Sharing the

Waters in
the Mekong
River
Chavez, Morales, Nepacina
Outline
● Quick Facts
● Significance of the
Mekong River
● Issues of the Mekong
River
● Mekong River Today
About the Mekong River
- Longest river in Southeast Asia, the 7th longest in Asia and the
12th longest river in the world
- length of about 2,700 miles (4,350 km)
- Rising in southeastern Qinghai province, China, it flows through
the eastern part of the Tibet Autonomous Region and Yunnan
province, after which it forms part of the international border
between Myanmar (Burma) and Laos, as well as between Laos and
Thailand.
- One of the most biologically diverse areas in the world next to the
Amazon River
- It contains full of natural resources including fishes and other
aquatic diversities living in that region
Significance ● Geographical
Location
of the
● Natural
Mekong Resources
River ● Fisheries
Geographical
Location
Geographical Location
- Starting from the Tibetan Plateau, it spans
4,909km through the territories of Myanmar,
Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

- In its length, it branches into these countries,

creating marshes, swamplands, and fertile soil fit
for agricultural development.
Geographical Location
- The Mekong River Delta makes up more than 50% of
Vietnam’s crop fields.

- Over 80% of the 40 million people living along the

lower Mekong River depend on the waters for their
food and income.

- The river strategically acts as an important trade

route connecting the six countries with each other
and the world.
Geographical Location
- The Mekong River passes through a plethora of
biomes and climates. From the snowy highlands
to the tropical delta, it connects to many
tributaries, rivers, and banks, making use of its
stream and path to create a variety of natural
resources.
Natural Resources
- The Mekong River is second to the Amazon in
terms of biodiversity in plants and animals, both
mainly due to its coverage of different biomes.

- With an average of 15,000m3 of water flowing

through the river, it irrigates forests and
wetlands throughout its length, increasing the
benefits it provides to those areas and their
inhabitants.
Natural Resources
- Fertile wetlands promote agriculture, aquaculture,
capture fisheries, non-fish aquatic goods, and
tourism.

- Fertile forests can produce quality building materials,

medicines, food, as well as plant and animal products,
medicines, exudates, and dyes.

- Both can provide natural flood mitigation, water

storage, and wastewater treatment.
Natural Resources
- Natural wetlands can also filter out the toxins
and excess nutrients from wastewater prior to its
entry into the Mekong River.

- The fertility provided to the lands surrounding

the Mekong River have been used for rice
cultivation, agriculture, and prevalent
aquaculture development through fisheries.
Fisheries
- With an approximate of 2 million tons of fish
caught for domestic consumption and export,
valuing at $3.9 to $.7 billion USD.

- The fisheries in the Mekong River accounted for

13% of the total $130 billion catch forecast in 2015.
Fisheries
- For the region’s smaller countries, the river
emphasized their dependence on the the
economic value gained from fisheries.

- The region’s larger countries still benefit from the

fisheries, but they benefit from the hydroelectric
power in the lower Mekong basin.
Issues of
the
Mekong
River
Issues in the Mekong River
- Agriculture
- Pollution
- Dumping chemicals in water
- Deforestation
- Climate Change
Agriculture
- It relies heavily on pesticides and fertilizers; it also drives
deforestation, which causes erosion. Chemical, nutrient,
and sediment runoff from farms winds up in the Mekong
River Delta, where it degrades water quality, shifts
natural nutrient cycles, and alters wildlife habitat.

- Agricultural expansion causes competition for water,

and contributes pollution from pesticides, fertilizers,
and animal waste
Pollution: Municipal Waters
- The pollution from industry and municipalities is also
a big problem for freshwater systems because:

- It contributes to the extra nutrients that causes

algal overgrowth
- It carries thousands of chemicals from products
used in daily life such as cosmetics, soaps,
pharmaceuticals, cleaning supplies, and more
Dumping of chemicals in water
- Chemicals in freshwater may be a factor in the
alarmingly sharp worldwide decline of amphibians.

- The consequence of dumping chemicals in water has

led around 200 species having adverse reactions to
endocrine disruptors such as estrogen and chemical
mimics that get into the environment via and
veterinary pharmaceuticals.
Deforestation
- In the vast expanse of the river, the forests which have
grown and continue to grow around it face the threat
of deforestation.

- Illegal loggers take down forests, leaving surrounding

areas vulnerable to flooding and the main stream
prone to contamination from wastewater tributaries
and banks connected to the main river.
Climate Change
- It projects shorter wet seasons, longer and
drier dry seasons, increases in temperature
which will increase evaporation, and an
increase in extreme weather events, including
typhoons and periodic flooding. These
changes are expected to have a strong
impact on the hydrology of the region.
Impact of China on the Mekong River
- China wants to develop the Mekong River to
exploit its hydroelectric potential and to help
the impoverished Yunnan Province.

- China has blasted reefs and rocks at the

border of Laos and Myanmar to clear the way
for its trading vessels to reach new markets
deep into Laos.
Impact of China on the Mekong River
- The effects of the river projects that serve China's
colossal upstream ambitions have been visible for
several years but is still growing and added a lot of
concern as said by the conservationists and those
who live on the river.

- There has been opinions by several government

officials that China could turn the Mekong river
into an ecological disaster because of its poor
record on river protection
Impact of China on the Mekong River
- The country’s economic and political power has
strengthened because of its diplomatic ties with the Asian
Development Bank since it is a major lender for poverty
alleviation that has led to China contributing to its capital
fund in 2004 gaining more power on the bank loans. The
state and ADB has created a plan in 10 years time to
improve infrastructures with five other Mekong River
countries.

- China could be connected by roads that cross the Mekong,

down to Bangkok and then run on to Malaysia and finally
Singapore.
Dams of the Mekong River
- The Mekong River is one of the world’s major
rivers with only few mainstream dams

- There are 15 dams on the Mun River and other

tributaries of the Mekong River in Thailand and
eleven dams is on the Lower Mekong
Mainstream. As of 2005, there were seven dams
on tributaries of the Mekong River in Laos and
seven more planned
Laos approves Xayaburi “Mega” Dam on
the Mekong River
- In November 2012, Laos has given the go-ahead to build a massive
dam on the lower Mekong river despite opposition from
neighbouring countries.
- The countries downstream from the dam at Xayaburi fear that it
will affect fish stocks and the livelihoods of millions.
- However, Cambodia and Vietnam states that the project should
be delayed while research is still ongoing on the dam’s
environmental impact. Until now, Laos had promised not to push
ahead while these concerns is still intact.
Mekong River Today
Mekong River Commission for
Sustainable Development
- Established April 5, 1995 - platform for water diplomacy
- the only inter-governmental and regional cooperation
organisation that works - "To promote and coordinate
directly with the sustainable management
governments of Cambodia, and development of water
Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet and related resources for
Nam to jointly manage the the countries' mutual benefit
shared water resources and and the people's well-being."
the sustainable development
of the Mekong River.
 Development Partners & Partner
Organizations
The Mekong River Commission
is funded through
contributions from the four ● Australia ● Japan
Member Countries, Cambodia, ● Belgium ● Luxembourg
Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet ● Denmark ● The World Bank
Nam, and through technical ● European ● Sweden
and financial collaborations Union ● Switzerland
with the following ● Finland ● The Netherlands
countries/organisations ● France ● The United
through their bilateral and ● Germany States
multilateral development and
financial institutions:
Development Partners,
Partner Organizations and Dialogue Partners
In 2001, the member countries agreed to
extend observer status to regional partner
organisations to participate in MRC
Dialogue Partners
Governance meetings such as the MRC
Council and Joint Committee meetings. - Union of Myanmar
- Asian Development Bank (ADB), Association of
- People’s Republic
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) of China
- United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP)
- United Nations Economic and Social
Commission for Asia and the Pacific
(UNESCAP)
Dialogue Partners (since 1996)
China
- In 2002, a Memorandum of - In 2013, the agreement was renewed
Understanding (MOU) on the and they also agreed to increase
provision of daily river flow and the frequency of the data sent to
rainfall data from two monitoring the MRC from once to twice a day,
stations in Yunnan Province during and expressed its willingness to
the wet season. share the data during the dry
- The data helps improve the MRC’s season in case of drought
regional daily forecast of emergencies.
downstream water levels during the
flood season and has saved lives
and reduced damage to property
and crops.
Dialogue Partners (since 1996)
Myanmar

- the MRC has cooperated with - The two parties have also explored
Myanmar in improving the MRC’s potential for future technical
hydro‐meteorological coverage by cooperation.
exchanging relevant monitoring
and water-quality data and sharing
technical expertise in flood
prevention and management.
 Cooperation Agreements (Partners)
The MRC works with many different partners under jointly funded
projects, under formal Memoranda of Understanding or in a research
capacity.
● AFD Francaise De Developpement ● International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
● ASEAN Secretariat Asian Disaster ● IUCN - The World Conservation Union
Preparedness Center’ Asian Disaster ● National Center of Competence in Research
Preparedness Center (ADPC) North-South
● Australian Centre for International ● Center for Development and Environment; University
Agricultural Research (ACIAR), Consultative of Berne
Group on International Agriculture Research ● National Institute of Rural Engineering (NIRE), Japan
● Canadian Space Agency and the Natural ● Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA)
Resources Canada ● Network of Asian River Basin Organisations,
● European Commission Permanent International Navigation Association
● Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN ● Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Centre
● German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) Southeast Asia START Regional Center (SEA START RC)
● Intergovernmental Organisation of the ● UN ESCAP (UN Economic and Social Commission for
Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific Asia and the Pacific)
(NACA) ● UNESCO/IHE Institute for Water Education
● International Network of Basin Organisations Cooperation WorldFish Centre
International Network for Water and ● World Meteorological Organisation (WMO)
Ecosystems in Paddy Fields (INWEPF) ● World Wide Fund for Nature
Agreements
1. 1995 Mekong Agreement: the Agreement for the
Cooperation on the Sustainable Development of the
Mekong Basin, signed in April 1995

2. 1995 Mekong Agreement and its six sets of rules for

water utilisation or Procedures: a compilation of the
Mekong Agreement and several approved Procedures in
one document
The 1995 Mekong River Agreement
The primary focus is on the sustainable development and
management of the river basin’s water and related resources.

In addition, the preparation of a long term Basin Development

Plan and Strategy is a part of the agreement with its
procedures for data sharing, water use monitoring,
maintenance of flows and water quality.
Strategic Plans
Strategic Plans 2011-2015
List of programs
- The MRC’s Basin Development Plan - Climate change’s impact is affecting
(BDP) Programme complemented the livelihoods of millions that rely
national planning processes and on the river’s natural resources. As
aimed to ensure that the use of the a result, Climate Change and
basin’s water and related resources Adaptation Initiative (CCAI) is a
contributes to sustainable collaborative effort among MRC
economic development, with Member Countries to demonstrate
poverty alleviation as a primary and share adaptation strategies.
goal. The Initiative ensures that climate
- the MRC’s Agriculture and Irrigation change adaptation is harmonised
Programme (AIP) aimed at managing with effective strategies, plans at
the sustainable development of various levels and is applied at
water resources in agriculture, priority locations throughout the
because the sector is one of the basin.
first points of intervention to raise
living standards, improve
Strategic Plans 2011-2015
List of programs
- Drought only brings
socio-economic hardship to - Environment Programme worked to
riparian countries, especially the support cooperation Member
riverine communities. As a result, Countries to secure a balance
MRC’s Drought Management between economic development,
Programme (DMP) assisted the environmental protection and
riparian countries by preparing social sustainability. The
vulnerable communities for Programme worked to ensure that
increasingly frequent and severe basin management and
drought events through monitoring, development is guided by up to
analysis and implementation of date environmental and social
regional drought adaptation and knowledge. It strived for more
mitigation strategies efficient environmental
management cooperation.
 Strategic Plans 2011-2015
List of programs
- MRC Fisheries Programme worked to support
Mekong fisheries stakeholders, from
- the Information and Knowledge
governments to local communities, to make
Management Programme (IKMP) not
effective and sustainable use of the basin’s
only acquired data, but performed
fisheries resources that would alleviate poverty
quality assurance and made it
while protecting the environment.The
available to the public through the
programme addressed the sustainable
MRC website and the Data and
management and development of fisheries for
Information Services Portal. Through
poverty alleviation.
the MRC Information System
- Flood Management and Mitigation Programme
(MRC-IS), the organisation provides
(FMMP) was designed to minimise negative
ready access to environmental and
flood-related impacts while preserving the
socio-economic models and data in
benefits and has helped state agencies manage
support of regional planning in the
flooding through data and tools that make
Mekong River Basin.
timely flood-forecasting and impact-mitigation
possible.
 Strategic Plans 2011-2015
List of programs
- Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower (ISH) was - MRC’s Mekong IWRM Project
specifically focused on advancing regional follows the IWRM approach with
cooperation for the sustainable management of the aim to institutionalise its
the growing number of hydropower projects and principles across the MRC in a
through this Initiative, the MRC assisted Member coordinated way that
Countries in relating decisions on hydropower proactively involves all Divisions
management and development to basin-wide as well as relevant national
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) authorities
perspectives.
- Integrated Capacity Building Programme
provided training to the MRC Secretariat and
National Mekong Committees in each country.
The programme targets executive, professional
and support staff of various agencies, and
provides opportunities for young professionals
to gain experience in MRC related activities
Strategic Plans 2016-2020
Key Result Area 1:
For the next
Enhancement of national plans,
five years, projects and resources based on
the MRC will basin-wide perspectives
focus its Key Result Area 2:
work on four
Strengthening regional cooperation
key result
Key Result Area 3:
areas to
achieve its Better monitoring and communication
of the Basin conditions
agreed
outcomes. Key Result Area 4:
Leaner River Basin Organisation
MRC Summits
- convened every four years
- bringing together political leaders to address the
prevailing challenges and opportunities facing the
Mekong Basin.
- an opportunity for the Heads of Governments of the
MRC Member Countries to revisit the commitments
made four years earlier, and agree on strategies for
the future and beyond
First MRC Summit Hua Hin, Thailand 2010

● It served to strengthen regional cooperation between Member

Countries, Dialogue Partners and civil society

Achievements:

● to reaffirm the continued good relationships that the

organisation has with Dialogue Partners the People’s Republic of
China and the Union of Myanmar
● discuss a range of challenges and opportunities facing the
Mekong Basin today, (especially the long-term effects of climate
change)
● Discussed the role of River Basin Organisations in poverty
alleviation
Second MRC summit Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Ho Chi Minh City Declaration 2014 - Water, Energy and Food security
in the context of climate change for the Mekong River Basin

Achievements

● Preparation and approval of the new Basin Development

Strategy 2016-2020
● the new MRC Strategic Plan 2016-2020
● the new National Indicative Plans 2016-2020, (including
agreement to work on five significant Joint investment
Projects)
Third MRC Summit Siem Reap, Cambodia

Siem Reap Declaration 2018: ‘Enhancing Joint Efforts and Partnerships

towards Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the
Mekong River Basin‘

Achievements:

● discussion of the Mekong River Council Study, which attempts to

assess the impacts of mainstream hydro projects
● It is described as “an integrated, cross-sectoral, comprehensive
and state-of-the-art study supporting sustainable development in
the Mekong Basin.”
 Siem Reap
Declaration
5th April 2018
Greater Mekong Forum
- biggest annual affair aiming to raise awareness and share
research-based knowledge about sustainable development in the
Greater Mekong region among NGOs, policymakers, private
entities, and development agencies

Themes of discussion:

- water governance
- monitoring and managing healthy rivers
- river food systems
- healthy landscapes and ecosystems
- and natural resources management/ conflict-prevention