Currently there is a deficit of information on the impacts of invasive alien species (IAS) within the community, key sector groups and governments of these countries. Most often, the problem is not recognised until the invasion becomes noticeable nor has ecological, economic or social consequences.
Like most natural ecosystems across Asia, the wetlands in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) are under threat from various human activities and from invasive alien species (IAS). Currently, major pathways for introduction of IAS in the region include aquaculture, horticultural and ornamental fish trades. Dams, urbanisation, expansion of agriculture, trans-boundary road development and other rapid development activities are exacerbating the spread of IAS.
On 6-7 July 2006, the Mekong River Waters Dialogue: Exploring Water Futures Together was held in Ventaine, Lao PDR. The dialogue was a regional multi-stakeholder platform organised to provide an opportunity for a high-quality, multi-faceted debate and learning that will contribute to improving water governance in the Mekong Region.
This report documents the proceedings of the Mekong Region Waters Dialogue: Exploring Water Futures Together, held in Vientiane, the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic on 6 and 7 July 2006. The Dialogue was a regional multi-stakeholder platform organised to provide an opportunity for a high-quality, multi-faceted debate and learning that will contribute to improving water governance in the Mekong Region.
How are decisions about water resources development made? This question is prompted by the continuing global interest in the final report from the World Commission on Dams (WCD), released in 2000, which offered seven strategic priorities as a framework to aid decision-making about large dams and other types of water resources development.
The decade from 1966 to 1976 was a tumultuous time in the history of the Lower Mekong Basin, with three of the four countries at war. Remarkably, this was also a time of major planning for developing the agricultural production systems of the region. This publication describes the pioneering work done in that decade under the auspices of the Committee for the Coordination of Investigations in the Lower Mekong Basin, otherwise known as the Mekong Committee.
