Mekong Region Water Dialogues Series Publication

In order to gain further experience on rights-based approaches (RBAs) to conservation, the project focused on undertaking a situation analysis in the Xe Champhone Ramsar Site in Lao PDR. It examined the under-researched issue of customary law governing natural resources, including its relationship with statutory law. This publication summarizes and analyses the findings of the field work. It also provides recommendations on how to incorporate customary law governing natural resources into the governance of Ramsar sites in the country.

This report provides an overview of existing data about the wetlands, including its ecology, biodiversity, socio-economic values, management and threats.

This report provides an overview of existing data about the wetlands, including its ecology, biodiversity, socio-economic values, management and threats. The bulk of the information presented in this report was gathered from project reports from key organizations working in the wetlands and surrounding areas over the past decade or so, as well as from documents prepared for the site’s nomination when Lao PDR joined the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance in 2010.

With a large percentage of the world’s population moving to urban areas, clean, affordable and timely supply of drinking and domestic water to its residents has become a priority. In most cities of the world, the primary responsibility of supplying drinking and domestic water lies with public utilities that often suffer from a series of ailments like poor cost recovery, poor and intermittent supply, and deficit budgets. In recent times significant efforts have been made to reform water utilities.

The situation analysis studies assessed the current water governance frameworks encompassing policies, legal and regulatory frameworks, and institutional and decision-making aspects, for the three countries. The studies were used to assist the NWGs by identifying the key water governance issues for each country, providing recommendations on relevant dialogue topics for 2009 and 2010 and highlighting the scope for improving water governance. Each situation analysis study was presented to the respective NWG for approval and endorsement.

The situation analysis studies assessed the current water governance frameworks encompassing policies, legal and regulatory frameworks, and institutional and decision-making aspects, for the three countries. The studies were used to assist the NWGs by identifying the key water governance issues for each country, providing recommendations on relevant dialogue topics for 2009 and 2010 and highlighting the scope for improving water governance. Each situation analysis study was presented to the respective NWG for approval and endorsement.

The situation analysis studies assessed the current water governance frameworks encompassing policies, legal and regulatory frameworks, and institutional and decision-making aspects, for the three countries. The studies were used to assist the NWGs by identifying the key water governance issues for each country, providing recommendations on relevant dialogue topics for 2009 and 2010 and highlighting the scope for improving water governance. Each situation analysis study was presented to the respective NWG for approval and endorsement.

Siphandone or Four Thousand Islands encompasses a fascinating 50 Km stretch of the Mekong River consisting of the maze of extensively braided channels, islands and seasonally flooded riverine habitats and the largest complex of waterfalls in Asia.