The 2nd Green Mekong Forum
International Conference on “Green Mekong Initiative”
Water Resources Management
in Lao PDR
By:
Mr. Phousavanh Fongkhamdeng
Department of Water Resources,
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment
21 October 2013, Bangkok, Thailand
1
OverviewWater Resources in Lao PDR
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Lao PDR is located in South-East
Asia with Area of 236,800 km2,
approx. 6.2 Mil. people;
90% of the country are in
Mekong Basin;
Water resources per capita is
around 55,000 m3 per year;
35% of annual flow (or equal
270,000 mil. m3) in Mekong is
from Lao tributaries;
The monthly rivers flow by the
pattern of rainfall is around 80%
during the rainy season and 20%
in the dry season.
Overview - The Basin Linkages
IWRM IN LAO PDR
Geography
IWRM instruments
Mekong
Basin
Mekong IWRM Strategy
Mekong IWRM-based BDP
Lao PDR
National Water Resources Strategy
2020 and Action Plan 2011-2015
Nam Ngum
Nam Ngum IWRM Plan
Nam Xong
sub-Basins
Nam Xong sub-basin plans
Watersheds
Integrated Watershed
Management Plans (Nam Po)
IWRM Progress & Cooperation
in Lao PDR
Institutional Aspects:
•
The government is working very
constructively to improve the water
resources planning and management system
in Lao PDR;
•
IWRM responsibility (Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environment (MONRE) + 17
PONRE + 147 DONRE countrywide);
•
Department of Water Resources is one of 17
Departments in MONRE;
•
Water & Water Resources Law (revising, next
month pass GOL Roundtable and expect that
end of 2013 pass National Assembly);
•
Water Resources Strategy 2020 (in place,
indicated 12 major programmes).
National Water Resource Strategy
2020
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Institutional Strengthening & Coordination;
Legislation, Plans and Implementation;
RB and Sub-RBs WR Planning;
Groundwater Management;
Data & Information Management;
Water Allocation;
Protection of WQ and Ecosystems;
Wetland Management;
Flood and Drought Management;
WR Risk Mgt. & CC Adaptation;
IWRM Financing;
Awareness, Participation & Capt. Building.
3
IWRM Progress & Cooperation
in Lao PDR (cont.)
Technical Aspects:
• Applied IWRM in RB/sub-basin planning & Mgt. – first 5 basins
mentioned in NSEDP 2011-2015 & more (Nam Ngum, Nam Theun-Kading,
Sebangfai, Sebanghieng, Sekong, Sedone…);
• National IWRM Support Programme - IWRM Capacity & Awareness Plans,
RBM+ IWRM Curriculums Development, IRBM Guidelines, Water
Resources Inventory & Modeling, Groundwater Management, Climate
Change to Water, etc (implementing);
• Pilot project on WQ monitoring in RB/sub-basin (Nam Lik, Nam Ting-Nam
Chat, Nam Kho, etc & expanding to others) + guidelines development;
• National IWRM Demonstration Site and training centre in Vangvieng
District , Vientiane Province (approx. 8,000 ha, benchmarking, designing);
• Lao IWRM Financing Study – water use fee, WR fund options, etc.
(putting into Presidential Decree on Natural Resources Charges -ongoing)
• Public-Private-Community IWRM Awareness and Participation.
“Consultation & Public Awareness”
“e.g. River Clean Up Day – Nam Xong”
“e.g. Gender Mainstreaming in IWRM”
Some Challenges

New institutional arrangement & establishment;
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Legislations need to improve, IWRM-based plans
(still limited understanding of stakeholders-public,
private, communities);

Limited capacity of concerned staff on RB planning
& management + public awareness & local
participation on IWRM;

Lack of efficient & accurate WR data & information;
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WR development increased -WQ and ecosystems
has been degraded in some areas;

Natural disaster frequently occurred and more
severe - floods, drought & CC impact on water
countrywide;
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Limit financial support & sustainable mechanism;
Milestones 2011-2015
1) Implement and disseminate the
National Water Resource Strategy 2020
(12 programmes);
2) Continue to update and implement WR
law + its supported legal documents –
decree, regulations, etc;
3) Carry out IWRM-based planning &
management in basins including (NN,
NT-KD, Sekong, Sebangfai, Sebanghieng,
Sedone, Nam Ou) & other tributaries;
4) Create and improve water database &
link with RBs & related line agencies;
5) Study and establish WR fund, water use
fee/benefit sharing for IWRM and
testing its operation;
Milestones 2011-2015 (cont.)
6)
Implement the capacity development &
awareness raising plan on IWRM (plan in
placed);
7)
Prepare and implement WQ, wetlands and
groundwater mgt. plan, profiles and
guidelines;
8)
Flood and Drought Management;
9)
Create demonstration site, training centre on
IWRM + awareness + Capacity Development.;
10) Encourage more stakeholders in IWRM incl.
hydropower, mining and related issue
forums;
11) Promote more investments for conservation
and rehabilitation of WR & response to CCA
on water (small infrastructure, etc). .
Priority Needs for Cooperation
• Lao PDR needs to have
appropriate management
approach, policy suit to Laos
context and capacities for
IWRM including technical
capacity and funding.
• Participate in regional and
global cooperation &
exchange in IWRM in all
aspects (trainings, exchange,
meetings, forums, etc).
Thank You
Contact: lan-laos@hotmail.com; lan.jrp@gmail.com;
Mobile: +856 20 2366 5577
Office Contact:
www.dwr.monre.gov.la
Tel: +856-21 241 744; Fax: +856-21 218 737