Lancang Navigation Development Plan environmental study

2016 Greater Mekong Forum on Water, Food and Energy

1. The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Mechanism• The LMCM launched in November 2015, • Six country collaborative agreement - China, Myanmar, Laos,

Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam• Covers five priority areas: interconnectivity (transport, power,

communications), production capacity, cross-border economic cooperation, water resources and cooperation on agriculture and poverty reduction.

• Much broader than other Mekong agreements, such as the GMS, which has the same membership and MRC agreement

• Potential linkages with AIIB - the Chinese Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank launched Jan 2016

2. Uncertainties over the LMCM• Implications for

the MRC the GMS arrangement for ADB and WB (linkage with AIIB) for the US Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) (launched in 2009)

• Not founded on sustainability principles – arrangements for member countries to assess sustainability implications of LMCM development initiatives uncertain

• Opportunities

4. LMDP preparation and endorsement• ‘Agreement on Commercial Navigation on Lancang-Mekong River’

between China, Lao PDR, Thailand, Myanmar- led to waterway improvement works and port construction in Chiang Saen (Thailand) - 2000

• The draft LMDP presented to the Joint Committee on Coordination of Commercial Navigation on the Lancang-Mekong River (JCCCN) by the Department of Transport of Yunnan Province and Tianjin Research Institute for Water Transport Engineering in February 2015

• MRC informal donor meeting called for action on assessing cumulative impacts of the plan in March 2015

• MRC ‘Master Plan for Waterborne Transport’ recommended an SEA of the LMDP and was supported by all Member Countries in November 2015

• The JCCCN gave conditional approval of the Master Plan in February 2016

Lancang-Mekong Navigation Development Plan environment study location

3. Lancang-Mekong Development Plan Phase 1- key ingredients• Development of three cargo ports at Xiengkok, Pak

Beng and Luang Prabang in Laos• Removal of 146 rapids, rocky outcrops and shoals

to allow navigation for up to 500DWT vessels• The construction of four emergency response and

rescue ships and 1199 aids to navigation• Promotes increased shipping, trade and passenger

transport from Yunnan province to Luang Prabang• Linked to other bilateral aid support from China to

Laos

Lancang – 146 sites to be cleared

Golden Triangle

Golden Triangle Mekong River at Golden Triangle, Chiang Saen, Chiang Rai

Golden Triangle

Houayxay - Lao

Houayxay - Lao

PakBeng

Pakbeng - Oudomxay

Pakbeng - OudomxayMekong river at Pakbeng

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang

Purpose of Lancang-Mekong Environmental study

• To identify environmentally and socially sensitive areas and uses which require special management

• To assessment the effects on those sensitive areas and uses

of the LMDP of Pak Beng reservoir

• To define environmental management strategies for the LMDP and Pak Beng project for consider by development planners.

Lancang – Mekong Environmental Study

5. Baseline assessment - key ingredients1. From space assessment and analysis

Geomorphology Wetlands and habitats Climate change

2. Field based survey and assessment Fisheries Ecosystem health Geomorphology survey Meetings with riverine communities Environmental assessment of affected sites

3. Riverine livelihoods and socio-economic analysis4. Desk top synthesis and analysis5. Consultation

Lancang – Land Cover Item 1km

buffer2km buffer

5km buffer

10km buffer

Forest area (Km2) 492 1,045 2,732 5,513

Total area (Km2) 838 1,566 3,698 7,187

Forest Cover (%) 59 67 74 77

Lancang – Landsat Satellite Image

Lancang – Population density

1km 2km 5km 10km0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140Population Density by Distance

Range from Main River

PopDen

Lancang - Poverty Incidence

Lancang – Ethnic groups Ethnic groups 10km - buffer %

Khmu 17,506 21.7 Lahu 30,529 8.3 Lamet 41,226 4.7 Lao 181,655 47.6 Lu 46,300 11.2 Shan 11,212 1.2 Yuang 3,187 5.3 Total 331,615 100

Ecozones surrounding Lancang (CS-LPB)Study area located in Upper Floodplain ecozone

Ecoregion 10km - buffer %

High elevation moist broadleaf forest 728 10.2Low-mid ele moist broadleaf forest 1,308 18.3

Upper floodplain wetland, lake (CS- VTE) 4,963 69.3Mid-elevation dry broadleaf forest 165 2.3Total 7,164 100.0

Lancang – Key Biodiversity & Protected Areas

THANK YOUJeremy Carew-Reid, ICEMjecr@icem.com.au