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The 2nd Green Mekong ForumInternational Conference on “Green Mekong Initiative”

Water Resources Management in Lao PDR

By:Mr. Phousavanh FongkhamdengDepartment of Water Resources,

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

21 October 2013, Bangkok, Thailand

Overview-Water Resources in Lao PDR

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

Geography

Mekong Basin

Lao PDR

Nam Ngum

Nam Xongsub-Basins

IWRM instruments

Mekong IWRM Strategy Mekong IWRM-based BDP

National Water Resources Strategy

2020 and Action Plan 2011-2015

Nam Ngum IWRM Plan

Nam Xong sub-basin plans

Watersheds Integrated Watershed Management Plans (Nam Po)

IWRM IN LAO PDR

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. Institutional Strengthening & Coordination;2. Legislation, Plans and Implementation;3. RB and Sub-RBs WR Planning;4. Groundwater Management;5. Data & Information Management;6. Water Allocation;7. Protection of WQ and Ecosystems;8. Wetland Management;9. Flood and Drought Management;10. WR Risk Mgt. & CC Adaptation;11. IWRM Financing;12. Awareness, Participation & Capt. Building.

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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;

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;

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;

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