July­September
Issue 2006/3
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
Members sign water flow procedures
enior government ministers
Prevention of peak flows greater
S representing the four Mekong
than occur naturally.
River Commission (MRC) member
The Procedures for Maintenance of
countries signed an important
Flows on the Mainstream clarify the
agreement on the procedures
related provisions of the Mekong
governing the maintenance of flows
Agreement through further defining
on the Mekong mainstream on 22
objectives, principles and scope of
June 2006. The Ministers, who are
their application as well as the roles
also members of the MRC Council
and responsibilities of the various
endorsed the Procedures for the
parties required for their
Maintenance of Flows on the
implementation, including the MRC
Mainstream at a signing ceremony
Council, the MRC Joint Committee,
held in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
the NMCs and the MRC.
In attendance were H.E. Mr. Lim
Most notably the Procedures
Kean Hor, Minister of Water
delegate the responsibility to prepare
Resources and Meteorology,
Technical Guidelines for their
Cambodia; H.E. Mr. Somphong
The four MRC Council Members share the Mekong Spirit after the signing ceremony.
implementation to the members of the
Mongkhonvilay, Minister to the Prime
Joint Committee.
Minister's Office, Lao PDR; H.E. Mr.
representatives from the Thai and
through the World Bank.
Yongyut Tiyapairat, Minister of
Cambodian consulates; MRC
The flow procedures are required
These Technical Guidelines will
Natural Resources and Environment,
Secretariat Chief Executive Officer
under the provisions of the 1995
define in concrete terms the actual
Thailand (and Chairman of the MRC
Dr Olivier Cogels and MRCS staff.
Mekong Agreement which require the
flow and level values and the location
Council 2005/2006); H.E. Dr. Cao
The MRC's Water Utilisation
MRC member states to cooperate in
of the Mekong mainstream
Duc Phat, Minister of Agriculture and
Programme is working with the four
the maintenance of:
hydrological stations which will be
Rural Development, Viet Nam;
member countries to help them
Acceptable minimum monthly
used to monitor these flows and
members of the MRC Joint
develop and formulate a range of
flows in the dry season
levels.
Committee and the four National
water procedures with support from
Acceptable natural reverse flow
The MRC is now undertaking work
Mekong Committees (NMCs);
the Global Environment Facility
of the Tonle Sap during the wet season
analysing flow regime changes.
JC supports Strategic Plan 2006-2010
he 23rd meeting of the Joint
was now poised to move toward more
TCommittee held in Savannakhet,
concrete technical cooperation within
Lao PDR on 4-5 April witnessed the
its established dialogue partnership
signing of the Guidelines on
and was in the process of discussing
Implementation of the Procedures for
and identifying a number of possible
Water Use Monitoring, which would
work areas.
enable member countries to facilitate
MRC Secretariat Chief Executive
the implementation of two important
Officer Dr Olivier Cogels told
previously signed procedures
delegates that the MRC's financial
concerning water use monitoring and
The four Joint Committee members sign the Water Monitoring Guidelines.
situation was sound and stable.
data and information sharing.
community and reflects their views,
they approved the improved version
JC members also approved the
The donor community had
demonstrating a strong shared vision
of the Strategic Plan, which includes
process to be followed for the
continued to show strong support for
of the need for a regional perspective
additional suggestions from member
finalisation of the MRC Strategic Plan
the work of the MRC over the six
in development.
countries and donors.
2006 ­ 2010. This is an important
months to April 2006 new funding
step toward the final adoption of the
Final discussions with the JC
The 23rd Joint Committee meeting
agreements worth more than US$8.3
Strategic Plan. This plan has been
members took place at an Informal
also heard that over the past year
million had been signed with
developed by the member states, and
Joint Committee Meeting held in
MRC's relationship with China and
Australia, Belgium, the Challenge
in consultation with the donor
Vientiane on 22-23 May 2006 where
Myanmar had strengthened. MRC
Continued page 2
INSIDE
Navigational Aids will boost trade on the Mekong
France extends support for Mekong-HYCOS
Early warnings are key to flood management
24th meeting of the MRC Joint Committee ­ 28th-29th August 2006, Vientiane, Lao PDR
For information about the MRC please contact: Tel: 856 21 263 263 Email: mrcs@mrcmekong.org Website: www.mrcmekong.org

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Joint
MRC takes plan to stakeholders Committee...
epresentatives from the Mekong
From page 1
R River Commission were delighted
Programme on Water and Food,
to have the chance to play an active
Denmark, Finland, France, Japan,
role in a recent regional stakeholder
Sweden and the United States of
forum entitled the Mekong Region
America. The Belgian funding had
Waters Dialogue - Water Futures
enabled the launching of the
Together, held in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Navigation Programme, while
The aim of the dialogue meeting
Denmark had provided the bulk of
was to provide a platform for
funding needed to support the
participants to learn, share and
Fisheries Programme for a further
discuss different perspectives
three years.
regarding decision-making for water
Dr Cogels said the MRC had also
development and management in the
strengthened its partnerships with
Mekong Region. The MRC welcomed
development banks in the region,
this opportunity to both inform
IUCN
such as the World Bank, the Asian
stakeholders in the Mekong Basin
Dr Cogels explains the work of the MRC and its strategic goals to dialogue participants,
Development Bank, French
about its work and seek their
who noted their suggestions on cards which were pinned to the walls after the session.
Development Bank AFD and KfW
opinions, through active discussion,
German Development Bank.
on how it could improve this work.
within the Mekong River Basin to all
to it being tabled for adoption at the
participants, as did the World Bank
next MRC Joint Committee meeting
MRC had also formed a new
The dialogue, which was organised
and the Asian Development Bank.
in August 2006.
relationship with the Japan Bank for
by the IUCN, the Thailand
International Cooperation and been
Environment Institute, the
These presentations were followed
The session included representatives
heavily involved in the World Bank's
International Water Management
by facilitated round table discussions
from all sectors and countries and
Mekong Water Resources Assistance
Institute (IWMI) and the Mekong
where tables of 10 participants had
they took this opportunity to ask
Partnership Programme, which was
Programme on Water and Resilience
the chance to make their opinions
questions and engage in discussions
developed in close consultation with
(M-Power), was the first of its kind in
heard and discuss the issues raised by
relating to the Strategic Plan. The
the country governments, the MRC
the region to bring together
the presenters. These discussions
MRC requested that all those
and civil society and using MRC data
representatives from governments,
spurred many useful and constructive
interested submit their comments in
and expertise.
international organisations,
comments about the structure, work
writing for consideration of inclusion
development banks, civil society,
and involvement of the MRC.
in the Strategic Plan.
Dr Cogels said there was a
NGOs, private business and other
consensus that the MRC's role was to
On the second day of the dialogue
This is the second time the MRC
interested actors from the six Mekong
take leadership in strategic planning
the MRC made a presentation. and
has sought to involve stakeholders in
countries. More than 140 people
and management of the basin's water
particpated in the E-flows/integrated
its decision-making process for the
attended the forum.
and related resources and to identify
basin flow management session. The
sustainable development of the
joint and basinwide projects and
MRC Secretariat CEO Dr Olivier
MRC also hosted its own session
Mekong River Basin in the context of
programmes, while supporting line
Cogels made a presentation on the
focusing on the MRC Strategic Plan
its strategic planning process. The
agencies with knowledge and
MRC's regional strategy for use and
2006-2010. This session produced
first meeting was held in August 2005
expertise.
development of the water resources
extensive feedback to this plan prior
and more are planned.
Navigational aids will boost trade, aid safety
he Mekong River has always
the aids to navigation system with
T been the people's highway. Avital
maps and locations for the aids.
artery linking six countries, it has
These navigational aids will work
been used as a prime source of
for 24 hours a day. The installation of
transport since people first settled in
a navigational system which allows
the Mekong River Basin. But the real
boats to operate at night (thus
potential of commercial shipping has
increasing sailing time by 11 hours)
rarely been used.
would rapidly increase the trade from
Although the research and statistical
Cambodia. Previous experiences have
figures clearly show that moving
shown that installing proper
goods and people along the
navigational aids can boost traffic by
waterways is more economical and
35%. This increased trade will help
more environmentally friendly, it has
the country meet its goals of
taken a while to gain the confidence
alleviating poverty.
of politicians, planners and investors.
With the provision of adequate aids
There have always been risks with
to navigation, there is no need to fully
This hypothetical chart shows how buoys and beacons can help skippers navigate safely.
navigating the river and today, with
dredge the waterways, but simply to
larger, more powerful, craft plying the
Saen in Thailand to Luang Prabang in
in the LMB, while reducing the
beacon and buoy the deepest parts of
river, the risks are even greater.
Lao PDR is grounded.
incidence of accidents and minimising the river as a guide to vessels.
Natural hazards like rocks and
In Cambodia exporters who could
risks of environmental disasters
The MRC is also considering
rapids can only be negotiated by those
save money and ship more goods
through spillages on the waterways.
improving the navigation conditions
familiar with the river. In some
(particularly garments from the
It will do this by improving the
on the Upper Mekong River in the
regions only a handful of skilled
flourishing garment industry) from
navigation conditions on the Mekong
Lao PDR and Thailand between
skippers have intimate knowledge of
Phnom Penh to the deep sea ports in
River in the Delta between Phnom
Luang Prabang and Vientiane by
such hazards and even the most
Viet Nam, or directly to mother ports
Penh, Cambodia and the Vam Nao
possible installation of aids to
experienced sailors do not travel at
such as Hong Kong and Singapore,
Pass, Viet Nam by the installation of
navigation which would facilitate
night.
are halted in their tracks by only
aids to navigation which will facilitate river traffic in Lao PDR, and between
The result is that the economic
being able to sail during the day.
river traffic for inland barges between
Lao PDR and Thailand.
potential of the river is being
One of the initial aims of the the
Cambodia and Viet Nam and for
The NAP is partially funded by the
seriously under-exploited. Cargo
Mekong River Commission's
seagoing vessels between overseas
Belgian Government's Federal Public
which could be cheaply and safely
Navigation Programme (NAP) is to
ports and Cambodia and Viet Nam.
Service Foreign Affairs Directorate-
transported from the southern
increase the efficiency of domestic
The Navigation Programme has
General for Development
provinces of China through Chiang
and cross-border waterborne transport
now completed the detailed design for
Cooperation.

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France extends more aid to Mekong-HYCOS
Donors support
MRC strategy
n May 10, 2006 the Agence
O Française de Développement
The MRC held its annual Informal
(AFD, the French Development
Donor's Meeting in Vientiane on 5
Agency) signed an agreement with
July to discuss the MRC's Strategic
the Mekong River Commission
Plan for 2006-2010 and share with
(MRC) for a 2.5 million Euro grant to
our donors plans for future
support the development of the
programme work and financial issues.
Mekong-HYCOS ­ a regional
hydrological cycle observing system.
At this meeting the donor group,
The grant represents 1.5 million Euro
which comprised representation from
from the AFD and one million Euro
10 countries, the World Bank, the
from the French Global Environment
Asian Development Bank, the EU
Fund (FFEM). The AFD manages
and the UNDP, accepted and showed
both grants.
strong support for the latest draft of
the MRC's new Strategic Plan, giving
The MRC's Chief Executive Officer
a very positive sign for increased
Dr Olivier Cogels signed the
From left: H.E. Mr Maurice Portiche, Dr Olivier Cogels and Mr Etienne Woitellier.
funding for the MRC over the
agreement with Mr Etienne
observation system covering the
A representative of the Australian
coming years.They said that the
Woitellier, Director of the AFD in
mainstream and main tributaries of
Government's development arm
Strategic Plan provided a good basis
Vientiane, in the presence of H. E.
the Mekong River shared by the four
AusAID also attended the ceremony
for future work and they were
Maurice Portiche, Ambassador of
member states of Cambodia, Lao
as AusAID has been deeply involved
pleased to see more emphasis on the
France to the Lao PDR.
PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam.
with the MRC's river monitoring
MRC as a knowledge- based river
This is the second agreement the
basin organisation promoting
The project is part of the
work through its support of the
MRC has signed this year with AFD
sustainable development.
Information and Knowledge
Appropriate Hydrological Network
and complements the first agreement
Management Programme of the
Improvement (AHNIP) project.
The MRC sought input from many
(for 800,000 Euro) signed in January
MRC, aiming at providing up-to-date
AHNIP has put in place a regional
sources for the Strategic Plan and
2006, bringing the amount of French
and objective data, information and
hydrological system providing near
now has a very good understanding
support to 3.3 million Euros
decision support tools to basin's
real time data for more than 10
with all parties over this country-
The Mekong HYCOS project aims
stakeholders. It will be developed in
stations in the Mekong Basin.
driven plan and the leading role MRC
at establishing a reliable and well
partnership with the World
HYCOS will build on and integrate
can play in future sustainable
functioning regional hydrological
Meteorology Organisation.
this system.
development of the basin.
Finland backs deveIopment of knowledge management programme
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of
Ambassador, Embassy of Finland in
order to ascertain the general structure
document which will establish the
Finland has signed an agreement to
Bangkok and Dr Olivier Cogels, CEO
and framework that should be
IKMP to a point where funding can
provide 171,991 Euro (around
of the MRCS.
contained in an IKM programme.
be sought for its full operation.
US$216,600) to fund the formulation
The programme formulation is
This report will be followed by the
Australia will assist development
of the MRC Information and
already well under way with the
organisation submitting tenders for
and implementation of the IKMP and
Knowledge Management Programme.
production of an initial report which
consultants to come on site for several
preliminary work on the programme
The agreement was signed on 26
has drawn together all the relevant
months in order to transform this
is being undertaken under the AHNIP
April 2006 by H.E. Lars Backström,
data and methodology available in
framework into a programme
extension funding.
I n f o r m a t i o n p r o d u c t s
The MRC Annual Report 2005
Fishing Gears of Cambodia
Catch & Culture ­ Annual
Tagging fish ­ a case study
in Khmer
edition
from the Tonle Sap, Cambodia
The MRC Annual
in Lao, Thai and Vietnamese
Report contains reports
This hardback book is
MRC Technical Paper No 12
of programme work
the translation of the
These Lao, Thai
undertaken by the
earlier English
and Vietnamese
This report presents
MRC as well as future
version. It contains
editions of Catch
the results of a
plans and financial
techncial drawings
& Culture are a
tagging study of
reports. This year's
and descripitions of
compilation of
fish caught in the
edition also contains feature stories
around 150 gear types
selected articles published in editions
Tonle Sap River,
on the MRC's Strategic Plan 2006-
along with information about
of Catch & Culture over the past
north of Phnom
2010, our work with partners and the
seasonal uses, gender aspects, cost
year.
Penh Cambodia.
the use of computerised planning
and legal status. It also gives an
Nearly 3,000 fish were tagged and
tools in the sustainable development
insight into the living culture of the
May 2006. Free (plus postage)
released between October 2003 and
of the basin Also available as a free
Cambodian people whose lives are
January 2005. The study provides
download on www.mrcmekong.org or
based on harvesting the Mekong
some of the first hard evidence that
as a PDF on CD.
fisheries.
For access to the latest reports
Mekong fish migrate long distances.
and research on development
July 2006 Free (Postage applies)
June 2006. US$30.00 (plus postage)
issues visit www.mekonginfo.org
April 2006. US$5.00 (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,
Check the MRC website for a full list of products. Credit card sales are also
Sikhottabong District, Vientiane 01000, Lao PDR
available through the website, www.mrcmekong.org.
Phone: (856 21) 263 263 ext: 1122 Fax: (856 21) 263 264
All products are also available as free downloads from the MRC website.
Email: doc.centre@mrcmekong.org Website: www.mrcmekong.org

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Early warning systems the key to flood awareness
epresentatives of the Mekong
likely to be affected by floods.
R River Commission (MRC) and
In his welcome address, MRC
stakeholders working with floods met
Secretariat CEO Dr Olivier Cogels
together to discuss the improvement
underscored the lack of sophisticated
of flood forecasting and early warning
flood forecasting and warning
systems at the 4th Annual Mekong
systems in the Mekong River Basin
Flood Forum, held on 18-19 May in
and emphasised the urgent need to
Siem Reap, Cambodia.
improve the quality of flood
The theme of this year's forum was
information.
"Improving Flood Forecasting and
H.E Mr Sin Niny, Vice Chairman of
Warning Systems for Flood
the Cambodia National Mekong
Management and Mitigation in the
Committee, told the forum delegates
Lower Mekong Basin" and it aimed
that significant damage reduction
to raise the awareness of the current
Dr Cogels, H.E. Mr Sin Niny and Dutch First Secretary Dr Armand Evers gave opening addresses.
could only be achieved if a whole
state of flood forecasting and warning
range of necessary flood forecasting
systems at the national and regional
and national civil society
forecasting and the status of flood
and warning activities was
levels in the Lower Mekong Basin.
organisations and local communities
forecasting and warning in China,
implemented and well coordinated.
The forum also provided an
attended the forum. They gathered to
Myanmar and in the MRC.
This required the compilation of a
opportunity for participants to discuss
discuss the current status of flood
Efficient flood management and
high-quality database with high
the emerging needs within the basin
forecasting and warning systems in
mitigation is an important
quality data, competent and qualified
and to review the progress each
the Lower Mekong Basin, and to
precondition for poverty alleviation
human resources, state-of-the-art
country has made towards a holistic
exchange experiences, best practices
and sustainable development in the
support tools and models and suitable
and balanced flood management plan.
and ideas on managing and mitigating
Mekong region and the MRC
communication technologies for
floods in the region.
More than 100 participants from the
recognises the need to create a highly
warning dissemination.
four MRC member countries and
Topics of presentations included
efficient flood forecasting system,
The Forum was organised by
their line agencies, from Dialogue
flood preparedness and early warning
which must also include the ability to
MRC's Regional Flood Management
Partners China and Myanmar,
systems projects being conducted at a
cope with flash floods and which will
and Mitigation Centre in Phnom Penh
regional and international scientists
community level; the potential for
provide accurate, timely and easily
and supported by the Royal
and experts,academics, international
technology to improve flood
understood data to all those people
Netherlands Government.
Workshop kicks off irrigation project
Research under
discussion
he Agriculture Irrigation and
Process), details of fieldwork under
T Forestry Programme held its
the project, proposed pilot project
The Mekong River Commission is
inaugural regional workshop on the
sites and details of future RAP
joining forces with five Japanese
Improvement of Irrigation Efficiency
training workshops.
Mekong Research Groups to present
in Paddy Fields (IIEPF) project at the
an International Conference on
Mr Thierry Facon from the FAO
MRC Secretariat on 3-4 May 2006.
Mekong Research in Chiang Rai,
attended as did Mr Nakamura Ken,
Thailand on 18-21 October.
The workshop kicked off the
second secretary, Embassy of Japan
project which has been under
The aim of the four-day conference
Participants made slight
preparation since last year and aimed
is to unite the many Mekong research
amendments to the project document,
to finalise the project document and
groups working around the world so
prior to its acceptance. The project
discuss the outline of the forthcoming
they can discuss their common
will now commence activities such as
project activities.
agenda from different perspectives,
the RAP training workshop (held in
focusing on the people of the
The project is being run in
mid-July) fieldwork and further
Participants discuss project objectives.
Mekong Basin. The Japanese groups
collaboration with the United Nations
preparation.
say they hope this will help clarify
Food and Agriculture Organisation
discussion on the project concept and
Participants also had the
what has been tried and what has
(FAO) and is being supported by the
revised project document, were
opportunity to visit Nam Houm
been achieved, in order to avoid an
Government of Japan.
introduced to a unique irrigation
project, just outside Vientiane, to see
overlap of efforts, as well as giving
Around 30 participants from the
scheme appraisal tool introduced by
how water management and irrigation
participants the chance to discuss
four member countries had active
the FAO (the Rapid Appraisal
schemes work in Lao PDR.
future Mekong research.
Upcoming events
2006 World Water Week in Stockholm
3rd International Symposium on Integrated Water Resources
20-26 August 2006. Stockholm, Sweden
Management
www.worldwaterweek.org E-mail: sympos@siwi.org
26-28 September 2006, Bochum, Germany.
Jana Radoi, +49 3641 35 33 221 Email: water@conventus.de.
24th Joint Committee Meeting and 11th Dialogue Meeting
28th -31st August, Vientiane, Lao PDR
International Conference on Mekong Research for the
schiefer@mrcmekong.org
People of the Mekong
18-21 October, 2006, Chiang Rai, Thailand
9th International Riversymposium
Email: sec@conf-mekong.com www.conf-mekong.com
Managing Climate change and Expanding Populations
4-7 September, 2006, Brisbane, Australia
International Forum on Water and Food
www.riversymposium.com.au Email: emily@riverfestival.com.au
Vientiane, Lao PDR 12-17 November 2006
email: kim.geheb@mrcmekong.org www.waterandfood.org
10th International Conference on Wetland Systems for
Water Pollution Control
23-29 September 2006, Lisbon, Portugal
Mekong News is published quarterly by the Mekong River Commission
Organiser: International Water Association (IWA)
Secretariat in Vientiane, Lao PDR. Please send comments, queries and ideas
http://www.unesco.org/water/water_events/Detailed/1202.shtml
to the Communications Officer, Phone: (856-21) 263 263 ext. 1122
Fax: (856-21) 263 264 Email: virginia@mrcmekong.org

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