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Making decisions on water resources: IWRM and implementation in the Mekong basin.
Introduction
Governance sets the boundaries within which people operate
IWRM is context dependantDifference between and best
practice and political will
Why Decentralise?
Focus on empowermentOpening up to a diverse knowledge
baseIncreasing public awareness and
acceptanceLack of inclusion provokes
opposition movements slowing progress
No such thing as local any more
Local knowledge is necessary but not sufficient
Need for interscalar dialogue
(Arnstein, 1969)
Country-specific uses of water in the Mekong River BasinChina Hydro-electrical powerLaos Hydro-electrical powerThailand Urban water source
Agricultural irrigationCambodia Maintaining fisheries
Agricultural irrigationNavigation
Vietnam Agricultural irrigationPrevent sea water encroachment in deltaHydro-electrical power
(Korea Times, 2010)
Lack of empowerment No improvement in
water services No dialogue with
strategic planners
(Mekong River Commission, 2009)
w
(Stimson.org, 2015)
Rubber Stamping
Selling IWRM gets you supportCommunities are ignored in
strategic plansDoes not cost you anything to
mention IWRM.
Conclusions
Successful governance depends stakeholder involvement
Conflicting goals at all scales can damage partnerships
IWRM used as a rubber stamp.IWRM success is limited to the
extent to which it is allowed by state bodies.
References Arnstein, S. (1969) A Ladder Of Citizen Participation. Journal of the American Institute of
Planners, 35 (4): 216-224. Available from: Earth Observatory of Singapore, (2015) Mekong River Basin Initiative (MRBI): Case studies
of climate change adaptation projects and an assessment of transboundary issues in the Lower Mekong Basin [online].
Grumbine, R., Dore, J. and Xu, J. (2012) Mekong hydropower: drivers of change and governance challenges. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 10 (2): 91-98. Available from:
Korea Times, (2010) Mekong River Commission [online]. Available from: http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2010/04/195_63648.html [Accessed 16 March 2015]
Kurlantzick,J (2011) In Southeast Asia, Big Dams Raise Big Concerns, The Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 2011-07-06.
Lebel, L. and Daniel, R. (2007) M-power book series on water governance in the Mekong region. Mekong: Mekong Press
Mekong River Commission, (2009) STAKEHOLDER PARTICIPATION and MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION. Phnom Penh
Stimson.org, (2015) Dams and Food Security in the Mekong: Site Visits to the Xayaburi and Don Sahong Dam Projects | Spotlight | The Stimson Center | Pragmatic Steps for Global Security [online].
Trust Issues
“Laos' actions not only represent a breach of trust, but threaten to undermine already fledgling efforts at regional cooperation.”Kurlantzick (2011)
“The MRC member countries agree to cooperate in all fields of sustainable development… on the Mekong River Basin”Mekong River Commission (2009)
Why decentralise?
Central authority:Facilitates complacencyLocal communities distanced from
power structuresProvokes opposition movements
slowing progress