Mekong News
July - September
2002 / 3
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION
Contents
Mekong River Commission wins
award for river Management
Mekong River Commission wins
award for river management
The Mekong River Commission
has been awarded the Thiess

Services International Riverprize
Experts on large rivers to meet
at this year's Riversymposium, an
annual event held in Brisbane,
Protected areas in Mekong
Australia. The International
region set to expand
Riverprize is the richest award of
its type in the world, to the value
Study of sub-areas to show
of AUD 100,000. The prize
cross-border impacts
recognizes excellence in river
management.
Workshops and events
This is the first time the prize has

been awarded for management of
CNMC: Returning from the
a river shared by developing
years of silence
MRC Chief Executive Officer Mr Joern Kristensen and MRC
countries.
Director Mr Chanthavong Saignasith receive the International

Riverprize in Brisbane on 5 September.
Severe flooding hits Mekong
On receiving the award on 5 September
Basin
in Brisbane, MRC Chief Executive
Commenting on the unique qualities of
Officer Mr Joern Kristensen said, "This
the Mekong management arrange-
MRC events
prize is, for us, a confirmation that the
ments, Mr Kristensen said, "The
concept of river basin management that
cooperation between Mekong countries
we are developing is the right one. We
has started before there is a crisis of
are now confident that MRC represents
water management. Water scarcity is
international best practice and
not a predominant problem and the
responds adequately to the needs of the
water of the Mekong is still relatively
people of the Mekong region. We are
clean. There is time for us to learn from
seen to be serious about the need to
both the successes and failures of other
secure livelihoods, and to enable
river basin organizations of the world.
economic and social prosperity."
The Mekong is the living, breathing
hope for the future of millions of
The Thiess International Riverprize has
people."
been awarded annually since the year
2000. The prize is open to an individual,
Previous Riverprizes have been
During the flood season,
organization, agency or group of
awarded for management of the
the Mekong River Commission
organizations that can demonstrate
Mersey River in the United Kingdom
broadcasts daily flood forecasts on its website,
outstanding achievement in river
and the Grand River in Canada. The
www.mrcmekong.org
management, and provides an
shortlisted nominees this year were the
incentive to further the worldwide
Danube River in Europe, the Fu-Nan
effort of restoring healthy rivers. The
River in China, the Humber River in
Mekong News is published quarterly by the
judging panel for the prize included
Canada, and the Kissimmee River in
Mekong River Commission Secretariat in
Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
representatives from international
the United States.
universities and from organizations
Please send comments, queries and ideas to:
An exhibition on the work of the
Communications Officer, Office of the Chief
such as the Global Water Partnership,
Executive MRC Secretariat, Phnom Penh.
the International Water Association
winner and finalists is currently on
and the Australian Academy of
show at the Queensland Museum,
(855-23) 720-979 ext 2017
Phone:
(855-23) 720 -972
Fax:
Science.
Brisbane.
delia@mrcmekong.org
E-mail:

---

Mekong News
2
July - September 2002/3
Experts on large rivers to meet
Peparations for the 2nd Large Rivers The Symposium will be run as a series of
Symposium (LARS2) in February
sessions chaired by panels of experts who
next year are well under way as more
will synthesise the knowledge presented
than 130 abstracts of scientific papers
and provide plenty of time for debate and
have come in, dealing with over 70
discussion. Alongside the main sessions,
rivers around the world including the
there will be opportunity to view papers
Ganges-Brahmaputra, the Amazon, the
presented, discuss issues with individual
Zambezi, the Yangtse, the Mississippi,
authors, and see accompanying poster
the Mekong and many others.
displays.
Fishermen at Chiang Khong, Thailand.
The Symposium, jointly organised by
Session topics will be on the status of
the Mekong River Commission, the
representative large rivers on various
Cambodian Department of Fisheries
continents, the economic valuation of
The International Large Rivers
and the United Nations' Food and
river fisheries, fisheries ecology and
Symposium 2 will be held at the Hotel
Agriculture Organisation (FAO), will
conservation, traditional and co-
Le Royal, Phnom Penh, Cambodia from
be a global forum for the sharing of
management strategies for large inland
11 to 14 February 2003.
information related to fisheries in large
fisheries, methods of data collection and
rivers. It will include concerns about
analysis, and international mechanisms
To register, visit the LARS2 website at
such issues as livelihoods, participa-
for dealing with rivers. A final synthesis
www.lars2.org or contact Jane Williams
tory management, conservation of bio-
session will form conclusions and
at the Mekong River Commission:
diversity and rehabilitation of river
recommendations for management of
fax (855-23) 720-972 or
ecosystems.
transnational rivers.
email: jane@mrcmekong.org
Protected areas in Mekong region set to expand
Aeas protected under national The four Lower Mekong countries caught in the
conservation systems will
together have more than 13 per cent of
M e k o n g ,
expand in Cambodia, Lao PDR,
their area under national systems of
valued at
Thailand and Viet Nam in the near
protection. More land and sea territory
U S $ 1 . 4 5
future, as the countries recognise the
is being brought under protected area
billion. Fish
benefits of conservation in the context
management. Over the next 10 years, this
and fish-
of broad social and economic
proportion is expected to cover more
based prod-
development. This is the view of
than 15 per cent of the Mekong River
ucts make up
experts involved in a study of key
region, including areas in Myanmar and
70 per cent of
conservation areas in the four Lower
Yunnan province in China.
the animal
Mekong countries, due to present
protein in
findings to government decision-
Since 1980, Cambodia has gone from
the diet of
makers at a regional work-shop in
having no protected areas to declaring
o r d i r a r y
Phnom Penh on 17-18 October.
over 20 per cent of its territory to be
Cambodians."
protected. Lao PDR has gone from one
The process to review protected areas
per cent to 12.5 per cent. In the same time
Forest produce at weekend market in
regionally has brought together
period, Thailand has gone from 10 per
Som Det, Northern Thailand
economists, environmental experts
cent to 17 per cent, and Viet Nam from 3
Technical support for the review has
and senior staff of protected area
per cent to 7 per cent.
been provided by the Mekong River
management agencies from the
Commission, the United Nations
fourmember countries of the Mekong
At the opening of the 1st regional
Development Programme, World Wide
River Commission, as well as
workshop on Protected Areas and
Fund for Nature, Birdlife International
Myanmar and China. An earlier
Development in May, Chief Executive
and the International Centre for
workshop on 6-7 May this year
Officer of the MRC Mr Joern Kristensen
Environmental Management (ICEM) in
reviewed the past 10 years' experience
said, "This national and world heritage
partnership with the World
of managing protected areas in the
area is a unique resource, not only to
Conservation Union (IUCN). The
Mekong River region, focusing onthe
Mekong peoples but to all humanity. The
review is sponsored by DANIDA,
value of protected areas to economic
biodiversity of the Mekong River Basin
AusAID, the Swiss Development
development, and aiming to streng-
is equal only to that of the Amazon. Every
Corporation and the Mekong River
year up to 1.75 million tonnes of fish are
Commission.

---

July - September 2002/3
Mekong News
3
Study of sub-areas to show cross-border impacts
Member countries of the Mekong
River Commission have each
selected a "pilot" area in their country
for an immediate study of the potential
Northern
cross-border impacts of development.
Chiang
Laos
Rai
The pilot areas are the Tonle Sap area
Central Laos
in Cambodia, the northern area of Lao
PDR, the Chiang Rai area in Thailand,
Nongkai/Song
Khram
and the Mekong Delta in Viet Nam.
Ethnic minority girls, Lao PDR
They are the first four in a selection of
Mun/Chi
Southern
10 areas (known as `sub-areas') to be
Laos
Se San / Sre Pok
Workshops and
studied as part of MRC's Basin
Se kong
Tonle Sap
events
Development Plan (BDP), a general
planning tool and process for
Kratie
MRC Joint Committee study tour on
developing the water resources of the
resolution of transboundary
Lower Mekong River Basin. The BDP
environmental issues to
is a core programme of the MRC,
Switzerland, Poland, Germany and
Delta
Czech Republic
approved by the MRC Ministerial
5-15 October 2002
Council. The heart of the BDP's brief is
Contact person: Siriporn
to promote coordination of planning
Kunlapatanasuwan,
across sectors and countries, and to
siriporn@mrcmekong.org
ensure that the effects of development
outside the immediate area are taken
by a network of hydrological stations
Regional workshop for formulation of
into account.
that monitor water levels, flow and
Flood Management and Mitigation
quality.
Strategy Implementation Plan
The sub-areas chosen are catchments of
18-19 October 2002
Annex building, MRC Secretariat
particular significance to the overall
The potential cross-border effects of
Contact: Bun Veasna,
river flow and water quality. In the case
water resources development will be
bveasna@mrcmekong.org
of Lao PDR, the mountainous northern
assessed mainly in terms of changes to
area was chosen for the pilot study,
water flow and quality in the river
Workshop review of Protected Areas
spreading over six provinces including
system. The information for these
and Development in 4 Lower Mekong
Luang Prabang, Phongsaly and Bokeo.
assessments will be drawn from a
Basin countries
The choice was made in line with the
variety of sources: from hydrological
17-18 October 2002
Lao government's poverty alleviation
and water quality models being
Cambodiana Hotel, Phnom Penh
Contact: Chin Samouth,
priorities, which focus on the
developed under the MRC's Water
samouth@mrcmekong.org
mountainous regions. The Chiang Rai
region in Thailand was chosen because
Utilisation Programme and Enviro-
Regional workshop for formulation of
it is adjacent to the Lao area under
nment Programme, from forums in the
MRC Navigation Strategy
study; hence the potential for new
sub-areas bringing together representa-
21-22 October 2002
economic and social development, and
tives of local users of natural resources,
Cambodiana Hotel, Phnom Penh
its possible impacts on the environ-
and from briefings by local provincial
Contact: Lieven Geerinck,
ment, can be easily studied on both
government officials. The studies
geerinck@mrcmekong.org
sides of the river. The area has seen
covering all sub-areas are expected to
Annual meeting of MRC Council and
increased trade over the past one year,
take over a year to complete, with work
Donor Consultative Group
as more shipping from China has come
due to begin before the end of 2002.
11-14 November
into the ports of Chiang Kong and
Ho Chi Minh City
Chiang Saen.
When completed, information from the
Contact: Luong Thu Thuy,
studies will be used to create develop-
thuy@mrcmekong.org
Both the Tonle Sap and Mekong Delta
ment strategies and scenarios, which
areas are crucial to food security in the
can then be shaped into proposals for
5th Technical Symposium on Mekong
region, and therefore are a priority for
sustainable development projects in the
Fisheries
11-13 December 2002
further study. All the areas are served
Lower Mekong Basin.
Khon Kaen, Thailand
Contact: Dr Chumnarn Pongsri,
chumnarnp@mrcmekong.org

---

Mekong News
4
July - September 2002/3
CNMC: Returning from the years of silence
The National Mekong Committees in
Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and
Viet Nam were established in 1957 as
coordinating bodies for operations of the
former Mekong Committee. Due to internal
turmoil, for some time Cambodia was a
dormant member of the Mekong
partnership. In this interview with Mr
Pich Dun, Deputy Secretary-General of the
Cambodian National Mekong Committee
(CNMC), it is clear that the years of silence
are over.
The Secretariat of the CNMC in Phnom Penh
When Mr Pich Dun joined the CNMC Pich Dun recalls, "From 1957 to 1975,
in 1991, he was an irrigation engineer each member country would propose
working on a reappraisal of the Prek its own plans for development. It was
Thnot project in Kompong Speu not like now, when we think basin-
province, on a tributary of the Mekong. wide. Poverty reduction is the first
priority for Cambodia."
The Prek Thnot dam project had been
Phnom Penh port
planned in the 1960s for irrigation and For the CNMC, that means working on
build another two bridges across the
hydropower. From 1969 to 1972, a third increasing production of rice and
Mekong, at the Cambodia-Lao
of its construction was completed. general agricultural products, and
border in Stung Treng province and at
During Khmer Rouge rule in the 1970s, ensuring sustainable management of
Neak Leung, an important crossing
most of the dam was broken down the inland fishery, which employs over
point not far from the capital.
again and the building materials used 1million Cambodians and feeds many
for other purposes.
more. The Committee also wants to see
The question of hydropower is still an
improvements in port facilities at the
important one for Cambodia.
Following a reappraisal of the original key locations of Phnom Penh Port, at
"Cambodia right now lacks power,"
project and CNMC discussions with the Tonle Sap in Siem Reap, and at river
said Pich Dun. "We use diesel-fuelled
donors, the Japanese government locations that feed into the Great Lake
power plants and the cost is very
agreed to provide funding of around in the provinces of Kompong Chhnang
expensive. Right now there is only one
US$ 40,000 for an agriculture project in and Pursat, which are important points
hydropower plant in the whole
the Prek Thnot area, an easy 90-minute for fish landings and domestic trade in
country with the capacity to eventually
drive to the markets of Phnom Penh.
general.
produce 10 to 11 megawatts of power.
This is at the newly inaugurated
It is one of many changes that the The Secretariat of the CNMC is due to
Kirirom hydropower plant."
CNMC has seen over the years, as plans begin more intensive work on the Tonle
from the early years of the Mekong Sap Biosphere Reserve programme,
The make-up of National Mekong
Committee have been revised or with a fresh infusion of funds from the
Committees varies from country to
changed completely to be in line with a Asian Development Bank and the
country. Members of the CNMC
broader view of sustainable develop- Global Environment Facility (GEF)
represent 10 line ministries. The
ment.
through UNDP in 2003.
Committee's Secretariat is located in
the Beng Keng Kang area, close to
When the CNMC was re-established Developing countries also want
many aid organisations. The Minister
after the years of instability, resources infrastructure development, and
for Public Works, His Excellency Khy
were scarce. Three years ago, the United Cambodia is no exception. "As the
Tainglim, is Chair of the CNMC and
Nations Development Programme country develops, we would expect to
represents Cambodia on the MRC
(UNDP) launched a Capacity-Building see more roads and bridges being
Council, its highest ruling body. There
Programme with the four National built," said Pich Dun. "Cambodia now
are three Vice-Chairmen of the CNMC:
Mekong Committees. More staff have has its own Mekong bridge at
the Minister for Water Resources and
been recruited and trained, and the Kompong Cham, built with Japanese
Meteorology H.E. Lim Kean Hor, the
office equipment and premises have funds." The Cambodian government
Minister for Environment H.E. Mok
been upgraded.
has recently requested further aid to
Mareth, and the current chair of the

---

Mekong News
5
July - September 2002/3
Severe flooding hits Mekong basin
Most of the Mekong basin As the waters began to
experienced serious flooding
recede by the end of
this season, with Thailand and Lao
August, water levels rose
PDR awash in some of the heaviest
in the southern provin-
floods in living memory.
ces, traditionally the most
flood-prone areas.
In Udon Thani province, northeastern
Thailand, floods killed at least 13
In Cambodia, floods
people and closed the airport in the
affected almost half a
provincial capital, which was 80 per
million people in six
cent under water. In the northern and
provinces. Surprise
northeastern provinces of Thailand,
flooding occurred in Prey
flooding caused an estimated US$ 24.5
Veng province due to
million worth of damage overall.
backflow from the
Flooded from their homes by the Mekong: Children wait by their water-
Mekong,
logged homes in Lao PRD
In mid-August, Vientiane and Luang
displacing 95,000 people for several
Prabang experienced their highest
days. The combination of both flood
mid-October.
floods since 1966, with flash floods also
and drought in Cambodia this year
occurring in some northern provinces.
may mean severe food shortages next
At press time, the Mekong Delta areas
year.
of Tan Chau and Chau Doc are still in
CNMC : Returning from ...
flood, with water levels continuing to
MRC's Joint Committee H.E. Sin Niny,
It appears that the peak periods in the
rise. During the past month of floods
formerly a Director-General at the Ministry
upper stations and Cambodia may now
in the Delta, 53 people have drowned,
of Agriculture. In charge of day-to-day
be past, but the rainy season is
most of them children who fell into the
operations at the CNMC is H.E. Hou Taing
not usually considered over until
water from their stilt houses.
Eng, its Secretary-General.
This concentration of high-ranking
representatives of the Cambodian
government ensures that the CNMC can
maintain a high profile amongst the
various line ministries. In 1999, Mekong
Coming soon
Units were set up in CNMC member
ministries, to promote coordination with
New publications from MRC
the CNMC Secretariat. Over the next few
months, the CNMC will undertake a series
of outreach visits to place Mekong issues
firmly on the development agenda of line
Freshwater aquaculture in the Lower Mekong Basin
ministries in Phnom Penh and provincial
Technical Paper No. 7, October 2002.
headquarters around the country.
Threats to healthy fisheries in the Mekong Basin
This is important, for more than 85 per cent
of Cambodia lies within the Lower Mekong
Technical Paper No. 8, October 2002.
Basin. As a downstream country, it
watches upstream developments with a
Technical Papers cost US$5, plus postage costs. Publications can be
careful eye. The CNMC has been involved
ordered from the MRC Secretariat's Documentation Centre, phone:
in discussions with Viet Nam on the Se San
(855-23)720-979 ext 1030, fax: (855-23)720-972, or
issue, and on the building of dikes as part
email:doc.centre@mrcmekong.org
of the So Ha - Cai Co Channel Improve-
Mekong government agencies can write to the MRC to obtain free
ment project close to the Viet Nam-
copies.
Cambodia border. It is just one example of
Address: Documentation Center, MRC Secretariat, P.O. Box 1112, 364
work that reflects the strategic role played
M.V. Preah Monivong, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
by the CNMC in the workings of the
Mekong River Commission.
· This feature on the CNMC is 1st in a 4-
part series about the National Mekong
Committees.

---

Mekong News
6
April-June 2002/2
MRC Events
Getting ready for the floods
The Mekong River Commission
marked the start of this year's flood
season by hosting the Australian
government's official handover of
floodplain manuals to the Cambodian
Red Cross.
Australian Ambassador H.E. Louise
Hand presented the manuals to Lok
Chum Teav Bun Rany Hun Sen,
Chairperson of the Cambodian Red
Lok Chum Teav Bun Rany Hun Sen (right) with H.E. Khy Tainglim (center)
Cross and wife of the Cambodian
as he receives manuals from H.E. Louise Hand (right). Ms. Clare Murphy of the
Prime Minister, and to H.E. Khy
International Federation of Red Cross in the background
Tainglim, Minister for Public Works
Mekong Issue profiled in seeking opportunities to further the
and Cambodian Council member of the
achievements of Johannesburg at the
Mekong River Commission, on 26 June
Johannesburg
3rd World Water Forum when it takes
at a ceremony at the MRC Secretariat.
place in Kyoto, Japan in March 2003.
The manuals present "best practice"
Mekong River issues featured amongst
During the Summit, an exhibition of
principles and guidelines for land-use
the many discussions at the World
materials and a movie screening of
management in floodplain areas,
Summit on Sustainable Development
"Mekong: The Mother" were also held
management of emergency situations,
in September, with two representatives
at the Water Dome in the Asian
and development of warning messa-
from the Mekong River Commission
Development Bank pavilion.
taking part in a range of events
ges.
alongside the Summit meeting, which
drew an estimated 60,000 visitors to
Key meetings open to MRC
The Secretary-General of the
Johannesburg, South Africa.
partners
Cambodian Red Cross, H.E. Professor
Okhna Viseth Vichea Mey Samediy,
MRC staff were part of a panel
artner organisations of the MRC will
also attended the handover.
discussing experiences of involving the
be invited to observe meetings of the
public in river basin management
Joint Committee and Ministerial
On 15 and 16 July, officials from the
issues, organised by the Washington
Council, its two governing bodies,
National Committee for Disaster
D.C.-based Environmental Law
when relevant issues are discussed.
Management (NCDM), governors,
Institute. They also took part in a panel
deputy governors, government staff
organised by the IUCN (World
This decision, taken by the MRC
and community workers from flood-
Conservation Union) called "The Last
Council (a Ministerial level grouping)
prone provinces in Cambodia attended
Drop of Water", discussing MRC's
at its November 2001 meeting, was
a workshop on Flood Forecasting and
process of negotiating maximum and
affirmed by the MRC Joint Committee
Early Warning Systems at the MRC
minimum water flows in the Mekong.
at its 10-11 July meeting this year. The
Secretariat. The workshop, jointly
decision opens the way for the MRC
organised by the MRC and the NCDM,
The MRC also took part in a meeting
to invite observers with a wide range
organised by the Water In Rivers
drew over 40 people to a day and a half
of expertise, as long as they are
Secretariat at the Dutch Pavilion in the
of presentations on flood preparedness
engaged in a specific partnership with
Water Dome, on the establishment of
the MRC.
measures and the gener-al hydrology
networks to share information on flood
of the Mekong. The workshop also
management and mitigation strategies.
In the near future, new observers are
provided training on how to use the
likely to include representatives of the
information provided in the MRC's
Probably the most high-profile events
Asian Development Bank (ADB), the
flood forecasting web pages. H.E.
to involve MRC staff were a kick-off
Association of South-East Asian
Nhim Vanda, Vice-Chairman of the
meeting of the 3rd World Water
Nations (ASEAN), the World Wide
NCDM, presided over the opening of
Forum's Ministerial Conference, and a
Fund for Nature (WWF) and the
the workshop.
brainstorming session of agencies
International Union for Conservation

---

Mekong News
7
July - September 2002/3
MRC Events
The Mekong River Commission began broadcasting five-day flood forecasts,
of Nature (IUCN). The ADB, WWF and
countries, willbe presented with an
IUCN have signed partnership
implementation plan for MRC's
agreements with the MRC.
regional flood management strategy,
on June 15. The forecasts will continue till the flood season ends.
which spells out nine different
Attending governing body meetings
components for flood management and
will provide observers with insights
mitigation in the Lower Mekong Basin.
updated daily, on its website at www.mrcmekong.org
into the positions of member countries
and the nature of day-to-day
Over the years, the thinking of planners
cooperation with the Secretariat. It will
regarding flood management has
also help promote the specific develop-
changed. In the past, flood control and
ment needs of the Lower Mekong
prevention was the aim, but planners
Region to a global audience. To date,
now understand the annual cycle of
observers to Joint Committee and
Mekong floods to be an integral part
Council meetings have been from the
of the ecosystem, driving a high
United Nations Development Progra-
production of fish and replenishing the
mme (UNDP) and the United Nations
soil with nutrients.
Economic and Social Commission for
the Asia-Pacific (ESCAP). The
The programme concept of "Living
governments of China and Myanmar
With Floods", therefore, aims to give
attended as observers.
people living in flood-prone areas prior
warning, so that they can move to safer
Other MRC partner organisations at
areas or take other precautions when
present include the Murray-Darling
necessary. The plan is based on
Basin Commission in Australia, the
improved forecasting, warning and
Asian Institute of Technology, the
dissemination measures; regional
World Meteorological Organisation,
networking and exchange of
the United Nations Environment
information on land-use; development
Programme's International Environm-
of agreed upon guidelines and
ental Technology Centre, UNESCO's
principles for land-use planning; better
Institute for Water Education Cooper-
analysis of flood risk; and development
ation, the Asian Disaster Preparedness
of guidelines for flood-proofing of
Centre and the Network of Aquacul-
buildings.
ture Centres in the Asia-Pacific
(NACA).
The Council is also expected to sign off
on Preliminary Procedures for
The Joint Committee of the MRC meets
Notification, Prior Consultation and
two to three times a year. The MRC
Agreement regarding proposed uses of
Council meets annually.
Mekong water, a key step in an ongoing
process of developing "rules" for water
Floods and notification on utilisation between the four countries
Council agenda
of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and
Viet Nam. The "rules" process is
funded by the Global Environment
Flood matters will be high on the
Facility (GEF) through the World Bank
agenda when the Council, MRC's
over a 6-year period, with parallel co-
Ministerial-level ruling body, has its
financing by the Governments of Japan,
ninth annual meeting in Ho Chi Minh
France and Finland. Last year, the
City, Viet Nam on 11 and 12 November.
Council approved Procedures for Data
The Council, made up by Cabinet
and Information Exchange.
ministers from each of the four member

---