1 The 2 nd 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

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 m 3 per year;  35% of annual flow (or equal 270,000 mil. m 3 ) 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.

Geography Mekong Basin Lao PDR Nam Ngum Nam Xong sub-Basins IWRM instruments Mekong IWRM Strategy Mekong IWRM-based BDP National Water Resources Strategy 2020 and Action Plan Nam Ngum IWRM Plan Nam Xong sub-basin plans WatershedsIntegrated 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 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 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. 3

IWRM Progress & Cooperation in Lao PDR (cont.) Technical Aspects: Applied IWRM in RB/sub-basin planning & Mgt. – first 5 basins mentioned in NSEDP & 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 )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 (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).

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