in the region
implementation with the ultimate goal of
as a stabilising factor helping the
promoting freedom of navigation on the
economies of the countries. It is important
Mekong in order to increase social
for us that our support comes in the
irginia Addison
V
development and international trade
framework of regional cooperation,"
H.E. Mr Peter Lysholt Hansen and Dr Olivier Cogels shake hands after the signing.
opportunities using the navigation potential
he said.
I n f o r m a t i o n p r o d u c t s
The work of the Mekong River Catch and Culture
Distribution and Ecology of
Overview of the Hydrology of
Commission
The fisheries newsletter
Some Important Riverine Fish the Mekong Basin
In Khmer, Lao, Thai and Vietnamese
Species of the Mekong River
Volume 11, No 3
Basin
These booklets offer a
This report is intended as
The newsletter of the
MRC Technical Paper 10 - in Vietnamese
concise description of the
an introduction to the
Fisheries Programme
Mekong River
hydrology of the
contains news and
This paper contains
Commission, its
Mekong River, based on
research on all aspects of
detailed information on
work and its goals.
analysis of the most
the Lower Mekong Basin
40 key species which
Available in
recently observed data. It
fishery. This issue
are significant in the
Khmer, Lao, Thai,
provides basic insights
includes stories on the Songkhram fishing
Mekong River fishery.
Vietnamese and
into the regime of the river.
festival, the Vietnamese catfish industry, a
Each species has notes
English, they are designed to be a short
new education and awareness campaign
on distribution, feeding,
easily-understood introduction to the
$10 (plus postage)
for Tonle Sap Lake, Thai shrimp farming
size, population, structure, critical habitats
MRC.
and mobile hatcheries.
life cycle and importance in the fishery.
For access to the latest reports and
research on development issues
Free (postage applies)
Free (postage applies)
$5 (plus postage)
visit www.mekonginfo.org
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
Mekong River Commission Secretariat
MRC 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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Tonle Sap study hones in on flood pulse Record attendance
at fisheries
Cambodian PhD student, whose
A
symposium
fieldwork is supported by the
MRC Environment Programme,
is studying the influence of the
prolonged seasonal Mekong flood
pulse on carbon dynamics in the
Tonle Sap Great Lake. Mr Say, who
is studying at Monash University in
Australia, is also examining the
contribution of different carbon
sources to key commercial fish
species.
"From an ecological point of view,
it is important to assess the activity of
The MRC Fisheries Programme
various types of primary producers
Mr Say (on right) conducts his water testing experiments on the Great Lake.
held its 7th Technical Symposium
that form the basis of aquatic food
on Mekong Fisheries from 15-17th
chains and to investigate their
the lake and its floodplain ecology
distribution and availability of various
November in Ubon Ratchathani,
responses in relation to ecological and
and economy are extremely sensitive
carbon sources to the productivity of
Thailand.
hydrological changes in the Great
to variations in monsoon behaviour.
the fishery. He will examine how
This symposium provides a
Lake," he explains. "Understanding
Because so many people depend on
much area is flooded and for how
forum where professionals from
the relationships between carbon
the lake for their existence, it is
long, then work out the relationship
across the region can meet to
sources and the productivity of the
important to understand the
between these factors and the amount
discuss recent developments in
fishery is of great importance to both
ecological processes and factors that
of carbon getting to the fish and the
fisheries science and technology. It
the local economy and environmental
drive high productivities. It has also
corresponding catch sizes.
also provides young scientists in
management agencies."
been asserted that the lake's
The Environment Programme says
counterpart agencies with an
The hydrological regime of this
productivity is generally attributed to
this data will be useful to feed into its
opportunity to present their research
floodplain lake is highly dependent
the long-lasting flood cycle and the
environmental flow assessment work
to an international audience.
upon the size of the annual flow cycle
vegetation of the floodplain.
and will help determine if changes in
This year's meeting attracted a
of the Mekong River, which is in turn
Mr Say's study is intended to
the flood pulse system will have a
record audience of over 150
dependent upon the variability of the
determine the influence of the
significant impact on the lake's
fisheries scientists from countries as
south-west monsoon. Consequently,
seasonal flood pulse on the
ecological health.
far afield as Australia and Norway.
The programme contained 26 oral
Basin planning courses ready to roll
presentations and 37 poster displays
on subjects as diverse as fish yields
on floodplains, gender in fisheries
management and the economics of
he BDP team, in conjunction with the
basin planning is important for the
such attendees as BDP sub-committee
T
small-scale aquaculture.
MRC's human resources section and
sustainable development of the shared
members, river basin organisation chairs
The programme also included a
AusAID, launched the first pilot course of
resources of the Mekong River Basin.
and provincial governors and deputies.
workshop on the management of
a series of training courses on Integrated
To understand the major issues in
Level 2 (the pilot course) provides a
Mekong deep pools for fisheries,
River Basin Planning in November 2005.
basin planning for the basin.
technical overview and detailed
promoted by the TAB (Technical
Five Junior Riparian Professionals
To understand the principles and
information for planners and managers
Body for Fisheries Management).
currently engaged at the MRC Secretariat
practices of good basin planning and apply
from government agencies, river basin
Participants from the MRC member
took part in the five-day technical course,
those principles to the basin.
organisations, non-government
countries considered ways to
along with several riparian staff members.
To understand the role of basin
organisations, university students, MRC
increase knowledge of the ecology
The aim of these training courses,
planners and identify core competencies
professional staff and junior riparian staff.
and fish productivity of the pools
developed by the Murray Darling Basin
for the basin planners.
This is a seven-day course including a
and to improve the management of
Commission and the BDP team, will be to
To understand the role of the Mekong
field trip. Organisers say the course
fisheries in these important habitats.
improve integrated river basin planning
River Commission and gain an
combines river basin planning theory
Attendees also visited the Pak
knowledge and skills of members of river
appreciation of some of the tools and
which is integrated into practice.
Num Fisheries Conservation Unit
basin organizations involved in
information that the MRC can provide to
Pilot course participants offered a
and the Pha Taem National Park
formulating a Mekong River Basin
assist in basin planning.
positive response, saying the course was
where they saw 4,000-year-old rock
Development Plan.
The training modules have two levels.
effective and dealt with important issues.
paintings of fishing activities.
According to the organising team there are
Level one is a one-day course for high
The courses will now be launched in the
The Fisheries Programme will
five main objectives:
level policy makers who cannot spare
National Mekong Committees as soon as
publish a volume of papers from the
To understand and appreciate why
much time for training and might include
possible.
symposium in mid-2006.
Workshops and events
2nd NARBO General Meeting
International Conference on Rivers and Civilisation: Multidisciplinary
14-18 February 2006. Bandung, Indonesia
Perspectives on Major River Basins
masahiro_sugiura@water.go.jp
25-28 June 2006. La Crosse, Wisconsin, US
Tel: +81-48-600-6553 Fax: +81-48-600-6550
http://www.unesco.org/water/water_events/Detailed/1166.shtml
4th World Water Forum
3rd International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources
16-22 March 2006. Mexico City, Mexico
Management
Including The 1st International 'Water and Film' Event
26-28 September 2006. Bochum, Germany.
http://www.worldwaterforum4.org.mx
Mrs Jana Radoi, Conventus Congressmanagement & Marketing
Tel: +49 3641 35 33 221, Fax: +49 3641 35 33 271,
23rd MRC Joint Committee Meeting
water@conventus.de.
April 2006. Vientiane, Lao PDR
schiefer@mrcmekong.org
Mekong News is published quarterly by the Mekong River Commission
Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Please send comments, queries and ideas to:
Fourth Annual Mekong Flood Forum
Communications Officer, Office of the CEO, MRC Secretariat,
18-19 May 2006. Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Vientiane, Lao PDR
tien@mrcmekong.org
Phone: (856-21) 263 263 ext. 1122 Fax: (856-21) 263 264
Email: virginia@mrcmekong.org

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