Mekong
The Mekong River Basin includes parts of China, Myanmar and Viet Nam, nearly one third of Thailand and most of Cambodia and Lao PDR. Population growth, along with renewed political stability after decades of conflict, has accelerated resource exploitation in the Mekong river basin. Although some stretches remain relatively untouched by human activity, the river is an economic lifeline for 60 million people.
The heavy reliance of the Mekong basin’s inhabitants on the river, especially for agriculture and fisheries, presents a number of complex, interrelated issues for transboundary governance and sustainable development. In the lower basin, which cuts through four countries, 70 percent of the inhabitants are subsistence farmers. Traditional rice cultivation goes hand in hand with fishing and the gathering of forest products.
The growing need for integrated basin management—to address food insecurity, rural poverty, environmental degradation, threats to biodiversity, and tensions among multiple users—makes the river basin a good choice for the Challenge Program on Water and Food. The lead role of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), which represents four of the basin’s riparian countries, is facilitating this process.Stakeholders from the Mekong River's riparian states identified several research objectives.
Research objectives:
· Establishing the value—social, environmental and economic—of water and land resources in the Mekong river basin
· Identifying the current status, trends and drivers of land and water resource use
· Improving livelihoods in the context of uncertainty caused by climate variability, restricted resources bases, limited access to information and
· poor infrastructure
· Addressing the social, economic and environmental consequences of different water and land resource use systems
· Improving land and water governance
The Challenge Program will help Mekong communities and their governments share water equitably and sustainably. Science-based multi-country basin management will contribute to balancing biodiversity conservation with economic progress for all.
The Program is identifying efficient, equitable and sustainable water allocation mechanisms for agriculture, fisheries, electricity generation, the environment, and urban and industrial use. Researchers will also improve water modeling and identify new options for intensifying agricultural, fisheries and livestock production, and for flood management. Results will be disseminated to the widest possible audience to ensure their rapid uptake into national policy discussions and administrative systems.
Publications from Mekong
Mekong Thoughts
Team Members
Contact
Page Information
|
Wiki Information |
Recent PBwiki Blog Posts |
Create your own free wiki!