Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

IWRM for the Mekong Basin

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The Mekong Delta System

Part of the book series: Springer Environmental Science and Engineering ((SPRINGERENVIRON))

Abstract

The Mekong Basin is facing its most pronounced human induced changes in history. Development on the river’s mainstream, climate change, and economic growth of the riparian countries are taking a toll on the highly sensitive aquatic ecosystems and affect the livelihoods of millions of people in the region. Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) can provide a holistic approach to address the emerging challenges in the Mekong Basin. However, transboundary discords between the riparian countries, scattered responsibilities at national levels, power asymmetries, and the absence of legal frameworks and commitment to an IWRM approach at a basin scale make it difficult to implement a strategy that ensures a stable economic growth, sustainable management of natural resources as well as social well-being. On the other hand almost all riparian countries of the Mekong have the potential for a positive economic growth and progressing technical development in the next years. If this development is framed by an appropriate ecological awareness the Mekong Basin could develop in an ecologically and socially sustainable manner.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adamson PT, Rutherfurd ID, Murray CP, Iwona AC (2009) The hydrology of the Mekong River. In: Campbell IC (ed) The Mekong. Biophysical environment of an international river basin. Elsevier, New York, pp 53–76

    Google Scholar 

  • ADB [Asian Development Bank] (2006) Future solutions now, the Tonle Sap initiative – reconciling multiple demands with basin management organizations. ADB, Manila. http://www.adb.org/Projects/Tonle_Sap/Tonle-Sap-200605.pdf. Accessed 1 July 2011

  • ADB [Asian Development Bank] (2009a) Technical assistance report. Socialist Republic of Viet Nam: climate change impact and adaptation study in the Mekong Delta. ADB, Manila

    Google Scholar 

  • ADB [Asian Development Bank] (2009b) The economics of climate change in Southeast Asia: a regional review. ADB, Mandaluyong City

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown K (2009) Water sector review project final report, National Water Resources Council on behalf of the Government of Viet Nam and a number of international development partners led by the Asian Development Bank, Australia 2009

    Google Scholar 

  • Cambo WP, Cambodia Water Partnership & CNMC [Cambodia National Mekong Committee] (2007) IWRM in Cambodia – where are we, and where do we want to go? http://www.cambowp.org/download.php?file=CamboWP-0709-IWRM-review-0c.pdf. Accessed 1 July 2011

  • Campbell IC, Manusthiparom C (2004) Technical report on rainfall and discharge in the lower Mekong Basin in 2003–2004. Mekong River Commission Secretariat, Vientiane

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen J (2010) Integrative conservation and development in GMS. International workshop on Resources and Environment Towards Sustainable Development in the Great Mekong Sub-regions, Kunming, China, 28–31 Oct 2010

    Google Scholar 

  • Chinavanno S (2009) Information for sustainable development in light of climate change in the Mekong River. Southeast Asia START Regional Center, Bangkok. http://203.159.5.16/digital_gms/Proceedings/A77_SUPPAKORN_CHINAVANNO.pdf1. Accessed 16 Mar 2012

    Google Scholar 

  • Daming HE (2010) Trans-boundary water utilization and eco-security towards sustainability in the Great Mekong Subregion. International workshop on Resources and Environment Towards Sustainable Development in the Great Mekong Sub-regions, Kunming, China, 28–31 Oct 2010

    Google Scholar 

  • Dang KN, Nguyen Van Be, Nguyen Hieu Trung (2007) Water use and competition in the Mekong delta, Vietnam. In: Tran Thanh Be, Bach Tan Sinh, Miller F (eds) Literature analysis: challenges to sustainable development in the Mekong delta: regional and national policy issues and research needs. The Sustainable Mekong Research Network Publisher, Bangkok

    Google Scholar 

  • Delgado JM, Apel H, Merz B (2010) Flood trends and variability in the Mekong River. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 14:407–418

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eastham J, Mpelasoka F, Mainuddin M, Thicehurst C, Dyce C, Hodgson G, Ali R, Kirby M (2008) Mekong River Basin water resources assessment: impacts of climate change. Water for a Healthy Country National Research Flagship, CSIRO

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization] (1996) Control of water pollution from agriculture. FAO irrigation and drainage paper, vol 55. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization] (2005) Global forest resources assessment: progress towards sustainable forest management. FAO, Rome

    Google Scholar 

  • Ficke AD, Myrick CA, Hansen LJ (2007) Potential impacts of global climate change on freshwater fisheries. Rev Fish Biol Fish 17:581–613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garschagen M (2009) Crises prevention and climate change adaptation in the coupled social-ecological systems of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam: the need for Rethinking concepts and policies paper for presentation at the fourth Munich Re Foundation Summer Academy on Social Vulnerability “Tipping Points in Humanitarian Crises”, Hohekammer, Germany, 26 July–1 August 2009

    Google Scholar 

  • Gupta A (2009) Geology and landforms of the Mekong Basin. In: Campbell IC (ed) The Mekong. Biophysical environment of an international river basin. Elsevier, New York, pp 29–52

    Google Scholar 

  • GWP [Global Water Partnership] (2000) Integrated water resources management. Tac back ground papers no 4. Stockholm, Sweden

    Google Scholar 

  • GWP [Global Water Partnership] (2011) Global water partnership toolbox. http://www.gwptoolbox.org/. Accessed 1 July 2011

  • Ha ML (2011) The role of regional institutions in sustainable development: a review of the Mekong River commission’s first 15 years. J Sustain Dev 5(1):125–140

    Google Scholar 

  • He Y, Zhang Y (2005) Climate change from 1960 to 2000 in the Lancang River Valley, China. Mount Res Dev 25(4):341–348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoanh CT, Jirayoot K, Locambe G, Srienetr V (2010) Impacts of climate change and development on Mekong flow regime. First assessment–2009. MRC technical paper. Mekong River Commission, Vientiane, Lao PDR

    Google Scholar 

  • Husson O, Hanhart K, Phung MT, Bouma J (2000) Water management for rice cultivation on acid sulphate soils in the Plain of Reeds, Vietnam. Agric Water Manag 46:91–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ICWE [International Conference on Water Environment] (1992) The Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development. http://www.un-documents.net/h2o-dub.htm. Accessed 30 Mar 2011

  • IPCC (2007) Summary for policymakers. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of working group II to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 7–22. http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg2/ar4-wg2-spm.pdf. Accessed 30 Mar 2011

  • Keskinen M (2008) Population, natural resources & development in the Mekong: does high population density hinder development. In: Kummu M, Keskinen M, Varis O (eds) Modern myths of the Mekong. Helsinki University of Technology, Helsinki, pp 107–121

    Google Scholar 

  • Kiem AS, Ishidaira H, Hapuarachchi HP, Zhou MC, Hirabayashi Y, Takeuchi K (2008) Future hydroclimatology of the Mekong River Basin simulated using the high-resolution Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) AGCM. Hydrol Process 22:1382–1394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuenzer C (2010) WISDOM: water related information system for the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta – thoughts on sustainability and long term implementation. In: Proceedings of the 3rd Indo-German conference on research for sustainability: water and waste management, New Delhi, India, 3–4 Feb 2010

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu J (2010) The role of ecosystem management in climate change adaptation in MRB. International workshop on Resources and Environment Towards Sustainable Development in the Great Mekong Sub-regions, Kunming, China, 28–31 Oct 2010

    Google Scholar 

  • McSweeney C, New M, Lizcano G (2008) Cambodia climate change profile. Oxford University, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Minh VQ (1995) Use of soil and agrohydrological characteristics in developing technology extrapolation methodology: a case study of the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. MSc thesis, Graduate School, University of the Philippines, Los Baños

    Google Scholar 

  • Minh LQ, Tuong TP, van Mensvoort MEF, Bouma J (1997) Contamination of surface water as affected by land use in acid sulphate soils in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Agric Ecosyst Environ 61:19–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • MRC [Mekong River Commission] (1995) Mekong River Commission. Agreement on the cooperation for the sustainable development of the Mekong River Basin, 5 Apr 1995. http://www.mrcmekong.org/agreement_95/agreement_95.htm#intro. Accessed 30 Mar 2011

  • MRC [Mekong River Commission] (2004) Mekong’s low flows linked to drought, says MRC study. In: Campbell IC (ed) MRC No. 03/04. Phnom Penh. http://www.mrcmekong.org/MRC_news/press04/26-mar-04.htm. Accessed 15 June 2011

  • MRC [Mekong River Commission] (2005) Overview of the hydrology of the Mekong Basin. Mekong River Commission, Vientiane

    Google Scholar 

  • MRC [Mekong River Commission] (2009a) Mekong River Commission. Adaptation to climate change in the countries of the Lower Mekong Basin: regional synthesis report. MRC technical paper no 24, Vientiane. http://www.mrcmekong.org/assets/Publications/technical/tech-No24-adaptation-to-climate-change.pdf. Accessed 16 Mar 2012

  • MRC [Mekong River Commission] (2009b) Catch and culture. Fish Res Dev Mekong Reg. 15(1). http://ns1.mrcmekong.org/download/programmes/fisheries/Catch_Culture_vol15.1.pdf. Accessed 1 July 2011

  • MRC [Mekong River Commission] (2010a) Mekong River Commission. Strategic plan 2011–2015. MRC Secretariat Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Google Scholar 

  • MRC [Mekong River Commission] (2010b) Mekong River Commission. Impacts of climate change and development on Mekong flow regimes. First assessment – 2009 meeting the needs, keeping the balance, MRC technical paper. MRC Secretariat Phnom Penh, Cambodia

    Google Scholar 

  • MRC [Mekong River Commission] (2010c) MRC SEA for hydropower on the Mekong Mainstream, Climate change baseline assessment working paper. Mekong River Commission, Vientiane, Lao PDR

    Google Scholar 

  • MRC [Mekong River Commission] (2010d) State of the basin report 2010. Mekong River Commission, Vientiane, Lao PDR

    Google Scholar 

  • Nguyen Binh Thin (2009) Report on implementation of Action program to the adaptation of climate change of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hanoi

    Google Scholar 

  • Nuorteva P, Keskinen M, Varis O (2010) Water, livelihoods and climate change adaptation in the Tonle Sap Lake area, Cambodia: learning from the past to understand the future. J Water Clim Change 1(1):87–101. http://www.iwaponline.com/jwc/001/0087/0010087.pdf. Accessed 1 July 2010

    Google Scholar 

  • Rahaman MM, Varis O (2005) Integrated water resources management. Evolution, prospects and future challenges. Water Resources Laboratory, Helsinki University of Technology, Espoo

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruosteenoja K, Carter TR, Jylhä K, Tuomenvirta H (2003) Future climate in world regions: an intercomparison of model-based projections for the new IPCC emissions scenarios. Helsinki Finnish Environment Institute

    Google Scholar 

  • Sam L (2006) Results of study on salinity intrusion for socio-economic development in the Mekong Delta. In: Sam L, Hoi TN, Nien NA, Tho NV, Huan HV, Hung LM, Thang TD (eds) Results of science and technology 2005, Agriculture Press. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, pp 104–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmeier S (2011) Resilience to climate change – induced challenges in the Mekong River Basin – the role of the MRC. World Bank water paper. http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2011/05/13/000386194_20110513013039/Rendered/PDF/618100WP0wp0200Box358352B00PUBLIC00.pdf. Accessed 15 July 2011

  • Sebesvari Z, Le TTH, Renaud F (2009) Impacts of climate change on pesticide fate in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Pesticide behaviour in soils, water and air. York, UK, 14–16 Sept 2009

    Google Scholar 

  • Stone R (2010) Ecology. Severe drought puts spotlight on Chinese dams. Science 327(5971):1311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • TKK & SEA START RC (2008) Water and climate change in the lower Mekong Basin: diagnosis & recommendations for adaptation, interim report. http://www.water.tkk.fi/English/wr/research/global/material/water&cc_2009_final-report.pdf. Accessed 1 July 2011

  • UNESCO (2009) IWRM guidelines at river basin level. Part 1 principles. UNESCO, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations (1995) Convention on the law of the Non-navigational uses of international watercourses. http://untreaty.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/8_3_1997.pdf. Accessed 1 July 2011

  • United Nations (2007) General assembly adopts convention on the law of the Non-navigational uses of international watercourses. Press Release GA/9248. http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/1997/19970521.ga9248.html. Accessed 14 Mar 2011

  • United Nations (2009). UN water policy brief for COP15. http://www.unwater.org/downloads/UNWclimatechange_EN.pdf. Accessed 01 Jun 2011

  • Valbo-Jorgensen J, Coates D, Hortle K (2009) Fish diversity in the Mekong River Basin. In: Campbell IC (ed) The Mekong. Biophysical environment of an international river basin. Elsevier, New York, pp 161–196

    Google Scholar 

  • Waibel G (2010) Water resources management organisations and administration in Vietnam, ZEF working paper series. Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Bonn

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker B, Holling CS, Carpenter SR, Kinzig A (2004) Resilience, adaptability and transformability in social–ecological systems. Ecol Soc 9(2):5. http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss2/art5/. Accessed 1 July 2011

    Google Scholar 

  • Willett IR, Melville MD, White I (1993) Acid drainwaters from potential acid sulphate soils and their impact on estuarine ecosystems. In: Dent DL, van Mensvoort MEF (eds) Selected papers from the Ho Chi Minh City symposium on acid sulphate soils, Mar 1992. ILRI Pub. No. 53. International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement/ILRI, Wageningen, pp 419–425

    Google Scholar 

  • WMO [World Meteorological Organization] (2009) Integrated flood management – concept paper. WMO, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolanski E, Nguyen HN, Spagnol S (1998) Sediment dynamics during low flow conditions in the Mekong River estuary, Vietnam. J Coast Res 14:472–482

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolf AT, Natharius JA, Danielson JJ, Ward BS, Pender JK (1999) International river basins of the world. Int J Water Resour Dev 15(4):387–427

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2009) Cambodia at a glance. http://devdata.worldbank.org/AAG/khm_aag.pdf. Accessed 30 Mar 2011

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bộ Khoa học và Công nghệ, Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), 31 HanThuyen – Q. 1, TP., Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

    Florian Moder & Bui Van Quyen

  2. German Aerospace Center (DLR), Earth Observation Center (EOC), German Remote Sensing Data Center, Oberpfaffenhofen, 82234, Wessling, Germany

    Claudia Kuenzer & Patrick Leinenkugel

  3. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, 11A, Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China

    Zengrang Xu

Authors
  1. Florian Moder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Claudia Kuenzer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zengrang Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Patrick Leinenkugel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Bui Van Quyen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Florian Moder .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Institute for Environment and Human, United Nations University, Hermann-Ehlers-Str. 10, Bonn, 53113, Germany

    Fabrice G. Renaud

  2. , Earth Observation Center, EOC, German Aerospace Center, DLR, ---, Oberpfaffenhofen, Wessling, 82234, Germany

    Claudia Kuenzer

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Moder, F., Kuenzer, C., Xu, Z., Leinenkugel, P., Van Quyen, B. (2012). IWRM for the Mekong Basin. In: Renaud, F., Kuenzer, C. (eds) The Mekong Delta System. Springer Environmental Science and Engineering. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-3962-8_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation