Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin · an integrated and participatory approach to...

Working Paper 01 a

Watershed Management

in the Lower Mekong Basin

A Component of the Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme

of the Mekong River Commission

Volume 1: Main Report

Appraisal Report

Fohren-Linden / Mougins / Eschborn, 20 March 2002

MRC-GTZ Cooperation Programme

Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme

Watershed Management Component

Date of report 20th March 2002

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin

Report on the Appraisal Mission

Commissioned by

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

GTZ regional unit: RG 204

Regional desk officer: Richard Jökel

Senior Planning officer: Dr. Petra Stremplat-Platte

Responsible for the commission: Dr. Hans Helmrich

Appraisal team: Dr. Fred E. Brandl Consultant for Rural Development, Fohren-Linden, Germany (Mission leader) Sabine Preuss

Senior Planning Officer, Rural Development Division, GTZ, Eschborn

Florian Rock

Consultant for natural resources management, Mougins, France

Hour Limchun

Programme Manager, Cardamom Conservation Programme, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Kenneth Irwin

Consultant for Forestry and Adult Education, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tit Chankosal Desk Officer, Department of Agronomy and Live-stock Improvement, Phnom Penh

Sichanh Viravongsa

Forestry Consultant, Earth Systems Lao, Vientiane, Laos Linkham Douangsavanh

Head of Socio-economic Research Unit, National Agriculture & Forestry Res. Inst., Vientiane, Laos Udhai Thongmee

Senior Forest Officer, WSM Division, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok, Thailand

Manu Srikhajon

Soil and Water Conservation Specialist, Land Deve-lopment Department, Bangkok, Thailand

Dr. Nguyen Tu Siem

Director, Project Management Board, Min. of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hanoi, Vietnam

Dr. Phung Tu’u Boi Director, NCCDC, Forest Inventory and Planning Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam

Main Report: F.E. Brandl, S. Preuss and F. Rock

i

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin. Appraisal Report. Executive Summary

Executive Summary

This report presents the results of an appraisal mission on a German Technical Co-operation contribution to the Watershed Management Component of the Mekong River Commission’s Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme (AIFP). The appraisal was commissioned by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ). A proposal for additional support through German Financial Co-operation in the field of forest rehabilitation in upper watersheds of the Lower Mekong Basin will be subject to a separate appraisal by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). The appraisal was carried out from 1st January to 23rd February 2002. It comprised preparatory data collection in the four countries, three regional workshops (Inception, Strategy, Planning), visits to the four riparian countries and intensive discussions with representatives of various institutions. The latter included relevant government and non- government institutions, bi- and multilateral co-operation projects, the MRC Secretariat as well as the GTZ Office and the German Embassy in Phnom Penh.

Findings of the appraisal mission

The water and land resources of the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) are the basis for the livelihood of about 60 million inhabitants and provide food for some 300 million people. However, the basin’s environment is degrading at a rapid rate from unsustainable practices such as forest exploitation, expansion of agriculture onto steep slopes and water pollution and from negative side-effects of some large-scale infrastructure projects. Particularly in the fragile eco-systems of the upper watersheds in the Mekong Basin, increased pressure on natural resources due to a rapidly increasing population is a major threat to sustainability of the present natural resource-based production potentials and a potential source of future conflicts. The multi-faceted functions of these headwaters call for an integrated and participatory approach to watershed management (WSM) throughout the basin. Sustainable management (planning, implementation and monitoring) needs integrated action of the numerous local and regional stakeholders and demands for dialogue, mediation and co-ordination both, at national and regional level.

The joint efforts to manage a certain geographical area and co-ordinate resource management between people living in the upper and the lower parts of the watersheds needs to be facilitated and institutionalised. Any watershed management approach needs to encompass the variety and interaction between organisations and their respective stakes. Those are village organisations, commune (or tambon) councils and their administration, private sector organisations and their structures, provincial authorities and line departments, and the many non-governmental organisations working in the area.

The rationale for MRC involvement in WSM is its mandate, mission and authorised scope of work based on the 1995 MRC agreement, that finds its expression in the formulation of the Basin Development Plan (BDP), the Water Utilisation Programme (WUP), and the Environment Programme (EP). Moreover, in October 2000 the MRC countries have endorsed the AIFP as an important regional sector programme to address WSM issues.

An analysis of MRC’s Strategic Plan 2001-2005 reveals a high degree of accord between the priorities set forth therein and important traits of the relevant concepts and guidelines of the BMZ. Moreover, the Strategic Plan is in line with the objectives and principles provided by international conventions and arrangements pertaining to natural resources. Support to the implementation of AIFP under the framework of the Strategic Plan would, therefore, be well in agreement with German Development Policy.

ii


MRC is the only organisation mandated by the highest political level to address basin-wide issues, to foster inter-country co-operation and to address potential cross-boundary conflicts. On the other hand, MRC’s potential of contributing to WSM in the region is yet neither fully exploited nor sufficiently perceived by line agencies, NGOs and donors.

Given Germany’s long involvement in sustainable resources management in the region, German Development Co-operation can contribute to enhancing MRC Secretariat’s capacity to address the above issues and to assume its envisaged role of a regional “centre of excellence”.

Discussions with national stakeholders during the consultants’ country visits revealed:

• Watershed Management is a known and relevant concept in all riparian countries with many institutions involved.

• The four countries are at different states of development of Watershed Management policies, strategies, concepts and framework conditions and there is a great potential for sharing experiences and information and for joint learning processes.

• While there are numerous activities in WSM by a multitude of institutions in various catchments and sub-catchments there is yet no “real life example” of a consistent and complete WSM approach in any of these locations.

• Apart from bi-lateral negotiations mainly in the context of large hydro-power projects there is little if any consideration of cross-boundary issues in WSM, yet.

During these discussions, the following major fields of work for Technical Co-operation in the WSM-component of the AIFP were identified:

• to institutionalise integrated WSM planning in selected cross-border and other catchments.

• to support the sharing of knowledge and experience and to facilitate joint learning processes within the region in view of both, national and regional issues in WSM.

• to improve regional data and information management in WSM.

Integrated WSM planning in pilot catchments needs to be followed up by implementation. German Technical Co-operation, with its given mandate and resources, can, however, provide only rather limited support to implementation. Hence the necessity to collaborate with national programmes, NGOs, and projects funded by other donors. Moreover, it appears imperative to link the Technical Co-operation in WSM and the German Financial Co-operation contribution to forest rehabilitation to be provided through KfW.

Major benefits that are expected from of a regional approach as compared to national programmes in WSM comprise:

• intensified exchange of experience and lessons between the countries which may lead to more effective interventions and help to avoid duplication and repetition of ineffective strategies and actions;

• more effective use of available human and financial resources for WSM;

• the possibility to address cross border catchments as entities;

• further improvement of good relations and mutual trust through joint learning, professional interaction and development activities across institutions and countries;

• transparent, fair and amicable resolution of disagreements based on regionally acknowledged principles and agreements on WSM;

• harmonisation of views and potentially joint positioning and negotiations at international fora related to watershed management;

• improved access to international funding.

iii


Results of the planning workshop

Based on the findings of the appraisal mission the participants of a regional Planning Workshop (Phnom Penh, 21st and 22nd February 2002) developed the following proposal for an initial phase of three years (starting in December 2002) for the WSM component of the AIFP to enter into a potentially long-term co-operation. The objectives would be as following:

Direct objective (Purpose): Relevant institutions in the riparian countries and the MRC Secretariat make use of regional co-operation, information exchange / sharing and improved approaches for sustainable WSM in the Lower Mekong River Basin.

This objective will lead to an enhanced capability of the riparian countries to manage their watersheds sustainably and increasingly in view of regional needs. Eventually this will contribute to the ultimate objective (Overall Goal): “The watersheds of the Lower Mekong River Basin fulfil their ecological, economic and social functions and provide a sustainable basis for improved livelihood of the population.”

In order to achieve the Purpose the following Outputs are to be realised within the initial phase: Output 1: WSM approaches in selected (national and cross-border) watersheds are

further developed, documented and disseminated

Output 2: Mechanisms for analysis and further development of national WSM policies and guidelines in the LMB are established and functioning

Output 3: Mechanisms for continuous and effective regional collaboration in WSM are established and functioning

Output 4: Regional and national information management on WSM is improved

Main activities to be carried out in order to realise the planned Outputs, Indicators for their achievement and important Assumptions were specified in a Planning Matrix.

The workshop reviewed criteria for the selection of pilot watersheds presented by the consultants and agreed to propose the following locations:

• The cross-border area of the Nam Ou watershed with the Nam Noua sub-catchment in Laos (Mai District of Phongsaly Province) and the Nam Rum sub-catchment in Vietnam (Dien Bien District of Lai Chau Province)

• The Upper Sesan watershed in Cambodia (Ratanakiri Province) with the potential to extend into the Vietnamese part of that watershed in a second phase

• The Mae Nam Suai sub-catchment of the Mae Nam Kok watershed in Thailand (Chiang Rai Province).

The participants agreed, however, to postpone the final selection of the pilot watersheds and to take this decision in the context of the appraisal of the envisaged German Financial Co-operation contribution in order to facilitate the required linkage.

The overall responsibility for implementation will lie with the MRC Secretariat. The National Mekong Committees will act as co-ordinating offices. Lead agencies in the riparian countries have been proposed as follows:

• Cambodia: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

• Laos: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

iv

• Thailand: Royal Forest Department • Vietnam: Department of Forest Development in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural

Development


The German contribution to the initial phase of the Programme would comprise the secondment of long-term and short-term experts and auxiliary personnel, the provision of running costs for the seconded experts and material inputs as well as financial contributions to networks and workshops, “off-the job” training measures, implementation of WSM activities in pilot sites, travel costs, the general overheads of the MRC Secretariat and the MRC management costs of the AIFP. The overall costs of the German contributions to the initial phase including overheads are estimated at up to 4.346 million Euro.

The contribution of the MRC would comprise the secondment of professional and auxiliary personnel, the provision of office space and furniture as well as running costs for the offices in Phnom Penh. MRC will assure the secondment of the necessary professional and technical staff in the MRC member countries through the relevant national line agencies. If required, MRC will put the equipment provided by Germany for the Sustainable Management of Resources Project (SMRP) at the unrestricted disposal of the seconded experts for the fulfilment of their tasks.

Further steps to be taken

After general approval of this proposal by BMZ, the German side would draft a Document (“Arrangement on Technical Co-operation”), which would provide the legal basis of the envisaged co-operation. This document would be signed by the MRC Chief Executive Officer on behalf of MRC and by the German Ambassador in Phnom Penh on behalf of the German Government. Details of implementation would be specified in an Implementation Agreement between the MRC Secretariat and GTZ.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

VOLUME 1: MAIN REPORT

Abbreviations and Acronyms

1 BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURE OF THE APPRAISAL 1

2 SITUATION ANALYSIS 2

2.1 Natural Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin 2

2.2 Watershed Management in the LMB 4

2.2.1 The Watershed Management Concept 4

2.2.2 WSM in Cambodia 5

2.2.3 WSM in Laos 8

2.2.4 WSM in Thailand 10

2.2.5 WSM in Vietnam 12

3 INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION 14

3.1 History and mandate 14

3.2 Organisational structure 16

3.3 Resources 17 3.4 Strategy 18

3.5 MRC programmes and interlinkages 19

3.6 Partnerships with other regional players and civil society 20

4 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPOSED WATERSHED

MANAGEMENT COMPONENT OF THE AIFP 20 4.1 Watershed Management as a component of the MRC Agriculture, Irrigation and

Forestry Programme 20 4.2 Request for Technical Assistance for the Implementation of the WSM Component 21

4.3 Proposed Target Sites for Field Implementation 22

4.4 Assessment of the proposal and the baseline documents 22

5 DESIGN OF THE AIFP WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 24

5.1 Objectives 24

5.2 Strategy 25

5.3 Outputs, activities and indicators of success 25

5.4 Target sites 28

5.5 Organisational set-up and national lead agencies 29

5.6 Inputs 30

5.6.1 German contribution 30

5.6.2 Contributions of the MRC and its member countries 30

6 IMPACTS 31

6.1 Environmental impacts 31

6.2 Micro-economic impacts 31

6.3 Macro-economic impacts 32

6.4 Socio-cultural impacts 32

6.5 Institutional impacts 33

6.6 Political impacts at the regional level 33

7 ASSUMPTIONS AND RISKS 33


Annex:

1 Terms of Reference 2 Agreed Minutes 3 Proposed Target Areas 4 Relevant Programmes and Projects 5 Project proposal for German Financial Co-operation contribution to AIFP 6 Organogramme of the MRC Secretariat 7 Work programme of the mission and people met 8 List of Documents used

VOLUME 2: APPENDICES

(A) Country Report Cambodia

(B) Country Report Laos

(C) Country Report Thailand

(D) Country Report Vietnam


ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

ADB Asian Development Bank

AIFP Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme

AIT Asian Institute of Technology

ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations

BMZ Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung

CPMG Core Programme Management Group

DANIDA Danish International Development Assistance

DfID (British) Department for International Development DFW Department of Forestry and Wildlife

ECAFE United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East e.g. example given

EU European Union

f.e. for example

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

GIS Geographic Information System

GMS Greater Mekong Sub-region

GTZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit Ha Hectare

ICLARM International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management IMC Interim Mekong Committee

IUCN International Union for Conservation of Nature – World Conservation Union

JICA Japan International Co-operation Agency

KfW Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau

LDD Land Development Department LMB Lower Mekong Basin

M&E Monitoring and Evaluation

MRC Mekong River Commission

NCCDC Nature Conservation and Community Development Centre

NMC National Mekong Committee

NBCA National Bio-Diversity Conservation Area

NESDP National Economic and Social Development Plan

NGO Non-Government Organisation

NRM Natural Resource Management ODA Official Development Assistance

PDR People’s Democratic Republic

PM Person Month

RFD Royal Forest Department SFM Sustainable Forest Management SIDA Swiss International Development Agency

SMRP Sustainable Management of Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin Project UN United Nations

UNCED United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio 1992) UNDP United Nations Development Programme

WB World Bank WSM Watershed Management WWF World Wide Fund for Nature

1

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin. Appraisal Report

1 BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURE OF THE APPRAISAL

In 2001, Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat and German officials had first talks on potential German contributions to the MRC’s Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Pro-gramme (AIFP). It was agreed that the German Government would consider to provide support to the AIFP through technical co-operation in watershed management (WSM). Following deliberations on both sides it was agreed that the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) should further appraise the proposed co-operation. In August 2001, MRC submitted an official request for technical assistance to Germany. 1

Consequently, the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) commissioned GTZ/SMRP2 to field a project appraisal mission on the envisaged Technical Co-operation component. A proposal for complementary support through German Financial Co-operation in the field of forest rehabilitation in upper watersheds of the Lower Mekong Basin will be subject to a separate appraisal by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW).3

The appraisal was carried out from 1st January to 23rd February 2002. The mission team consisted of three German consultants who worked in close co-operation with two to three national consultants each from the four riparian countries (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam).

The objectives of the mission were to assess the feasibility of the proposed WSM compo-nent as described in the Programme Document of the AIFP4 and in the request for techni-cal assistance and – provided a positive result of this assessment - to develop a consoli-dated proposal for implementation. The detailed Terms of Reference of the mission are given in Annex 1.

The appraisal comprised preparatory data collection in the four countries, visits to the four riparian countries and intensive discussions with representatives of various institutions. The latter comprised relevant government and non-government institutions, bi- and multi-lateral co-operation projects, the MRC Secretariat as well as the GTZ Office and the Ger-man Embassy in Phnom Penh. A detailed account of the missions itinerary and the indi-viduals and institutions contacted is provided in Annex 7.

In the course of the mission, three regional workshops were held in Phnom Penh. Partici-pants of the workshops were representatives of the MRC Secretariat, National Mekong Committees, relevant national line agencies, GTZ and the consultants.

The first workshop (15th and 16th January 2002) concentrated on the further clarification of the terms of reference and on the elaboration of the procedure of the mission. In addition, the national consultants presented the results of their preparatory work since 1st January 2002. The country reports of the national consultants are contained in Volume 2 of the ap-praisal report.

1 MRC (2001): Request for technical assistance from the Government of the Federal Republic of

Germany for the implementation of a Programme Component of the Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme. MRC Secretariat, Phnom Penh, 2001.

2 Sustainable Management of Resources Project. SMRP is a MRC-German Technical Co-operation project supported by GTZ.

3 MRC(2001): Integrated Forest Rehabilitation in the Lower Mekong Basin. A project proposal for

an investment programme in the forest sector. MRC Secretariat/SMRP, Phnom Penh, 2001. See Annex 5.

4 MRC (2000): Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme for 2001 – 2005. MRC Secretariat,

Phnom Penh, December 2000.

2


During the second workshop (6th and 7th February 2002) the international consultants pre-sented their findings from the country visits. Based on this, the participants developed the general strategy for the WSM component, agreed on major areas of work, elaborated a draft list of activities and defined major impacts that are expected from of a regional ap-proach as compared to national programmes in WSM. Furthermore, the participants re-viewed criteria for the selection of pilot watersheds presented by the consultants.

At the third workshop (21st and 22nd February 2002), the international consultants pre-sented a draft Planning Matrix which was reviewed and completed by the participants. The organisational set-up was developed and national lead agencies in each country were identified.

Based on the results of the third workshop, the international consultants prepared minutes of the appraisal which were agreed upon and signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the MRC Secretariat and the Director of the GTZ Office Phnom Penh on 23rd February 2002.5

2 SITUATION ANALYSIS

2.1 Natural Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin

The Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) covers an area of 61.9 million ha in the four riparian countries of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. The overall population of these countries is estimated at 156 million people of which 60 million live in the basin.6

Table 1: Population of the Lower Mekong Sub-Region

Country Area (km2) Population (mil-

lion) Estimates 2001

Population growth (%)

Population density (persons/km2)

Cambodia 181,040 11.5 2.9 63

Lao PDR 236,800 4.9 2.6 21

Thailand 513,115 62.0 1.2 121

Vietnam 332,000 78.0 1.9 235

Total 1,262,955 156.4 1.7 124

Source: MRC (2000): Strategy Study on the Development of the Watershed Management / For-estry Sector in the Lower Mekong Basin: Strategy and Action Plan.

Population figures from Reports of national consultants, see Volume 2.

Some of the most common features of the rural areas of the LMB are:

• A high incidence of poverty among the rural population (e.g. in Lao PDR 53% of the rural population are classified as poor);

• A high dependency on the use of natural resources such as forests, water, fish, and land for subsistence and income generation; 85% of the rural population depend pri-marily on agricultural activities for their livelihood;

5 Agreed Minutes on the Appraisal Mission of “Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin”. A component of the Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme of the Mekong River Commission. MRC Secretariat/GTZ, Phnom Penh, 23rd February 2002. See Annex 2.

6 MRC (2000): Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme for 2001 – 2005. MRC Secretariat, Phnom Penh, December 2000.

3


• Mountain dwellers belong to a multitude of different ethnic groups, many of them prac-tising various forms of swidden agriculture;

• In Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam more than 80% of the total population live in rural areas and population increases among the rural population due to natural growth and in-migration exceed the national averages;

• A lack of infrastructure limiting the accessibility to and within the upland and mountain-ous parts of the LMB (e.g. in Lao PDR 80% of the total land area is sloping land and mountainous)

In recent years there has been increased pressure on the natural resources of the LMB resulting from economic growth, population increases, unregulated environmental degra-dation processes, such as illegal logging, land grabbing, and large scale land use conver-sions. The risk of natural disasters has increased as exemplified in the 2000 and 2001 catastrophic floods in large parts of Cambodia, Southern Laos and the Mekong Delta.

One of the indicators of resource degradation is the reduction of forest cover in the basin. In 1997 a total of 22.2 million ha in the LMB were under forest cover (35.8% of the area).

Table 2: Forest Cover and Trends in LMB countries, 1975 – 1997

1975 (ha) 1993 (ha) 1997 (ha) % annual change

% annual change

Forest cover

1975-93 1993-97 1997

Thailand 5 292 260 3 052 879 2 990 087 4.25 0.42 16%

Laos 9 864 022 8 771 016 8 544 584 0.73 0.53 40%

Vietnam 1 943 619 1 681 105 1 615 670 1.20 0.81 25%

Cambodia 9 916 343 9 292 119 9 092 093 0.39 0.44 58%

Source: MRC (2000): Strategy Study on the Development of the Watershed Management / For-estry Sector in the Lower Mekong Basin: Strategy and Action Plan.

Although the official figures show a decline of forest cover losses in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam over the past decade, the general trend of forest loss has not yet been halted or reversed despite all efforts undertaken in reforestation. The average deforestation rate is estimated at about 0.5%/year. Contrary to the trends in other riparian countries, deforestation rates in Cambodia seem to have increased in recent years. This is confirmed by the latest forest cover monitoring exercise in Cambodia (based on satellite images of the year 2000) wich indicates very high deforestation rates, particularly in the Cardamom Mountains as well as in Ratanakiri and Stung Treng provinces7.

The main causes of deforestation and resource degradation in the LMB include:

• expansion of agricultural production areas, land conversions to plantations and general land use changes;

• in-migration and population growth;

• forest fires;

• slash and burn agriculture and insufficient access to suitable land resources;

• insecurity of land and resource use rights;

• logging practices and log transportation;

• fuelwood collection;

7 Personal communication, Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Cambodia

4


• over-exploitation of fauna and flora (hunting and collection of non-timber forest products);

• hydropower development; • infrastructure and commercial development; • defoliation by chemicals during the war times; • inadequate institutional capacities; • profusion of regulatory documents and varying applications or interpretations on the

local level.

In an attempt to counteract the general trends in resource degradation, all riparian coun-tries have created a system of national parks and protected areas. In Cambodia, 23 National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries have been established by law and are com-plemented by a number of protected forest areas under each provincial administration. A total of 20 National Bio-diversity Conservation Areas (NBCAs) and numerous protected and conservation forests have been officially created in Lao PDR. Similar forest and wild-life protection measures have been undertaken in Vietnam (National Parks, as well as Protected and Special Use Forests) and Thailand (National Parks and Wildlife Sanctu-aries).

Furthermore, in particular the Vietnamese and the Thai Governments are carrying out large-scale reforestation programmes, both in upper watersheds for protection purposes as well as in the form of large timber plantations in less densely populated rural areas.

2.2 Watershed Management in the LMB

2.2.1 The Watershed Management Concept

A watershed is a topographically delineated area from which rainwater drains as surface run-off via a specific river or stream to a common outlet point (e.g. a large river, lake or the sea). Depending on their location and size, various types of watersheds can be distin-guished, ranging from micro-catchments and sub-catchments to larger watersheds and river basins. Watersheds are used as planning and implementation entities in connection with natural resources conservation, sustainable water supply for hydropower and irriga-tion schemes, development and protection of upland areas and for the mitigation of up-stream cause and downstream effect relations.

Definition of watershed management:

Co-ordinated multi-stakeholder management of land, water and other resources within a region (e.g. river basin or sub-catchment), with the objectives of

• conserving or rehabilitating the resource and environment

• ensuring bio-diversity

• minimising land degradation

Effective watershed/river basin management needs to be holistic in its coverage and inter-disciplinary in its scope. WSM has to consider the natural resources (land, water, forest) as well as the human resources (households, communities, government institutions, private sector) and co-ordinate their management needs and development potentials. Thus, wa-tershed interventions should consider the different stakeholders’ interests and aspirations, and include mechanisms of conflict resolution. The cross-cutting issue is to establish pro-

5


cedures for integrated watershed/river basin management through development and im-plementation of watershed/river basin management plans, beginning at the village-level plans, which are harmonised into sub-catchment management and development plans. Strong community participation throughout the process is essential. Participatory land use planning and land allocation (for agricultural and forest land) is the foundation of an integrated watershed management approach.

Integrated watershed management planning is the attempt to involve all relevant stakeholders in a process of defining present constraints and potentials and developing priorities, strategies and objectives in a given watershed situation.

Co-ordinated implementation of such a plan will lead to improved management of water-shed resources, which can be expected to produce a range of both on-site and down-stream economic, social and environmental benefits through the promotion of suitable land uses and appropriate land management practices. In summary, WSM aims at

• Creation of a holistic and integrated view on natural resources management;

• Widespread protection of the natural resources in upper catchment areas by forest management, reforestation and soil conservation;

• Mitigation of negative impacts in downstream areas; • Establishment of fruitful co-operation among existing projects/programmes (IO/NGO) in

an area-based planning and implementation approach; • Increased security of land tenure through a land allocation process with wide area cov-

erage in the watershed; • Contributions to poverty alleviation through sustainable land use and community based

management of natural resources.

While there is generally a wide-spread consensus on the validity and potential benefits of the WSM concept, its application faces a number of difficulties:

• WSM requires the involvement of many line agencies and stakeholders which implies high co-ordination needs, integration and joint responsibilities. This is not easy to achieve in view of the sectoral set-up and thinking in most Government institutions.

• The present national planning procedures and guidelines are not reflecting the WSM approach. Institutions at all levels plan and act within the framework of administrative boundaries and not in terms of physiographic boundaries.

• Many of the relevant institutions in the riparian countries are understaffed and lack ex-pertise in WSM. Moreover, the dominant working attitude of the majority of Govern-ment staff still is rather prescriptive than participatory.

2.2.2 WSM in Cambodia

Policy and legal framework

WSM is a fairly new concept in Cambodia and policies and strategies for its implementa-tion are only emerging. A Royal Decree on watershed management has been issued in December 1998, outlining the importance of protecting natural resources in watershed areas and instructing the Government to prepare further sub-decrees and instructions on watershed management. However, the further development of a comprehensive national policy or strategy on WSM is complicated by overlapping mandates of various institutions:

6


• The Department of Water Resource Management and Conservation in the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has elaborated a draft sub-decree on watershed management focussing on the water supply function of watersheds.

• The Department of Forestry and Wildlife in the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in-tends to prepare another draft sub-decree on WSM. .

• Moreover, the national policies on rural development, decentralisation, natural re-sources management and poverty reduction contain important implications for a wa-tershed management concept.

Important parts of the legal framework for watershed and natural resources management in Cambodia have been established in the recent past. Others are currently under prepa-ration e.g. the Forestry Law, the Sub-decree on Community Forestry and the Water Re-sources Management Law. But even after these will have been endorsed there will remain the massive task of translating the general framework into effective regulations and practi-cal guidelines

Major legal and policy documents pertaining to WSM in Cambodia:

• Land Law, endorsed in August 2001

• Law on Commune Administration Management, endorsed in August 2000

• Law on environmental protection and natural resource management – endorsed in November 1996

• Forestry law, submitted to Council of Ministers in July 2001, not yet passed • Sub-decree on Community Forest Management, final draft elaborated February 2002. • Sub-decree on forest concession management, signed by the Prime Minister in

February 2002

• Law on water resources management – exists in draft form • Decentralisation and Devolution Policy of the Ministry of Interior • Five-year Socio-Economic Development Plan (2001-2005); particularly relevant on

poverty alleviation

• Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper • Agricultural Development Plan (2001-2005) • Action Programme for the Development of Agriculture in Cambodia 2001-2010

• Government Action Plan 2001, which includes a section specifically dealing with natural resources management

• Draft Policy for Ethnic Minority Peoples’ Development, also called “Highland Policy” (Sept. 1997) (not yet ratified by the Council of Ministers)

The Government of Cambodia has started to implement its policy of decentralisation with the establishment of village and commune development councils. A major task of these councils will be the establishment and implementation of participatory development plans which are supposed to be aggregated to district and provincial plans. This planning process and the institutions involved will be of critical importance in any watershed man-agement planning.

Institutions

There is a multitude of government institutions in Cambodia that are relevant to WSM. The most important ones are the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery and the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction.

7


Government institutions in Cambodia involved in WSM:

• Department of Forestry and Wildlife (DFW) - Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and

Fishery

• Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Land Improvement (DAALI) – Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery

• Planning and International Co-operation Division - Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery

• General Department of Land Management and Urban Planning and General Department of Cadastre and Geography - Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC)

• Department of Water Resources Management and Conservation - Ministry of Water Resources Management and Meteorology (MoWRM)

• Department of Nature Conservation and Protection - Ministry of Environment (MoE) • SEILA Programme • Ministry of Rural Development (MRD) • Cambodian National Mekong Committee (CNMC) • Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) – takes decisions regarding rehabili-

tation, development and investment projects in the country • Inter-ministerial council to oversee ethnic minority development

(see further details in the report of national consultants in Volume 2)

Programmes and projects8

There is a multitude of projects or programmes in Cambodia promoting participatory plan-ning approaches, which attempt to integrate natural resources management (NRM) issues in a local planning process. There are numerous examples of community-based NRM, such as community forests and fishery schemes managed by local committees, while par-ticipatory land use planning and land allocation according to the new land law has just started. As many of these projects are supported by international and local NGOs, most of them are on a small scale, covering from 5 to 20 villages. More widespread and more ho-listic approaches to NRM can only be found in Siem Reap (FAO-supported), in Ratanakiri (SIDA-supported) and in Kampong Thom (GTZ-supported). Yet, non of these projects has a watershed perspective.

In November 2001, the national SEILA Task Force has prepared a project proposal to DANIDA for a watershed management project in the Stung Pursat and Mongkol Borey areas (Provinces of Pursat, Battambang and Banthey Meanchey). The idea behind this proposal is to combine watershed management activities with the existing decentralised planning and implementation mechanisms created by the SEILA system in line with the NRM Mainstreaming Strategy of SEILA (Nov. 2001). The expected outputs and activities of this project have numerous similarities to the output 3 (WSM planning and implementation on the local level) of the AIFP WSM component, but within the framework of a bilateral project. Due to present budget restrictions it is doubtful whether DANIDA will be in a posi-tion to start funding the bilateral WSM project within the coming 2 years.

8 A list of national and donor-funded programmes and projects in the four riparian countries is given in Annex 4.

8


2.2.3 WSM in Laos

Policy and legal framework

The watershed perspective is a common feature in policy and planning documents in Laos. The Government is committed to a programme of integrated area based development centred on watersheds and river basins. Several essential laws with relevance to WSM have been promulgated in recent years. Nevertheless, the legal and regulatory framework for effective WSM is still in a transitory phase. A consistent concept of integrated water-shed management in Lao PDR is expected to be developed by the Lao-DANIDA Natural Resources and Environment Programme until October 2002, but the present situation is characterised by the absence of adequate guidelines on the operational level.

Major legal and policy documents pertaining to WSM in Laos:

• Water and Water Resources Law (1996) • Decree on the Implementation of the Water and Water Resources Law (2001) • Land Law (1997) • Forest Law (1996) • Environmental Protection Law (1999) • Electricity Law (1997) • National Environment Action Plan (STEA 2000) • Strategic Vision for the Agricultural Sector (Dec. 1999) • National Poverty Alleviation Strategy • National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NSEDP) (1996-2000) • National Rural Development Programme (1996-2000) (by the National Leading Com-

mittee for Rural Development (NLCRD) and the State Planning Committee

• National Water Supply and Environmental Health Programme (1997)

• Human Resource Development Programme (1997-2000)

• L a o P D R N a t i o n a l E n v i r o n m e n t a l S t r a t e g y u n t i l y e a r 2 0 1 0

The “Strategic Vision for the Agricultural Sector” lists participatory planning and upland de-velopment among its key thematic approaches. The envisaged strategy for the uplands provides for decentralised development with an area-based approach focussing on water-sheds and entire river basins. Emphasis is put on the stabilisation of shifting cultivation in-cluding participatory land use planning, land allocation and land use occupancy entitlement as well as community management of natural resources. The institutional framework for decentralised planning has been established in most provinces, bottom-up planning is, however, not yet really operational. The recent move towards decentralisation will eventu-ally give local authorities greater authority in issues relating to natural resources manage-ment. At present, decision making is, however, still predominantly reserved for the central and provincial level.

Institutions

There is as yet no focal policy agency for WSM in the Lao Government. Responsibility for WSM related issues is shared among several government institutions of which the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is most strongly involved in the development of a national WSM concept.

9


Government institutions in Laos involved in WSM:

• Planning Division - Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)

• National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI)

• Water Resources Co-ordination Committee - Science Technology and Environment Agency (STEA)

• Department of Land Use Planning and Land Allocation • SPC – State Planning Committee and CPC – Committee for Planning and Co-opera-

tion • Lao National Mekong Committee (LNMC) • National Leading Committee for Rural Development (NLCRD) • Ethnic Minority Department

The role of international NGOs in Laos has seen gradual growth and development. How-ever, the extent to which they contribute towards environmental management is still limited. NGO activities are typically focussing on small-scale “on-the-ground” projects in remote rural communities. The only NGO with a programme at national level is IUCN which is involved in policy development for bio-diversity ecosystems and conservation.

Programmes and projects

Since 1995 a number of bilateral WSM projects have been implemented in Lao PDR. The most prominent among these are the ADB-funded Nam Ngum Watershed Study, the JICA-funded Watershed Management for Forest Conservation in the Vangvieng area, the UNDP-funded Nam Niam Watershed Management Project and the Nam Ngum Watershed Management and Conservation Project supported by GTZ. Most of these projects have included local situation appraisal and data collection, local level development planning, land use planning and land allocation, development of sustainable upland agricultural practices, village forestry and water resources management through local user groups in their fields of activities.

The development of consistent national WSM concepts and practices for Lao PDR is pro-moted by the Lao-DANIDA Natural Resources and Environment Programme with a Na-tional Capacity Building Project (Phase I until Oct. 2002) in particular. National concepts are developed in close relation to and field tested by the Integrated Watershed Manage-ment Project in Huaphan and Xieng Khouang, which is funded under the same Pro-gramme structure by DANIDA. The National Capacity Building Project has been successful in establishing good collaboration in this methodological development process with several of the above-mentioned area-based projects as well as with relevant national institutions. It was planned to continue the National Capacity Building Project after October 2002 in a second phase, which now seems doubtful due to budget cuts by the Danish Government. A continuation of the started conceptual developments and the testing of WSM concepts, such as the integrated watershed planning, on the local level could be important activities of the AIFP WSM component in Lao PDR.

Two potentially very important WSM projects are in the planning stage: a WWF funded Nam Ou Watershed Management Project focussing on natural forest restoration and an ADB-funded RETA 5771 (Phase III) ‘WSM Project in Nam Ou‘ (based on the final report elaborated at the end of an ADB funded 18-month study-phase).

Since 1996 a National Land Use Planning and Allocation Programme has been formu-lated, distinguishing a process of 8 main steps. Partly with donor support, partly with

10


Government funds this programme is implemented in all provinces. Although the original programme documents describe a robust approach, varying standards and instructions from one province to the other, insufficient funding and low staff capacities have led to a simplified approach to reduce costs. In particular the tools to encourage community par-ticipation and decision making have been modified or discarded altogether. At present, the major outcome of the landuse planning (LUP) process is land zonation according to gen-eral land use categories (agricultural land - forest land) and forest classification (protection, conservation, production, regeneration and degraded forest). In theory, the zonation and land use planning process should prepare the ground for land allocation (LA) to individual households, but again due to staff and budget restrictions this is often delayed. In recent surveys there are some indications that the LUP/LA Programme as it is carried out at pre-sent can contribute to increased poverty among swidden agriculturists and ethnic minori-ties. (see: Participatory Poverty Assessment Lao PDR, 2001).

2.2.4 WSM in Thailand

Watershed management in Thailand has a long history. It was initiated in 1953 under the Royal Forestry Department. The principles of WSM in Thailand were developed and a standardised watershed classification system for the entire country was developed in 1979 on the basis of 5 parameters (slope, elevation, landform, geology and soil).

Nevertheless, no explicit government policy or national strategy on watershed manage-ment in Thailand has been formulated until today. The overall framework is set by the Na-tional Economic and Social Development Plans (NESDP) No.8 and 9 (2002-2006). These plans introduce the concept of sustainable development and natural resources manage-ment. In order to achieve effective administration and management of natural resources and the environment, the specified national programmes should include management of water resources according to watershed areas, land use zonation and planning according to land capability and watershed classification. An integrated approach is emphasised which requires co-operation in design, implementation and evaluation of the programmes by all relevant agencies.

In the latest NESDP (No.9) the main focus is on local planning, human development, strengthening of community organisations and public participation. At the same time a tar-get is set of conserving and rehabilitating protected forests on 30% of the national territory.

Major legal and policy documents pertaining to WSM in Thailand:

• Thai Constitution (1997) • National Forest Reserve Act (1964) • National Park Act (196 1) • Agricultural Land Consolidation Act (1974) • Agricultural Land Reform Act (1975) • Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act (1992) • Cabinet Resolution on Watershed Classification • Cabinet Resolution on Settlements and Farming in Protected Areas (1998) • Tambon Administration Act (1992) • Forest Policy 1995 • Policy and Prospective Plan for Enhancement and Conservation of National Environ-

m e n t a l Q u a l i t y 1 9 9 7 - 2 0 1 6

11


Similar to the neighbouring countries, Thailand has embarked on a major decentralisation process with increased planning responsibilities as well as funds channelled to Tambon, District and Province level. Based on the Tambon Administration Act (1992) newly elected Tambon Councils and Tambon Administration Offices with representatives from each village have been created in the past three years.

Institutions

In total, 38 Government departments are active in watershed related activities. The Royal Forestry Department (RFD) and the Land Development Department (LDD) are playing particularly important roles, but none of them has the sole responsibility for WSM. Furthermore, there is number of co-ordinating bodies with relevance to WSM. As a consequence, activities tend to be somewhat uncoordinated and disconnected. In the very near future, a new Ministry of Environment and NRM will be created, which will absorb parts of RFD, possibly LDD and other departments under the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives.

Government institutions in Thailand involved in WSM:

• Royal Forestry Department (RFD) with 1 WSM Division on the national level, 3 WSM Sub-Divisions in the regions, 19 Watershed Management Centres in the provinces and 189 Watershed Management Units

• Land Development Department (LDD) with 12 Regional Offices of Land Development and 65 Land Development Stations

• Office for Environmental Planning and Policy (OEPP) • Thai National Mekong Committee (TNMC) • Hill-tribe Welfare Division (Department of Public Welfare) • National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) • National Environment Board (NEB) • National Water Resources Council (NWRC) • National Forestry Policy Board (NFPB) • Committee for Solving National Security Problems Concerning Hill-tribe Population and

Narcotics Plants

• L o c a l a n d R e g i o n a l P r o s p e r i t y D i s t r i b u t i o n C o m m i t t e e


There are four main Government Programmes with relevance to WSM:

• The National Rural Development Programme,

• The Programmes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives line agencies,

• The Highland Community Development and Narcotics Control Programme,

• The Bottom-up Planning Programme.

The RFD, NGOs and several ODA projects have been particularly successful in estab-lishing watershed network organisations in upland areas as a result of participatory landuse planning exercises. Each village in a particular micro-watershed thereby sends repre-sentatives to the local watershed network committee or peoples’ forum9. By 2001 a total of 1284 villages, most of them participating in watershed networks, received technical support by the watershed management units of RFD.

9 The role of these committees is further described in the report of the Thai national consultants.

12


One of the most relevant project for the conceptual development and exemplary field im-plementation is the Upper Nan Watershed Management Project (supported by DANCED) in Nan Province of North Thailand.

2.2.5 WSM in Vietnam

The Government of Vietnam has not yet formulated a comprehensive policy or strategy on watershed management or catchment protection. Nevertheless, a series of policies with regard to land use planning, land allocation, forest protection and sustainable management as well as water resources protection have been promulgated.

Major legal and policy documents pertaining to WSM in Vietnam:

• Land Law (1993/ revised 1998) • Law on Forest Land Protection and Development (1991) • Law on Water Resource Use and Management (2000) • Law on Agricultural Co-operatives • Decree No.525 on Mountain Area Development • Decision No. 02 CP and Decision No. 163 on (Forest) Land Allocation • Decision No. 264 CP on Credit for Forest Planting • Decision No. 08 CP on the Management of 3 Forest Categories

• Draft Forestry Development Strategy 2001-2010 (Sept. 2001)

The national programmes of land use planning and forest land allocation are of particular relevance for watershed management in Vietnam. Since 1993 large areas of land and forest resources in the entire country have been allocated to households, local organi-sations and communities for protection and management for time periods between 20 and 50 years. This term will be automatically extended if the user doesn’t violate the regula-tions. Maximal area to be allocated for each household is limited in accordance to land re-source availability in each province. Not more than 30 ha of forest land can be allocated to each household. The five fundamental rights to land use include: transfer, exchange, in-heritance, lease and use as collateral. Households and communities receive official landuse certificates for the allocated forest areas.

Institutions

Vietnam has a plethora of government institutions that deal with WSM; each with their own and often overlapping mandate. The principal agency is the Ministry of Agriculture and Ru-ral Development. Other important institutions are the General Department of Land Admini-stration and the Land Cadastral Department.

13


Government institutions in Vietnam involved in WSM:

• Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) - Forest Protection Department

- Forest Development Department

- Department of Water and Irrigation Constructions

- 5 million ha of Reforestation Project

- Forest Inventory and Planning Institute (FIPI)

- Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV)

- National Institute of Agriculture Planning and Projection (NIAPP) - Institute of Water Planning and Projection (IWPP)

• Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MOSTE) • General Department for Land Administration

• Land Cadastral Department • Committee for Ethnic Minority and Mountain Areas (CEMMA) • Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI)

A large number of NGOs are involved in NRM. Many of these run small projects in com-paratively restricted areas focussing on participatory planning and development. Interna-tional NGOs with larger programmes are IUCN and WWF.


A system of national programmes, have had widespread impacts in terms of reforested areas, clearly identified management responsibilities for forest protection, improved security of tenure and some contributions to poverty alleviation. Major national programmes are:

• 5million ha reforestation (1998-2010) – reforestation of 5 million ha (2 million ha pro-tection and special use forest, 3 million ha production forest) in view of increasing forest cover to 40%, protection of existing forests

• Programme 133: Hunger eradication and poverty alleviation (started 1998) – employ-ment generation, rural credit with no or low interest rates (Bank for the Poor), subsidies for crops, livestock and aquaculture, partly subsidies for health care, education etc.

• Programme 135: Socio-economic Development Programme for particularly difficult communes in the remote areas (started 1998) – 2200 communes in 2001, each com-mune receiving the equivalent of US$ 2,700 per year, which is mainly used for infra-structure development

• Resettlement Projects – 500 projects have been conducted, resettling 1.9 million people in 26 provinces

• Water Sector support Programme

Important projects on WSM and NRM supported by bi- and multilateral donors include:

• Reforestation through local credit schemes in the provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri (German Financial Co-operation through KfW)

• Forestation in Quang Ninh, Bac Giang and Lang Son (German Financial Co-operation through KfW )

14


• Community-based Watershed Rehabilitation and Management (in 4 provinces) (ADB-funded)

• Song Da Social Forestry Development Project (German Technical Co-operation through GTZ)

• Lai Chau – Son La Rural Development Project (EU) • Forestry Sector Project (ADB) • Northern Mountain Poverty Reduction Project (WB/DfID)

3 INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION

3.1 History and mandate

The Committee for Co-ordination of Investigations of the Lower Mekong (Mekong Committee) was established in September 1957, based on a study performed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East (ECAFE ). The Mekong Committee comprised representatives of the four countries of the lower Mekong (Cambo-dia, Laos, Thailand and South Vietnam) and received input and support from the United Nations. The ECAFE study noted that harnessing the main stem of the Mekong would allow hydropower production, expansion of irrigated land, a reduction of the threat of flooding in the delta region, and the extension of navigability of the river. The ECAFE re-port emphasised the need for comprehensive development of the river and close co-op-eration between the riparian countries in co-ordinating efforts for projects and management.

The Committee was composed of “plenipotentiary” representatives of the four countries, meaning that they had the authority to speak for their country. The committee was authorised to “promote, co-ordinate, supervise, and control the planning and investigation of water resources development projects in the Lower Mekong Basin”. With rapid agreement between the riparian countries came extensive international support for the work of the Committee10. By 1961, The Committee’s resources came to $ 14 million, more than enough to fund field surveys, which had been agreed upon as priority projects. By the end of 1965, twenty countries, eleven international agencies, and several private organisations had pledged a total of more than $100 million (the Secretariat itself was funded by a special $2.5 million grant made by UNDP).

The early years were the most productive for the Mekong Committee. Networks of hy-drology and meteorology stations were established and continued to function despite hos-tilities in the region, and navigation improved along the main stream. The work of the Committee helped also to overcome political suspicion through increased integration. In 1965, Thailand and Laos signed an agreement on developing the power potential of the Nam Ngum River, a Mekong tributary inside Laos and despite hostilities between the two countries the mutual flow of electricity between Laos and Thailand was never interrupted.

By the 1970’s the early momentum of the Mekong Committee began to erode. Firstly, the political and financial obstacles necessary to move from data gathering and feasibility studies to concrete development projects often were too great to overcome. An Indicative Basin Plan in 1970 set out a basin development framework for the following thirty years marking a potential shift between planning and large-scale implementation towards more integrative approaches. In 1975, the riparian countries refined the Committee’s objectives and principles in support of the Plan in a “Joint Declaration on Principles”. This includes the first (and so far only) precise definition of “reasonable and equitable use” (based on the

10 Wolf A.T. (2001): Transboundary Waters: Sharing Benefits, Lessons Learned. Thematic Background Paper for the Internationa Converence on Freshwater, Bonn, 2001.

15


1966 Helsinki Rules) ever used in an international agreement. Despite these efforts, the plan was only implemented along the tributaries within single countries avoiding concrete trans-boundary co-operation and agreement.

Secondly, political obstacles did heavily influence the Committee’s work. From 1975-77 the Committee remained inactive and became a three-member “Interim Committee” in 1978 without representation of Cambodia. Cambodia rejoined the committee as a full participant in 1991, although the Committee still retained its “interim” status until 1995.

After the Paris Peace Agreement in 1991 Cambodia requested the reactivation of the Me-kong Committee culminating in a new agreement, the “Agreement on Co-operation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin”, signed in April 1995. Through a supplementary protocol the Mekong Committee became the Mekong River Commission. The Mekong Agreement closely followed the provision of customary international law on trans-boundary water management, as given in subsequent conventions, in particular the Helsinki Rules on the Uses of International Rivers and the UN Convention on the Law of the Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses prepared by the International Law Commission and adopted for ratification by the United Nations General Assembly in 1997.

The 1995 Agreement spells out areas of co-operation and defines the mandate of the MRC. The Agreement elaborates on the key elements of the UN Conventions:

• to optimise the multiple-use of the river and mutual benefits of all riparian countries and minimise the harmful effects that might result from natural occurrences and man-made activities (principle of reasonable and equitable utilisation);

• to promote and co-ordinate the development of the full potential of sustainable benefits to all riparian countries states with emphasis and preference on joint and/or basin-wide development projects through the formulation of a basin development plan (duty to co-operate);

• to utilise the waters of the Mekong River system in a reasonable and equitable manner in their respective territories (principle of prior notification and negotiation on planned measures);

• to make every effort to avoid, minimise and mitigate harmful effects that might occur to the environment (obligation not to cause significant harm).11

After 1995 and until 1999, MRC activities mainly aimed at addressing national develop-ment issues with limited cross-boundary implications. This was and still is basically due to strong national development interests and international funding fostering a donor-driven project approach. With the development of a Strategic Plan for 1999-2003 and new lead-ership a change process has been initiated which focuses strongly on co-operation in a regional context. The change process aims at reorientation from a predominantly sectoral project approach to a multi-sectoral and basin-wide programme approach. Structurally, this process is still hampered by the fact that Myanmar and China are not party to the agree-ment, effectively precluding integrated basin management. An open invitation to participate has yet to be accepted. Instead both China and Myanmar are engaged as „dialogue part-ners“ attending meetings of the Joint Committee as observers.

11 Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin. 5 April 1995.

and

Transboundary Water Management as an International Public Good. Prepared for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden by ODI and ARCADIS Euroconsult. Stockholm 2001.

16


Although the Mekong Agreement is acknowledged to represent international „best practice“ its true effectiveness will only be proven through application and enforcement. In the absence of detailed water utilisation and notification rules, the implementation of the provision on prior notice and consent has been incomplete.

3.2 Organisational structure

In origin and operation, the Mekong River Commission and its predecessors have been an „intergovernmental“ agency. The MRC currently consists of three permanent bodies:

• Council: A political decision making body consisting of one member from each state at the Ministerial and Cabinet level who is empowered to make policy decisions on behalf of his/her government. Chairmanship of the Council rotates every year.

• Joint Committee: A technical decision-making and management body, which consists of one member from each country at department head level. The joint committee takes care of the implementation of decisions and of the Council and supervises the Secre-tariat. Chairmanship of the Joint Committee also rotates every year.

• The Secretariat: Provides technical and administrative services to the Council and

Joint Committee. The Secretariat is headed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who

is not from one of the riparian countries and is appointed for a term of three years at a

time.

In February 2002, the Secretariat employed a total of 107 riparian and international profes-sional and general service staff. In the past, riparian staff were usually nominated by their respective country with the nomination often being based on political considerations rather than profession qualification. At present, there is an effort to recruit professionals more on performance basis and limit the duration of the contracts to three years. Obviously, com-promises are necessary which results in a situation where not all staff match the required professional standards.

In July 2000, a new organisational structure was introduced in the Secretariat. Former sectoral divisions have been replaced by a new structure along functional lines. The new structure contains four inter-dependent divisions and three supportive sections with cross-cutting function. The Divisions are the Natural Resources Development Planning Division, the Technical Support Division, the Environment Division and the Operations Division12. Together with the Human Resource Section, the Programme Co-ordination Section and Finance and Administration Section they form the so-called Core Programmes Manage-ment Group (CPMG). The CPMG is the main link for co-ordination between the MRC Sec-retariat’s organisational structure and the National Mekong Committees.

Recently, working groups have been established to ensure effective collaboration across sectors, programmes and organisational units and to allow the formation of ad-hoc working groups as required. The three permanent Working Groups are:

• Working Group on Basin Modelling and Knowledge Base;

• Working Group on Environmental and Trans-boundary Issues;

• Working Group on Basin Development Planning and Socio-Economic Issues..13

Every riparian country has a National Mekong Committee (NMC) which is the official entry point for the MRC in that country. The Committees are expected to formulate national poli-cies and to provide co-ordination between and among national line agencies and

MRC

12 For an organogramme of the MRC Secretariat see Annex 6.

13 Source: MRC-S internal document on Working Groups.

17


projects. Their structure and strength varies from country to country, but the general ar-rangement is to have an inter-ministerial policy-making body, a management group of key governmental departments and a secretariat to support the NMC.

3.3 Resources

The MRC and the bodies that proceeded it, have been mainly funded from bilateral grants, particularly from Japan and South Korea, the Nordic Countries, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, and New Zealand. The MRC has an annual core budget of approximately $ 2 million which derives from three main sources:

• Contributions from the four member countries ($ 195,000 each in 2000); • Donor grants – some of it „in kind“, i.e. through deputation of international staff – from a

subgroup of the donors funding programme activities (Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland). To keep this mechanism manageable the preference has been to maintain a small group of donors for the core budget;

• An 11 % surcharge on the donor-funded projects implemented by MRC.

Donors have indicated that they would like to see greater ownership by the riparian coun-tries. Recently, the MRC States have decided to raise their contributions in order to phase out donor inputs to core funding within a period of 15 years. The contribution formula has also been changed from an equal share to a weighted share based on catchment area, average flow, irrigated area, population and GDP.

In contrast to the MRC Secretariat, the NMCs are financed entirely from national budgets. These budgets are fairly low resulting in insufficient operational funds and difficulty in re-taining high-calibre staff. The NMCs do not have a programme budget of their own. Some, but no all, of the MRC programme funding for national components is channelled through the National Committees.

The MRC Programme Budget - $ 15-20 million annually – is funded almost exclusively from international and bilateral grant sources. The nominal contribution of the MRC coun-tries is expressed in staff time. Donor funding has come from a wide range of sources14. Acknowledging the organisational and programmatic changes since 1998, donor contribu-tion has shown a constant increase since.

The MRC programme traditionally reflects the strong donor environment in which the MRC has been nurtured. The Interim Mekong Committee and the new Mekong River Commis-sion engaged in a large number of bilateral and sectoral projects, many of them studies, producing background information but little translation into action or policy. Over time the IMC and then the MRC became increasingly „donor driven“. Strongly supported by the do-nor core group (Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland) the Committee has now developed a pro-gramme approach. Within each programme, “components” are defined and offered to do-nors for funding.

14 Funding in 2000 from the governments of Australia, Belgium Denmark, France Finland, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K., UNDP, UNEP and GEF.

18


3.4 Strategy

The basis for the shift from a sectoral project approach to a multi-sectoral and basin-wide programme approach is the Strategic Plan 1999-2003 which was approved by the Council in 1998. After a refinement in late 2000, four goals were identified:

1. To establish and implement “rules” for water utilisation and inter-basin diversions;

2. To establish a dynamic basin development planning process as a framework for natu-ral resource management and sustainable development, and to plan and execute cor-responding priority sector programmes and projects;

3. To establish and promote MRC environmental and socio-economic management sys-tems, recommendations, and policy guidelines;

4. To establish an effective organisation, capable to promote in partnership with other in-stitutions, basin-wide development and co-ordination.

The vision for MRC is to become a “world class, financially secure, international river basin organisation” and “to promote and co-ordinate sustainable management and development of water and related resources for the countries’ mutual benefit and the people’s well-being by implementing strategic programs and activities and providing scientific information and policy advice”15. Recently, MRC is increasingly focussing on its potential role as mediator in trans-boundary conflict resolution in the LMB.

In order to remain distinct from country-based programmes or projects, while being com-plementary to them, MRC initiatives are intended to conform to the following criteria:

• promote the sharing and/or joint management of resources; • be trans-boundary in nature; • contribute to or promote regional institutions, norms and policies; • foster research than cannot be adequately or effectively undertaken nationally; • create or sustain networks or contacts among governmental or non-governmental or-

ganisations in different member countries.

It is quite obvious that the organisational change process in MRC has yielded visible posi-tive effects. Division boundaries within the Secretariat have been lowered and cross-divi-sional team work has increased. MRC partners are reporting much more openness for in-formation sharing and co-operation. Nevertheless, there is still some way to go for the MRC to become the envisioned “ Regional Centre of Excellence”. The main challenge will probably be to get effectively engaged in dialogue and collaboration with relevant govern-ment and other agencies as well as civil society organisations (multi-stakeholder ap-proach). The role of the National Mekong Committees in this context is to support net-working and policy development. While the latter is fully acknowledged, the NMCs should avoid to strive for the role of all embracing planning bodies as this might establish parallel bureaucracies. Besides, many national line agencies would probably resist such a role of the NMCs which would seriously hamper co-operation and programme implementation.

Due to political concerns of the riparian countries, the regional role of the MRC is in many respects still not fully operational ised. This might foster the tendency to again concentrate on data collection and internal organisational development. It remains to be seen if the new programme approach will be effective in generating tangible benefits for the individual countries. The key to “ownership” by the riparian countries is probably a good balance of national and regional interests in the programme concepts.

15 MRC (2001): Work Programme 2002. MRC Secretariat, Phnom Penh.

19


3.5 MRC programmes and interlinkages between AIFP/WSM component and other programmes

The MRC has three types of programmes: core, support and sector programmes16. The Core Programmes are those central to the purpose of the Commission, and are to remain in the long term. They are addressing central issues of the 1995 Agreement in line with the Strategic Plan. The activities under these programmes are, in the long term, to be funded by the contributions of the member countries, thus ensuring sustainability. The core pro-grammes are:

• Basin Development Plan (BDP)

• Water Utilisation Programme (WUP) • Environmental Programme (EP)

The Support Programme addresses the capacity building needs of the MRC Secretariat and of the riparian countries. The Sector Programmes are focussing on important sectoral issues in the basin. They are supposed to have a regional focus and to address develop-ment needs from a basin-wide perspective, complementing and supporting national and bilateral development initiatives. The current or planned Sector Programmes are:

• Fisheries Programme (under implementation) • Water Resources and Hydrology Programme (partially under implementation) • Navigation Programme (in preparation) • Tourism Programme (to be prepared) • Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme (under preparation)

The Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme comprises three components: Water Use Efficiency, Capacity Building and Watershed Management. While the WSM compo-nent is subject of this appraisal, negotiations with donors regards the funding of the other two components have not yet yielded tangible results.

During the appraisal, a detailed analysis on the interlinkages and complementarities between AIFP and the other core and sector programmes has been undertaken showing a clear need for close co-ordination and co-operation. BDP, WUP, EP and the Fisheries Programme (amongst others) could provide information and assist in the selection of criti-cal watersheds. On the other hand, the AIFP-Watershed component could substantially contribute to the development scenarios the BDP is intending to generate by demonstrating the economic and social impacts of technical and institutional interventions in watersheds and identifying strategies and approaches in watershed management which influence national policies. A particularly strong linkage needs to be established between the WSM Component and the Fisheries Programme as they will partly work in the same geographical areas.

Overall, the WSM Component with its inter-sectoral focus will help to operationalise MRC’s regional role and will link MRC activities with ongoing activities at national and sub-national level. It has the potential to support the development of feasible multi-stakeholder-ap-proaches at the regional level on the basis of national initiatives.

16 For more detailed information on the programmes see MRC Work Programme 2001.

20


3.6 Partnerships with other regional players and civil society

The key regional vehicle for greater integration, ASEAN, has become an increasingly im-portant forum for regional co-operation and has established the Fund for Mekong Region Development. ASEAN’s plans closely overlap with the Greater Mekong Sub-region plan (GMS), initiated by the Asian Development Bank in 1992. At present, the focus of the GMS programme is on trans-boundary roads, railways, telecommunications infrastructure and HIV/AIDS prevention including– unlike ASEAN – also the Yunnan region in China. These developments are placing the MRC as a regional player in a larger and expanding regional framework. Nevertheless, there has been a tendency for the GMS and MRC to move in different directions and at different speeds. As a matter of fact, ADB has been funding water investments outside the MRC framework. To avoid future mismatches, a partnership agreement was signed in 2000 between ADB and MRC which expresses the willingness to exchange information and to co-ordinate activities. 17

The role of the non-government sector has been comparatively small in the lower Mekong region. In contrast to other basins, „second track“ diplomacy by civil society has not played much of a role in the LMB. For long time, the political climate has not been conducive to the development of a strong regional NGO sector. Only recently have NGOs started oper-ating regionally. Resistance against the construction of dams in recent years and the criti-cism of the MRC as being a „closed shop“ led to the necessity and the opportunity for MRC to engage more actively in dialogue with the civil society. The MRC and the national committees have underlined the principle of participation in a policy paper, but this is still to be translated into practice, particularly in the preparation of the Basin Development Plan.

4 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPOSED WATERSHED MANAGE-MENT COMPONENT OF THE AIFP

4.1 Watershed Management as a component of the MRC Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme

The Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme (AIFP) of the MRC is one of five Tech-nical Programmes listed in MRC’s Strategic Plan 2001 to 200518. The programme docu-ment for the AIFP19, endorsed in 2001, specifies three programme components:

• The Water Use Efficiency Component aiming at improved approaches to utilise and share water resources in agriculture, principally in irrigation;

• The Catchment (or Watershed)20 Management Component aiming at improved ap-proaches in the management of critical watersheds;

• The Capacity Building Component aiming at an enhanced capacity of MRC (including the National Mekong Committees and concerned line agencies) to facilitate sustainable use of land and water for agriculture and forestry.

17 Other partnership agreements exist with ICLARM, AIT, IUCN.

18 The other Technical Programmes are: The Navigation Programme, the Water Resources Programme, the Fisheries Programme and the Tourism Programme

19 MRC(2000): Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme for 2001 – 2005. MRC Secretariat, Phnom Penh, December 2000.

20 Watershed Management and Catchment Management are virtually synonymous terms. In order to avoid potential confusion, the term WSM will be used throughout this report.

21


Forestry does not appear in the AIFP as a component in itself but is included in the Water-shed Management Component. The importance that MRC is placing on forestry in the context of WSM is highlighted in a strategy and action plan on WSM and forestry21.

The Programme Document defines the objective of the WSM component as the “Institu-tionalisation of a process of WSM planning in selected LMB cross-border areas and where resource use in one domain is creating stress to users of a sub-basin.” The proposed strategy is “to facilitate collaborative planning (learning) for actual development or amelio-ration activities in sensitive cross-border areas and other areas where the interest of the basin as a whole are impacted or potentially impacted by lack of an institutional capacity to undertake interdisciplinary planning and action”. In order to provide an incentive and focus for local planning and “learning by doing” it is proposed to associate the WSM component with a small community grants scheme to implement necessary small and medium scale action and to develop links to lending institutions. Major activities are proposed as fol-lowing:

• Establishment of trans-border or trans sub-basin local government resource planning committees;

• Scheduling of an agreed programme of trans-border planning meetings; • Undertaking of study tours and exchanges with other WSM groups within the basin; • Establishment of digitised maps showing sub-basin agriculture, forests, fisheries, natu-

ral species resources and services, including development activities planned by others; • The formulation of WSM plans; • Facilitation of community and other stakeholders access to funding; • Establishment of a capacity to monitor resource use and trade; • Implementation of a responsive monitoring and evaluation programme in accordance

with the requirement of funding bodies; • Study of land, water and forest use rights.

4.2 Request for Technical Assistance for the Implementation of the WSM Compo-nent

In February 2001, the MRC Secretariat formulated a request for technical assistance to the German Government to support the WSM component of the AIFP along the lines set out in the programme document. The request defines six major outputs to be achieved:

• An institutional capacity to undertake trans-border and inter-sectoral planning for wa-tershed management in some trans-border and environmentally sensitive areas has been established;

• An improved user-oriented database of ecological, socio-economic, human and other resources in fragile areas is available for meso- and macro-planning;

• The capacity to mobilise funds and resources at local level for economic development and environmental protection activities has increased;

• A better understanding and knowledge of necessary and effective institutional and po-litical processes essential for negotiating, planning and monitoring watershed man-agement has been created in critical, trans-border areas of the Mekong Basin;

• Guidelines for working cross-border have been established on topics such as data/information/knowledge sharing and management, development and harmonising standards/definitions, cross-border stakeholder analysis, linkages and partnerships

21 MRC (2000): Strategy study on the development of the WSM/Forestry Sector in the Lower Mekong Basin. Strategy and Action Plan. MRC Secretariat, Phnom Penh, January 2000.

22


between local governments, awareness and use of global conventions and “rules of conduct”;

• Tested, disseminated and endorsed documentation is available on land use planning, land allocation procedures and the institutionalisation of economic and social impact assessments (upstream – downstream).

The main expected benefits of the WSM component are described as

• More sustainable and long-term oriented management of natural resources;

• Building of trust and capacity for dialogue and conflict resolution amongst stakeholders at local level;

• Development in sensitive border areas;

• Improved information and knowledge about the links between secure use rights and sustainability of resource use;

• Further development of avenues for strategic co-operation with national programmes, multinationals and projects in the selected areas and a new window for co-operation with international organisations such as WWF and IUCN.

A direct link to the three core programmes of MRC (i.e. Basin Development Plan, Water Utilisation Programme, Environment Programme) is mentioned in the request, but without further explanations or details. The cost estimate is US$ 3 million over a time period of 3 years (Phase I).

4.3 Proposed Target Sites for Field Implementation

The Programme Document and the Request for Technical Assistance propose the fol-lowing sites for field implementation:

• The Dien Bien /Meuang Mai border area between Vietnam and Laos (Nam Ou water-shed) with a focus on poverty alleviation and food security through upper watershed erosion control among ethnic minorities, bank stability and flood control, irrigation modernisation, crop diversification and fishery development in valley bottoms and lower slopes.

• The Sesan / Srepok river basin between Cambodia and Vietnam with a focus on community-based planning for balanced resource use between forestry, agriculture,

fisheries and energy generation with particular attention to poverty alleviation and food

security.

• The Se Bang Hien river basin between Vietnam and Laos with a focus on poverty alle-viation and food security with the view of funding small scale agriculture, irrigation and forest activities.

• The Theun Hinboun hydro-scheme area in Laos with a focus on irrigation and fisheries. • The Tonle Sap Great Lake region and /or the Stung Pursat region of Cambodia in par-

ticular with a focus on integrated WSM planning to safeguard the integrity of the Lake as a whole.

4.4 Assessment of the proposal and the baseline documents

An analysis of MRC’s Strategic Plan 2001-2005 reveals a high degree of accord between the priorities set forth therein and important traits of the relevant concepts and guidelines of the BMZ (sustainable development, poverty reduction, prevention and

resolution of potential conflicts, promotion of regional associations). The AIFP is in line with the objectives and principles provided by Agenda 21 (in particular: chapters 3, 8, 9, 11, 13, 15 and 18)

23


and by international conventions and arrangements pertaining to natural resources (in par-ticular: Framework Convention on Climatic Change, Convention on Bio-Diversity, Interna-tional Arrangement on Forests). Support to the implementation of AIFP under the frame-work of the Strategic Plan would, therefore, be well in agreement with German Develop-ment Policy.

Given Germany’s long involvement in sustainable resources management in the region, German Development Co-operation can contribute to enhancing the MRC Secretariat’s ca-pacity to address the above issues and to assume its envisaged role of a regional “centre of excellence”. MRC’s “Strategy study on the development of the watershed management / forestry sector in the LMB” provides a convincing outline of how MRC can best realise this objective in a regional WSM/forestry programme by

• adopting a “client focussed”, “service-oriented”, “demand driven” approach to working in WSM and forestry;

• engaging in dialogue and collaboration with relevant national stakeholders to identify and document issues and constraints facing these sectors;

• collaborating with national and international programmes and projects in addressing these issues and constraints;

• concentrating on activities which complement and build upon the achievements of past and current activities like the “Forest Cover Monitoring Project”, the “Watershed Clas-sification Project” and the “Sustainable Management of Natural Resources Project”;

• concentrating on facilitation and promotion of co-operation between stakeholders in-volved in WSM/forestry issues of basin-wide significance.

The proposed strategies, expected outputs and benefits outlined in the AIFP Programme Document reflect a comprehensive but very challenging and ambitious approach. In par-ticular the following aspects raise some concerns:

• Working in cross-border locations requires a high degree of readiness for co-operation on the part of the respective countries which cannot be taken for granted. Border re-gions are quite often sensitive areas in political and security terms. In view of the diffi-culties encountered in establishing multi-stakeholder and cross-sectoral co-operation even within one single province, the facilitation of collaboration across national borders is a difficult endeavour. Moreover, cross-border catchments represent only a very small area of the entire Lower Mekong Basin (less than 5%) and have a limited potential to serve as “basin-wide” examples. It would, therefore, appear prudent not to put ”all eggs into one basket” i.e. not to work exclusively in cross-border catchments but also in criti-cal “national” catchments as long as they have cross-boundary implications. The latter would apply to those catchments with particular importance to down-stream areas in neighbouring countries as well as to those that would provide significant examples for a large number of other locations in the LMB.

• The description of focal areas of work in the proposed watersheds draws the picture of a very broad rural development approach based on integrated WSM planning22. Issues to be dealt with include not only erosion and flood control, bank stabilisation, agricul-ture (in particular irrigation infrastructure and crop-diversification), fisheries, and forestry but also health, infrastructure and water supplies. While the need for an inte-grated planning approach is fully appreciated it would appear extremely difficult - if at all possible - to address such a wide array of topics through one single project. In view of the limited funds available on one hand and the specific experience of GTZ on

22 See: MRC (2000): Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme for 2001 – 2005. MRC Secretariat, Phnom Penh, December 2000. Page 42.

24


the other, a concentration on natural resources management would appear necessary, particularly when it comes to supporting the implementation of WSM plans.

The particular benefits of a regional approach to WSM as compared to several national projects comprise

• intensified exchange of experience and lessons learnt between the countries which may lead to more effective interventions and help to avoid duplication and repetition of ineffective strategies and actions;

• more effective use of available human and financial resources for WSM;

• the possibility to address cross-border catchments as entities;

• further improvement of good relations and mutual trust through joint learning, profes-sional interaction and development activities across institutions and countries;

• transparent, fair and amicable resolution of disagreements based on regionally acknowledged principles and agreements on WSM;

• harmonisation of views and potentially joint positioning and negotiations at international fora related to watershed management;

• improved access to international funding.

5 DESIGN OF THE AIFP WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMPONENT

Based on the findings of the appraisal mission and the results of the strategy workshop, the participants of the regional Planning Workshop (Phnom Penh, 21st and 23rd February 2002) developed the following concept for an initial phase of three years (starting in De-cember 2002) for the WSM component of the AIFP to enter into a potentially long-term co-operation.

5.1 Objectives

Direct objective (Purpose) of the WSM component of the AIFP is that “Relevant institu-tions in the riparian countries and the MRC Secretariat make use of regional co-operation, information exchange and improved approaches for sustainable WSM in the Lower Me-kong River Basin”.

Indicators for the achievement of the direct objective (Purpose):

• A regional plan of action on co-operation in Watershed Management is drafted by 12/2004 and endorsed by MRC and the relevant national authorities by 12/2005.

• Interviews with a representative sample of people from Government and Non- government Organisations involved in Watershed Management in the LMB yield the following results:

x% of interviewed persons consider regional co-operation activities of the AIFP as „worthwhile“ and beneficial;

y% of interviewed persons give a valid example how regional co-operation activities had a direct positive effect on their work;

z% of interviewed persons state that improved WSM information contributes to better decision making in their particular field of work.

(x, y, z to be specified during operational planning)

25


Intensive discussions during the appraisal were focussing on the question whether or not to formulate an indicator (at the Purpose level) pertaining to the establishment of regionally acknowledged ”standards”, guidelines or principles for sustainable WSM. Such principles could potentially serve as a basis for the assessment of future project proposals and for decisions on investment into WSM and might on the long run lead to a regional convention on WSM. During the discussions it became, however, evident that the feasibility and prac-ticability of such principles at the regional level is not sufficiently clear in view of different legal, political and bio-physical conditions in the riparian countries. Hence the decision to further study this issue during the first phase and to formulate an indicator thereto at the Output level (see Indicator 3.3 below).

The achievement of the direct objective will lead to an enhanced capability of the riparian countries to manage their watersheds sustainably and increasingly in view of regional needs. Eventually this will contribute to the ultimate objective (Overall Goal): “The wa-tersheds of the Lower Mekong River Basin fulfil their ecological, economic and social func-tions and provide a sustainable basis for improved livelihood of the population.”

5.2 Strategy

The general strategy is derived from the direct objective, i.e. to facilitate collaboration and joint learning among the riparian countries. This pertains to the development of improved approaches to WSM at the local level in selected target areas, to the development of na-tional policies and guidelines, to the harmonisation of policies and strategies at the re-gional level and to improving information management.

Representatives of virtually all relevant institutions and the participants of the three re-gional workshops underlined the necessity that WSM planning in pilot catchments needs to be followed up by implementation. German Technical Co-operation, with its given mandate and resources, can, however, provide only rather limited support to implementation. Hence the necessity to collaborate with national programmes, NGOs, and projects funded by other donors. Moreover, it appears imperative to link the Technical Co-operation in WSM and the proposed German Financial Co-operation contribution to forest rehabilitation to be provided through KfW.

5.3 Outputs, activities and indicators of success

In order to achieve the Purpose, the following four Outputs are to be realised within the ini-tial phase:

Output 1: WSM approaches in selected (national and cross-border) watersheds are fur-ther developed, documented and disseminated.

Output 2: Mechanisms for analysis and further development of national WSM policies and guidelines in the LMB are established and functioning.

Output 3: Mechanisms for continuous and effective regional collaboration in WSM are established and functioning.

Output 4: Regional and national information management on WSM is improved.

Activities to be carried out in order to realise these Outputs and objectively verifiable indi-cators for the achievement of the Outputs are presented and briefly discussed in the fol-lowing paragraphs.

26


Output 1: WSM approaches in selected (national and cross-border) watersheds are fur-ther developed, documented and disseminated.

There are numerous projects and programmes in the region that have been or are pres-ently dealing with different aspects and elements of WSM. As a matter of fact, with the possible exception of adequate financing mechanisms, virtually all methodological ele-ments of WSM have been developed and are available somewhere. However, there is - to the best knowledge of the consultants – no example in the LMB yet where the full ap-proach to WSM (i.e. integrated planning followed by co-ordinated implementation of the plans) is put into practice. The rationale for this Output is, therefore, not to test and de-velop additional elements of WSM but to make use of existing methodologies and to es-tablish ”real life” examples of integrated WSM in selected target areas which can be multi-plied through investment programmes at a larger scale. An issue of particular interest is cross-border co-operation in trans-boundary areas.

Activities:

1.1 Participate in feasibility study and project appraisal for German Financial Co-operation contribution including the final selection of target areas

1.2 Support integrated WSM planning at district and province level and develop mecha-nisms for cross-border co-ordination

1.3 Support the development of incentive and subsidy schemes and financing mecha-nisms for sustainable NRM within WSM

1.4 Support local actors in accessing funds for NRM implementation

1.5 Facilitate and participate in networking on NRM relevant topics at local, province and national level

1.6 Provide training in WSM relevant topics at local and sub-national level

Indicators:

1.1 The institutional arrangements for integrated WSM planning are in place in two water-sheds by 06/2003 and a trans-border WSM committee is established and functioning in at least 1 cross-border watershed by 12/2003.

1.2 Integrated WSM plans for two watersheds with an area of at least 400 km2 each are available and submitted to relevant authorities for approval by 06/2004. The multi-sectoral plans are based on the principles of participation, gender equality and sus-tainable management of natural resources. The plans describe the methodologies and instruments used, the activities to be implemented, the necessary financing mecha-nisms and the tasks, responsibilities and contributions of the major stakeholders.

1.3 Experience from and products of integrated WSM planning in the pilot areas are fed- back to the relevant national and regional institutions, programmes and working groups.

Output 2: Mechanisms for analysis and further development of national WSM policies and guidelines in the LMB are established and functioning.

WSM concepts in the riparian countries are in different stages of development, but none of the countries has a coherent policy yet. There is, however, a lot of experience in each country that may be useful for policy development in other countries. For example, Viet-nam is far advanced in participatory landuse planning and land allocation as compared to the other countries. Thailand has a country-wide system of Watershed Management Cen-tres and Units and Land Development Stations that may serve as an example to the neighbouring countries. In Cambodia, the SEILA programme has provided substantial ex-perience with decentralised planning and implementation mechanisms which may be use-ful for the other LMB states. The Lao-DANIDA Natural Resources and Environment Pro-

gramme can provide valuable lessons through its National Capacity Building Project. The

27


emphasis under Output 2 is to facilitate the use of regionally available knowledge for na-tional policy development.

Activities:

2.1 Identify major national stakeholders in the development of WSM policies, strategies, systems, methodologies

2.2 Establish and support national working groups (or similar arrangements) on identifica-tion and documentation of best practices in WSM

2.3 Establish and support national working groups (or similar arrangements) on analysis and further development of policies and guidelines

2.4 Facilitate documentation of work results and dissemination at national and regional level (incl. feed-back mechanisms into activities 2.2 and 2.3 in other countries and into activity 3.3)

Indicators:

2.1 An annotated regional inventory of national WSM policies and guidelines is available

by 12/2004. The inventory considers gender aspects in a systematic way. 2.2 An annotated regional compilation of “best practices” in WSM is available by 12/2004.

The inventory considers gender aspects in a systematic way. 2.3 National working groups on WSM policy and guidelines development are established

in two countries by 12/2004 and work according to clearly defined terms of reference.

Output 3: Mechanisms for continuous and effective regional collaboration in WSM are established and functioning.

Output 3 aims at the regional harmonisation of WSM policies and at the establishment of the capacity to deal with those issues that require regional consultation and negotiation. Moreover, the potential of the development of regionally acknowledged principles of WSM and eventually a regional convention on WSM are to be explored.

Activities:

3.1 Analyse relevant international conventions and agreements on NR in view of their relevance to WSM

3.2 Facilitate identification of priority issues for regional co-operation in WSM and feed-back into BDP, WUP and EP

3.3 Facilitate regional exchange of experiences and co-operation on defined priority issues 3.4 Support regional human resources development in WSM relevant topics

Indicators:

3.1 A regional committee on WSM with clearly defined terms of reference is in place by 12/2003.

3.2 At least 3 regional working groups or partnerships on defined priority issues are estab-lished and functional by 12/2003. (Examples: forest land allocation, funding mecha-nisms, etc.)

3.3 A report with recommendations for (regionally acknowledged) principles of sustainable WSM as a basis for decision-making on regional investment in WSM is available by 12/2004.

Output 4: Regional and national information management on WSM is improved.

There is a plethora of institutions that collect and compile data and information on WSM but little of this is accessible to other institutions even in the same country. As a

result, there is a lot of duplication and redundancy on one hand and a lack of data and informa-

28


tion on the other. Output 4 aims at improving data and information exchange and accessi-bility. A major issue in this context is the question in how far MRC should assume the role of a custodian of information and in how far this would be better organised through a de-centralised system.

Activities:

4.1 Assess data and information needs of AIFP and partner organisations

4.2 Co-ordinate data and information management with other MRC Programmes and rele-vant other stakeholders in WSM

4.3 Compile and generate data and information needed for AIFP and not available from other sources

4.4 Support data and information exchange through WUP / TC agreements between countries based on defined standards (formats, quality, meta-data)

4.5 Facilitate public access to AIFP data and information (through Mekong Info, Web, meta-data bases, etc.)

4.6 Contribute to capacity building for partner organisations in AIFP-related data and in-formation management

(Links between this output and all other outputs need to be established.)

Indicators:

4.1 A consolidated concept for improved regional WSM information and data management is available by 12/2003 and partly implemented. (Milestones for implementation are to be defined when the concept has become available.)

4.2 The concept provides for the integration of WSM information into the core programmes of MRC.

4.3 AIFP-data are disaggregated according to gender wherever this is appropriate and feasible

5.4 Target sites

The sites identified in the Programme Document and one additional site proposed by Thailand were analysed and compared in order to identify watersheds that are (a) in a critical condition and (b) relevant and feasible 23. Two sets of criteria were applied:

Criteria for critical watersheds:

• High elevation range, steep slopes; • Current or previous high rates of deforestation; • High rate of land use changes and land conflicts; • High population increases (internal growth or in-migration); • Poverty-induced pressure on natural resources.

Relevance and feasibility criteria:

• Cross-border situation or basin-wide relevance; • Expressed political will and preparedness for cross-border dialogue; • Accessibility to and within the area;

• Accordance with national development priorities;

23 A summary description of all potential pilot sites is presented in Annex 3.

29


• Good opportunities for partnerships due to presence of potential partners for planning and implementation (GO, NGO, ODA);

• Largest possible overlap between administrative and physiographic boundaries; • Potential for “visible“ impact on the short run and strategic development opportunities; • Security aspects.

Based on these criteria, three catchments are considered to be the most suitable target areas for the development of improved approaches to WSM. These are:

a) The cross-border area of the Nam Ou watershed with the Nam Noua sub-catchment in Laos (Mai District of Phongsaly Province) and the Nam Rum sub-catchment in Vietnam (Dien Bien District of Lai Chau Province);

b) The Upper Sesan watershed in Cambodia (Ratanakiri Province) with the potential to extend into the Vietnamese part of that watershed in a second phase;

c) The Mae Nam Suai sub-catchment of the Mae Nam Kok watershed in Thailand (Chiang Rai Province).

The participants of the planning workshop agreed, however, to postpone the final selection of the pilot watersheds and to take this decision in the context of the appraisal of the en-visaged German Financial Co-operation contribution in order to ensure the necessary link-age with the latter.

5.5 Organisational set-up and national lead agencies

The overall responsibility for implementation will lie with the MRC Secretariat where the main office for the WSM component of the AIFP will be established. In general, the MRC will facilitate national line agencies to undertake the activities in the riparian countries.

In all countries, the National Mekong Committees (NMCs) will play a co-ordinating and su-pervising role at the national level. Their tasks will include the establishment of links to line agencies, existing committees and co-ordinating bodies at the national level, support to the creation of additional technical working groups and steering committees as well as the organisation of national and regional meetings. The NMCs should not be directly involved in the planning and implementation of WSM activities at the sub-national level, but remain informed through regular reporting by the lead agencies and participate in the monitoring of overall work progress through appointed focal persons in the NMCs.

National lead agency in Cambodia will be the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery. At province and district level, all relevant line agencies need to be represented in the Provincial and District Rural Development Committees as the most important co-ordinating bodies.

National line agency in Laos will be the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. At the sub- national level, the Provincial Rural Development Committee as well as the Provincial and District Agriculture and Forestry Offices will become the main implementing partners.

In Thailand, the lead agency will be the Royal Forest Department with a close co-operation with the Land Development Department24. At the local level, Watershed Management Centres and Units will be involved, as well as Land Development Stations, which could contribute to the creation of the planned Agricultural Technical Centres at Tambon level.

24 This situation could be changed by the creation of the new ministry mentioned in chapter 2.2.4.

30


National lead agency in Vietnam will be the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, particularly its Departments of Forest Protection and Forest Development. The Support Group for the 5 Million ha Reforestation Programme and the member institutions of the National Working Group on Community Forestry will play an important role. At the local level the WSM component will fall under the responsibility of the Provincial and District People’s Committee.

5.6 Inputs

5.6.1 German contribution

The German contribution to the initial phase of the Programme should comprise the secondment of

• 1 international long-term expert on WSM Policy (German Teamleader) for up to 36 person-months (PM),

• 1 international long-term expert on WSM for up to 36 PM

• 1 international long-term expert on information and knowledge management for up to 18 PM,

• 1 international long-term expert on geographical information systems and data man-agement for up to 18 PM,

• 1 regional long-term expert in WSM (from one of the riparian countries) for up to 36 PM,

• international and regional short-term experts in various fields for up to 72 PM,

• auxiliary personnel;

the provision of

• running costs for the seconded experts; the provision of material inputs, in particular • up to 3 vehicles, • computers, printers and other office equipment, • miscellaneous equipment;

financial contributions to

• networks and workshops, • “off-the job” training measures, • implementation of WSM activities in pilot sites, • travel costs, • the general overheads of the MRC Secretariat amounting to 11% of the calculated

costs of seconded and locally recruited long-term and short-term staff, training, mate-rial and equipment;

• the MRC management costs of the AIFP amounting to 60,000 Euro per annum.

The overall costs of the German contributions to the initial phase including overheads are estimated at up to 4.346 million Euro.

5.6.2 Contributions of the MRC and its member countries

The contribution of the MRC should comprise

the secondment of

31


• 1 Project Officer (at MRC Secretariat),

• 1 Secretary (at MRC Secretariat); • 1 Driver (at MRC Secretariat),

the provision of

• adequate office space and furniture for the seconded experts, • running costs for offices in Phnom Penh (telephone, electricity, office materials, etc.).

MRC will assure the secondment of the necessary professional and technical staff in the MRC member countries through the relevant national line agencies. In particular:

• 4 national Project Directors, • 4 national co-ordinators, • staff to collect and process data and for selected implementation activities in the MRC

member countries concerned.

If required, MRC will put the equipment provided by Germany for the Sustainable Man-agement of Resources Project (SMRP) at the unrestricted disposal of the seconded ex-perts for the fulfilment of their tasks.

6 IMPACTS

The WSM component of the AIFP is geared at strengthening the capacity of the riparian countries to manage critical watersheds sustainably and increasingly in a regional per-spective. This capacity will materialise predominantly at the level of national line agencies and their sub-national units. Direct impacts at the level of the target groups i.e. the popula-tion of the LMB will be restricted to the pilot watersheds and therefore cover only a small areas of the basin. Indirect impacts at target group level will materialise only on the long run as an effect of improved national policies and strategies and through the replication of improved WSM approaches by national programmes and donor-funded projects.

6.1 Environmental impacts

Improving WSM aims directly at sustainable utilisation of natural resources. Major levers in this respect are forestry, agriculture and consultative mechanisms for infrastructure development. Reforestation and sustainable management of existing forests particularly in the steep headwater areas will contribute to reduced soil erosion and water run-off, to improved water quality and water availability, to conserving bio-diversity and to carbon- dioxide fixation. Sustainable agriculture aims at improving livelihood while preserving and improving soil-fertility and reducing unwanted side effects ranging from erosion to misuse of agro-chemicals. Mutually acknowledged procedures and standards in the environmental impact assessment of dams and irrigation schemes will help to reduce negative impacts on down-stream areas.

6.2 Micro-economic impacts

As agriculture is the basis of the livelihood for the majority of the rural population in the LMB, major micro-economic impacts at target group level will derive from changes in this sector. This pertains to improved agricultural technologies, crop diversification and irriga-

32


tion. An important factor for the latter is a better availability of water through the reduction of water run-off. Fisheries, an important source of food and income along rivers and lakes will benefit from improved water quality and – particularly in the greater Tonle Sap area - from reduced siltation. Reforestation and sustainable forest management through local communities contribute to stabilising and improving wood supplies for fuel and construc-tion, can provide income from timber sales and improve availability of and access to non- timber forest products.

An important aspect is the development of sustainable financing mechanisms for WSM in the headwaters of the river systems. The transfer of resources into remote and poor areas will not only contribute to the provision of “public goods” (water quality and quantity, pre-vention of flash floods, clean air, bio-diversity, etc.) down-stream but also to socio-eco-nomic development in the up-stream areas.

6.3 Macro-economic impacts

The sum of the micro-economic impacts described under the previous section will result in a contribution to macro-economic development and growth. The conservation of the natu-ral resource base for the livelihood of the rural poor will contribute to poverty alleviation and to employment in rural areas. Sustainable primary production will also secure jobs in the processing industry and support its long-term viability and its effects on growth and foreign exchange balance.

Considerable macro-economic costs can also be saved by avoiding environmental damage. Erosion and siltation are major threats to large-scale investment into hydro-power. The expected life-span of the Hoa Binh Dam f.e., Vietnam biggest source of hydro-power, will be drastically reduced if current sedimentation levels cannot be curbed. Large- and medium-scale irrigation systems are affected by salinisation due to insufficient water availability. Water pollution – if unchecked - will result in increasing costs for water purification and in serious health problems of the population.

6.4 Socio-cultural impacts

Integrated WSM is defined as a multi-stakeholder process with an intensive participation of these stakeholders in both, planning and implementation. This includes participatory landuse planning and land allocation, participatory village and commune development planning including resource allocation and a fair and transparent harmonisation of the lower level plans with national and provincial framework planning.

An important impact of these approaches is the strengthening of the self-help capacity of local communities i.e. the capacity to plan, implement and evaluate own development activities, to make use of support offers and to access external resources. This will not only result in a general increase of self-confidence and self-determination of the communities, particularly if they belong to ethnic minorities, but – to some extent – also to a changing interaction between the communities and the local administration.

Based on MRC’s gender policy and strategy, the WSM component of the AIFP will be geared at gender equality and gender-balanced development. Traditional roles of men and women, legal rights, religion and other socio-cultural parameters are, however, likely to constrain equal benefits for men and women. Against this background it would not appear realistic to expect major changes in the social and economic status of women from one single project even in a few locations. What can be done, however, is to continuously pur-sue gender issues at all levels. This would include

33


• to screen WSM policy documents, guidelines and approaches systematically and con-tinuously for gender issues;

• to increase awareness and skills of staff and line agency officials in considering the social differences between men an women when designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating programmes;

• to ensure that planning and implementation in the target areas take care of the specific needs and potentials of women;

• to generally disaggregate data by gender wherever this is feasible and useful.

6.5 Institutional impacts

As mentioned above, the WSM component of the AIFP aims at strengthening the capacity of national line agencies and their sub-national units to manage critical watersheds sus-tainably and increasingly in a regional perspective. Regional exchange of experience, training and improved access to information will increase competence and capabilities of staff and institutions to accomplish their tasks.

Regional exchange and dialogue may also lead to reflections on current mandates, or-ganisational set-ups and procedures within the concerned institutions. Furthermore, co-operative links between relevant institutions within one country and between similar institu-tions in different countries will be intensified

MRC is mandated by the highest political level to address basin-wide issues, to foster inter-country co-operation and to address potential cross-boundary conflicts. However, MRC’s potential of contributing to development in the region is yet neither fully exploited nor sufficiently perceived by line agencies, NGOs and donors. The WSM component of the AIFP can contribute to improving both, MRC’s capacities and its reputation as a regional centre of excellence.

6.6 Political impacts at the regional level

Regional co-operation will further improve good relations and mutual trust through joint learning, professional interaction and development activities across institutions and coun-tries. It will facilitate the harmonisation of views and potentially joint positioning and nego-tiations at international fora related to watershed management. It also harbours the poten-tial for transparent, fair and amicable resolution of disagreements in WSM and may help to solve or to avoid future conflicts on resource use. If the idea of regionally acknowledged principles of WSM proves feasible, they may eventually lead to a regional convention on WSM.

7 ASSUMPTIONS AND RISKS

An important assumption for success is the continued political will for an intensified re-gional co-operation in WSM. A general risk of regional programmes is, that national egoism dominates over regional interests. A key issue in this respect will be, whether or not the national stakeholders perceive this co-operation as beneficial for their field of work and for their countries in general.

Another risk of regional programmes is a lack of ownership on the part of the national stakeholders. This is exacerbated by the fact that a high number of institutions have to be involved in integrated WSM. In order to strengthen ownership, MRC will have to work

34


strictly with and through national stakeholders and avoid the creation of any parallel struc-tures.

Another assumption pertains to a further improvement or at least stabilisation of the eco-nomic situation in Southeast Asia. Sustainable use of resources, particularly forests, re-quires to forego short-term profit and revenue maximisation in favour of sustainable future benefits. This is unlikely to occur in times of economic crises.

An assumption at the political level is the continuation or intensification of the current de-centralisation and democratisation policies in the riparian countries. This is a precondition for a truly participatory approach to resource management. Of particular importance are the legal frameworks for community forestry, land allocation and budget allocation to sub- national and local levels.

An important assumption for the work in the target areas is the interest and preparedness of national and donor-funded programmes to enter into a co-operation and to fund imple-mentation. The result of the appraisal of the envisaged German Financial Contribution to the forest sector will be of particular relevance in this context.

An assumption pertaining to the improvement of data and information exchange is that the national governments and the relevant institutions are prepared to share data. This is par-ticularly relevant in border areas where issues of national security may be involved.

1

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin. Appraisal Report. Annex 1

TOR for International Consultants for the Appraisal of the Planned Contribution of the German Donor to the MRC-Based Agriculture/ Irrigation/ Forestry Program

(Sustainable Land and Water Use Program)

1. The Mekong River Basin: Institutional and Political Components on Regional level

• Examination of the AIFP as an agreement and political commitments for cooperation between riparian countries, capacities/ procedures of negotiation between unequal partners (political systems, history, economic status, good governance)

• Assessment of the role and importance of international conventions and their potential implications for the River Basin Agreement implementation

• Options for a future role of the Mekong River Commission as a regional platform for organizing and facilitating sector investments

2. Conceptual and institutional issues on national level for watershed management

• Applicability of the watershed management concept for a regional project: cooperation between sector line agencies and institutions in countries and between countries as an agenda for addressing regional planning in watersheds

• Needs and utility for Basin wide development of standards of “good” watershed management

• Regional Planning: watershed development planning as a geographic reference for selected sub catchments: horizontal and vertical integration of institutional cooperation

• National policies and their implication for institutional involvement for watershed management on provincial and sub-provincial level (decentralization, devolution, governance, civil society)

• National policies and key sector organizations relevant to watershed management on national level. Possibilities for pragmatic and strategic interaction for concept development and implementation

3. Conceptual and institutional issues at the level of sub-catchments of the Mekong River

• Assessment of institutional capacity on provincial and sub-provincial level for watershed management, (GO-NGO, knowledge, skills, budgets, structures, decision making) in selected sub-catchments

• Land and water resource use planning for natural resources management in selected sub-catchments

• Livelihood systems, poverty levels, resource dependencies, alternative production and income possibilities

• Social groups, ethnic minorities, their level of social integration, importance and prevalence of traditional practices,

2


• Existing and acknowledged usufruct rights, common property issues and dimensions

• Production vs. conservation as principle of orientations for natural resources utilization in watersheds

• Provincial/ sub-provincial financial investment for watershed development

1


TOR for National Experts on the Appraisal Mission: Sustainable Land and Water Use Program of the MRC

1. Rationale

The Mekong River Commission MRC has received from the German donor the indications for support for the Sustainable Land and Water Use Program SLWUP, which has been formulated and endorsed by the governments of all 4 countries of the Lower Mekong Basin in 2000.

The contribution from the German donor has so far envisaged the support to the program component Catchment area management particularly for trans-boundary (critical watersheds) in the Lower Mekong Basin in combination with capacity building components and the development of regional standards and a broader common understanding and practice of sound watershed management in the river basin.

2. Procedure

During the time period January and February 2002 an appraisal for the formulation of the forthcoming program on national /regional level is planned, which has following major events:

Phases, events Location Date Participants Expected results

Phase I Data and

Cambodia Jan 01- 14 • National Mekong

Committees

• National and

provincial line Agencies

• Sector Experts

Data and information for national inventory of watershed relevant institutions, areas, documents, laws, etc

Vietnam Jan 01- 14 Informati

Lao PDR 01 Jan - 14 on collectio Thailand Jan 01 -14

n

Phase II

TOR workshop

Phnom Penh Jan 15- 16 • MRC Secretariat • Natl & Interntl

consultants

• SMRP Team

All natl and internatl consultants have

clarified their TOR and the planning for processes in the various countries

Phase III Country meetings

Cambodia Jan 17- 19 • National Mekong

Committees

• Natl & Interntl consultants

• National Line gencies

• Provincial Offices

The participation o each country in the SLWUP has been conceptualized and possible strategies have been formulated for

ro ram implementation p 9 P

Vietnam Jan 21- 28

Lao PDR Jan 21- 28

Thailand Jan 30- F 2

Phase IV Concept workshop

Phnom Penh Feb 5- 6 • National Mekong

Committees

• MRC Secretariat • Natl & Interntl

consultants

• SMRP Team

Strategies form all 4 countries are consolida-ted in a regional approach. Missing data and info for final adjustments have been identified

2


Phases, events Location Date Participants Expected results

Phase V Cambodia Feb 7- 18 • National Mekong Missing information and

Country Committees data has been collected meetings Vietnam Feb 7- 18 • Natl & Interntl and fed into further

Lao PDR Feb 7- 18 consultants strategy discussions on

• National Line regional level Thailand Feb 7- 18 Agencies • Provincial Offices

Phase VI Phnom Penh Feb 21- 22 • Selected national line The Project Planning Final workshop

(Participation optional)

agencies

• National Mekong

Committees

• MRC Secretariat

Matrix is established with development goal, objectives, outputs, major activities and necessary inputs

• SMRP Team

3. Detailed Steps of the Appraisal:

Phase I: January 1 to January 14

With support from SMRP Offices in the countries:

Time allocation

7 working days each 1. Collect documents relevant to Watershed Management like policy

documents, relevant reports, Laws and sub-decrees on

• Forestry, Land use planning

• Decentralization, local governance

• Poverty alleviation

• Minority issues

2. List organizations relevant to Watershed Management and develop an organizational landscape of Line organizations, Administration, Projects and NGOs with

• Contacts, addresses

• Mandate

• Implementation capacity

3. Produce an inventory of relevant watersheds

Time allocation

2 working days each

Time allocation

6 working days each


Phase II : January 15 to January 16

Participate in the first regional workshop, Phnom Penh:

• Provide a short overview of collected information

• In collaboration with other participants in the meeting finalize TOR and procedures for the next phase

• Develop a schedule for meetings in each country for the next phase Phase III: January 17 to February 02

In collaboration with international consultants and with support from SMRP offices in all countries:

1. Arrange for and conduct meetings/ interviews with relevant organizations on national level on the basis of collected information

2. Follow up on interviews/ discussions with additional selected persons/ organization

3. Document minutes of meetings

4. Visit scheduled provinces where watersheds for implementation have been proposed for

• Explaining intended programs

• Check/ elaborate on preferences, felt needs of admin and line

3

Phase IV: February 04 to February 06

Participate in the second regional workshop for concept development, Phnom Penh:

Time allocation

3 working days each • Share information and date with other participants by presentation

and discussion

• Participate in discussions to review existing available knowledge

• Help identify gaps, missing data and information

• Participate in concept development and program strategy

development for an overall regional level

Phase V: February 7 to February 14

In collaboration with international consultants and with support from SMRP offices in all countries:

Time allocation

3 working days each

1. Visit selected organizations/ sector experts for specific questions and gaps as identified in the regional meeting

2. Document minutes of meetings and produce a short report

4


Phase VI: February 21 to February 22 (participation optional) Time allocation

3 working days

Participate in the third regional workshop for final project design, Phnom Penh:

• Share information and date with other participants by presentation and discussion

• Participate in discussions to finalize program strategy and outputs

3. Organizational arrangements

1 Selection of National Consultants

In each country of the Lower Mekong Basin the National Mekong Committees will nominate two sector experts to be members of the national consultant team.

The SMRP will nominate a third member to the national consultant team in those countries, where it is expected that the work load is going to be higher.

2 Accountabilities

The National Consultants will report to the team leader of the appraisal mission Dr. Fred Brandl or his deputy.

3 Attached documents

Following documents will be made available to the national consultants:

1. Diagrams and flow charts showing the schedule and time lines for the mission

2. Overview of the sector in each country as developed by the project review of SMRP in 2000

3. Country evaluation reports of SMRP 2001

4. Original project proposal for the Sustainable Land and Water Use Program, as submitted by the MRC Secretariat in March 2001 to the German donor

5. Proposed components for the SLWUP, as jointly developed by the MRC Secretariat and SMRP during 2001

6. TOR for the international consultants

7. Check list of general questions to watershed management policies, institutions, and agendas on national level

8. Proposed structure for data/information collection in Phase I of the mission 9. Proposed table of contents for the first short report of Phase I of the mission


M RC - G E R M A N T E C H N I C A L C O - O P E R A T I O N

Agreed Minutes

on the

Appraisal Mission

of

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong

Basin

A component of the Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme of the

Mekong River Commission

Phnom Penh, 23rd February 2002

1


(A) PREFACE

(1) Representatives of the Secretariat of the Mekong River Commission (MRC-S) and the "Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit" (GTZ) held a meeting at the MRC Secretariat in Phnom Penh on 23rd February, 2002 on the appraisal of the Watershed Management Component of MRC’s Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme, proposed to be supported by Germany. This appraisal covers German Technical Co-operation only. A proposal for additional support through German Financial Co-operation in the field of forest rehabilitation in upper watersheds of the Lower Mekong Basin will be subject to a separate appraisal by the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW).

(2) These minutes summarise the results of the appraisal and the conclusions drawn during that meeting. The minutes do not constitute a legally binding document, but the proposals endorsed by the signatories are subject to official agreement by the relevant German authorities.

(B) BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURE OF THE APPRAISAL

(3) In 2001, MRC Secretariat and German officials had first talks on potential German contributions to the MRC’s Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme (AIFP). It was agreed that the German Government would consider to provide support to the AIFP through technical co-operation in watershed management. Following deliberations on both sides it was agreed to further appraise the proposed co-operation and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development (BMZ) commissioned GTZ/SMRP25 to field a project appraisal mission on the envisaged technical co-operation component.

(4) The appraisal was carried out from 1st January to 22nd February 2002. The mission team consisted of three German consultants who worked in close co-operation with two national consultants each from the four riparian countries (Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam). The appraisal comprised preparatory data collection in the four countries, three regional workshops (Inception, Strategy, Planning), visits to the four riparian countries and intensive discussions with representatives of various institutions. The latter comprised relevant government and non-government institutions, bi- and multilateral co-operation projects, the MRC Secretariat as well as the GTZ Office and the German Embassy in Phnom Penh.

(C) RATIONALE

(5) The water and land resources of the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) are the basis for the livelihood of about 60 million inhabitants and provide food for some 300 million people. However, the basin’s environment is degrading at a rapid rate from unsustainable practices such as forest exploitation, expansion of agriculture onto steep slopes and water pollution and from negative side-effects of some large-scale infrastructure projects. Particularly in the fragile eco-systems of the upper watersheds in the Mekong Basin, increased pressure on natural resources due to a rapidly increasing population is a major threat to sustainability of the present natural resource-based production potentials and a potential source of future conflicts. The multi-faceted functions of these headwaters call for an integrated and participatory approach to watershed management throughout the basin. Sustainable management (planning, implementation and monitoring) needs integrated action of the numerous local and regional stakeholders and demands for dialogue, mediation and co-ordination both, at national and regional level.

25 Sustainable Management of Resources Project

2


(6) The joint efforts to manage a certain geographical area and co-ordinate resource management between people living in the upper and the lower parts of the watersheds needs to be facilitated and institutionalised. Any watershed management approach needs to encompass the variety and interaction between organisations and their respective stakes. Those are village organisations, commune (or tambon) councils and their administration, private sector organisations and their structures, provincial authorities and line departments, and the many non-governmental organisations working in the area.

(7) The rationale for MRC involvement is its mandate, mission and authorised scope of work based on the 1995 MRC agreement, that finds its expression in the formulation of the Basin Development Plan (BDP), the Water Utilisation Programme (WUP), and the Environment Programme (EP). Moreover, in October 2000 the MRC countries have endorsed the AIFP as an important regional sector programme to address WSM issues.

(D) FINDINGS OF THE APPRAISAL MISSION

(8) An analysis of MRC’s Strategic Plan 2001-2005 reveals a high degree of accord between the priorities set forth therein and important traits of the relevant concepts and guidelines of the BMZ. Moreover, the Strategic Plan is in line with the objectives and principles provided by international conventions and arrangements pertaining to natural resources. Support to the implementation of AIFP under the framework of the Strategic Plan would, therefore, be well in agreement with German Development Policy.

(9) MRC is the only organisation mandated by the highest political level to address basin- wide issues, to foster inter-country co-operation and to address potential cross-boundary conflicts. On the other hand, MRC’s potential of contributing to WSM in the region is yet neither fully exploited nor sufficiently perceived by line agencies, NGOs and donors.

(10) Given Germany’s long involvement in sustainable resources management in the region, German Development Co-operation can contribute to enhancing MRC-S’s capacity to address the above issues and to assume its envisaged role of a regional “centre of excellence”. (11) MRC’s “Strategy study on the development of the watershed management / forestry sector in the LMB” provides a convincing outline of how MRC can best realise this objective in a regional WSM/forestry programme by

• adopting a “client focussed”, “service-oriented”, “demand driven” approach to working in WSM and forestry;

• engaging in dialogue and collaboration with relevant national stakeholders to identify and document issues and constraints facing these sectors;

• collaborating with national and international programmes and projects in addressing these issues and constraints;

• concentrating on activities which complement and build upon the achievements of past and current activities like the “Forest Cover Monitoring Project”, the “Watershed Classification Project” and the “Sustainable Management of Natural Resources Project”;

• concentrating on facilitation and promotion of co-operation between stakeholders involved in WSM/forestry issues of basin-wide significance.

(12) Discussions with national stakeholders during the consultants’ country visits revealed:

• Watershed Management is a known and relevant concept in all riparian countries with many institutions involved.

3


• The four countries are at different states of development of Watershed Management policies, strategies, concepts and framework conditions and there is a great potential for sharing experiences and information and for joint learning processes.

• While there are numerous activities in WSM by a multitude of institutions in various catchments and sub-catchments there is yet no “real life example” of a consistent and complete WSM approach in any of these locations.

• Apart from bi-lateral negotiations mainly in the context of large hydro-power projects there is little if any consideration of cross-boundary issues in WSM, yet.

(13) During these discussions, the following major fields of work for Technical Co-operation in the WSM-component of the AIFP were identified and proposed by the consultants:

(a) to institutionalise integrated WSM planning in selected cross-border and other catchments.

(b) to support the sharing of knowledge and experience and to facilitate joint learning processes within the region in view of both, national and regional issues in WSM. (c) to improve regional data and information management in WSM.

(E) RESULTS OF THE STRATEGY WORKSHOP

(14) The participants of the second Regional Workshop (Phnom Penh, 6th and 7th February 2002) confirmed the major areas of work as proposed by the consultants, developed a draft list of activities and defined major impacts that are expected from of a regional approach as compared to national programmes in WSM. The latter comprise

• intensified exchange of experience and lessons between the countries which may lead to more effective interventions and help to avoid duplication and repetition of ineffective strategies and actions;

• more effective use of available human and financial resources for WSM; • the possibility to address cross border catchments as entities; • further improvement of good relations and mutual trust through joint learning,

professional interaction and development activities across institutions and countries; • transparent, fair and amicable resolution of disagreements based on regionally

acknowledged principles and agreements on WSM; • harmonisation of views and potentially joint positioning and negotiations at international

fora related to watershed management; • improved access to international funding.

(15) The participants reviewed criteria for the selection of pilot watersheds presented by the consultants and agreed to propose the following locations:

(a) The cross-border area of the Nam Ou watershed with the Nam Noua sub-catchment in Laos (Mai District of Phongsaly Province) and the Nam Rum sub-catchment in Vietnam (Dien Bien District of Lai Chau Province)

(b) The Upper Sesan watershed in Cambodia (Ratanakiri Province) with the potential to extend into the Vietnamese part of that watershed in a second phase

(c) The Mae Nam Suai sub-catchment of the Mae Nam Kok watershed in Thailand (Chiang Rai Province).

(16) The workshop underlined the necessity that WSM planning in pilot catchments needs to be followed up by implementation. German Technical Co-operation, with its given mandate and resources, can, however, provide only rather limited support to implementation. Hence the necessity to collaborate with national programmes, NGOs, and projects funded by other donors. Moreover, it is envisaged to link the Technical Co-operation in WSM and the German Financial Co-operation contribution to forest rehabilitation to be provided through KfW. In view of the fact that the latter will be subject to

4


a separate appraisal, the workshop agreed to postpone the final selection of the pilot watersheds and to take this decision in the context of the appraisal of the Financial Co-operation contribution.

(F) RESULTS OF THE PLANNING WORKSHOP

(17) Based on the findings of the appraisal mission and the results of the strategy workshop, the participants of the regional Planning Workshop (Phnom Penh, 21st and 22nd February 2002) developed the following recommendations for an initial phase of three years (starting in December 2002) for the WSM component of the AIFP to enter into a potentially long-term co-operation. The objectives would be as following:

(18) Direct objective (Purpose): Relevant institutions in the riparian countries and the MRC Secretariat make use of regional co-operation, information exchange / sharing and improved approaches for sustainable WSM in the Lower Mekong River Basin.

(19) This objective will lead to an enhanced capability of the riparian countries to manage their watersheds sustainably and increasingly in view of regional needs. Eventually this will contribute to the ultimate objective (Overall Goal): “The watersheds of the Lower Mekong River Basin fulfil their ecological, economic and social functions” and provide a sustainable basis for improved livelihood of the population.”

(20) In order to achieve the Purpose the following Outputs are to be realised within the initial phase:

Output 1: WSM approaches in selected (national and cross-border) watersheds are further developed, documented and disseminated

Output 2: Mechanisms for analysis and further development of national WSM policies and guidelines in the LMB are established and functioning

Output 3:Mechanisms for continuous and effective regional collaboration in WSM are established and functioning

Output 4: Regional and national information management on WSM is improved

(21) Main activities to be carried out in order to realise the planned Outputs, Indicators for their achievement and important Assumptions are specified in the attached Planning Matrix.

(22) The overall responsibility for implementation lies with the MRC Secretariat. The National Mekong Committees will act as co-ordinating offices. Lead agencies in the riparian countries have been proposed as follows:

• Cambodia: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

• Laos: Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

• Thailand: Royal Forest Department

• Vietnam: Department of Forest Development in the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

(23) In accordance with the principles and standard procedures of German Technical Co-operation, the implementation of the German contribution to the Programme would be the responsibility of the German Senior Technical Adviser. German funds would be managed by the GTZ Office Phnom Penh.

(24) The German contribution to the initial phase of the Programme should

comprise the secondment of

• 1 international long-term expert on WSM Policy (German Teamleader) for up to 36 person-months (PM),

5


• 1 international long-term expert on WSM for up to 36 PM

• 1 international long-term expert on information and knowledge management for up to 18 PM,

• 1 international long-term expert on geographical information systems and data management for up to 18 PM,

• 1 regional long-term expert in WSM (from one of the riparian countries) for up to 36 PM,

• international and regional short-term experts in various fields for up to 30 PM,

• auxiliary personnel; the provision of

• running costs for the seconded experts; the provision of material inputs, in particular

• up to 3 vehicles, • computers, printers and other office equipment, • miscellaneous equipment;

financial contributions to

• networks and workshops, • “off-the job” training measures, • implementation of WSM activities in pilot sites, • travel costs, • the general overheads of the MRC-S amounting to 11 % of the calculated costs of

seconded and locally recruited long-term and short-term staff, training, material and equipment;

• the MRC management costs of the AIFP amounting to 60,000 Euro per annum.

(25) The overall costs of the German contributions to the initial phase including overheads are estimated at up to 4.346 million Euro.

(26) The contribution of the MRC should comprise the secondment of

• 1 Project Officer (at MRC-S), • 1 Secretary (at MRC-S); • 1 Driver (at MRC-S),

the provision of • adequate office space and furniture for the seconded experts, • running costs for offices in Phnom Penh (telephone, electricity, office materials,

etc.).

MRC will assure the secondment of the necessary professional and technical staff in the MRC member countries through the relevant national line agencies. In particular:

• 4 national Project Directors, • 4 national co-ordinators

• staff to collect and process data and for selected implementation activities in the MRC member countries concerned.

If required, MRC will put the equipment provided by Germany for the Sustainable Management of Resources Project (SMRP) at the unrestricted disposal of the seconded experts for the fulfilment of their tasks.

(G) FURTHER STEPS TO BE TAKEN

6


(27) On the German side, GTZ will submit these minutes for approval to BMZ. After general approval and after receipt of the official request, BMZ would commission GTZ to implement the German Technical Co-operation contribution.

(28) The German side would draft a Document (“Arrangement on Technical Co-operation”), which would provide the legal basis of the envisaged co-operation. This document would be signed by the MRC Chief Executive Officer on behalf of MRC and by the German Ambassador in Phnom Penh on behalf of the German Government. Details of implementation will be specified in an Implementation Agreement between MRC Secretariat and GTZ.

(H) CONCLUSION

In view of

• the findings of the appraisal mission, and

• the results of the planning workshop

the signatories agree to implement the co-operation as outlined under No. (F) of these minutes.

Joern Kristensen Dr. Thomas Engelhardt

Chief Executive Officer Director, GTZ Office Phnom Penh

of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für

Mekong River Commission Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)


Annex:

Draft Programme Planning Matrix for the MRC AIFP WSM Component

(Prepared during planning Workshop on 21

Ultimate objective (Overall Goal):The watersheds of the Lower Mekong River Basin fulfil their ecological, economic and social functions and provide a sustainable basis for improved livelihood of the population.

Direct objective (Purpose): Relevant institutions in the riparian countries andregional co-operation, information exchange / sharing and improved approaches for sustainable WSM in the Lower Mekong River Basin.

Indicators for the achievement of the direct objective (Purpose):• A regional plan of action on co

12/2004 and endorsed by MRC and the relevant national authorities by 12/2005.

• Interviews with a representativegovernment Organisations involved in Watershed Management in the LMB yield the following results:

X% of interviewed persons consider regional coAIFP as „worthwhile

Y% of interviewed persons give a valid example how regional cohad a direct positiv effect on their work;

Z% of interviewed persons state that improved WSM information contributes to better decision making in their particular field of work.

(x, y, z to be specified)

Output 1: WSM approaches in selected (national and crossdeveloped, documented and disseminated

Activities to be carried out inorder to achieve Output 1:1.1 Participate in feasibility study and project appraisal for German Financial C

contribution including the final selection of pilot watersheds

1.2 Support integrated WSM planning at district and province level and develop mechanisms for cross-border coordination

1.3 Support local actors in accessing funds for NRM implementation1.4 Support the development of incentive and subsidy schemes and financing

mechanisms for sustainable NRM within WSM

1.5 Facilitate and participate in networking on NRM relevant topics at lnational level

1.6 Provide training in WSM relevant topics at local and sub

Indicators for the achievement of Output 1:1.4 The institutional arrangements for integrated WSM planning are in place in two

watersheds by 06/2003 and a transfunctioning in at least 1 cross

1.5 Integrated WSM plans for two watersheds with an area of at least 400 km



(Prepared during planning Workshop on 21st and 22nd February 2002)

Ultimate objective (Overall Goal): The watersheds of the Lower Mekong River Basin fulfil their ecological, economic and social functions and provide a sustainable basis for improved livelihood of the population.

Relevant institutions in the riparian countries and the MRC Secretariat make use of operation, information exchange / sharing and improved approaches for

sustainable WSM in the Lower Mekong River Basin.

Indicators for the achievement of the direct objective (Purpose): A regional plan of action on co-operation in Watershed Management is drafted by 12/2004 and endorsed by MRC and the relevant national authorities by 12/2005.

representative sample of people from Government and Nons involved in Watershed Management in the LMB yield the

X% of interviewed persons consider regional co-operation activities of the worthwhile“ and beneficial;

Y% of interviewed persons give a valid example how regional co-operathad a direct positiv effect on their work;

Z% of interviewed persons state that improved WSM information contributes to better decision making in their particular field of work.

WSM approaches in selected (national and cross-border) watersheds are further developed, documented and disseminated

Activities to be carried out inorder to achieve Output 1: 1.1 Participate in feasibility study and project appraisal for German Financial C

contribution including the final selection of pilot watersheds

1.2 Support integrated WSM planning at district and province level and develop border coordination

1.3 Support local actors in accessing funds for NRM implementation

1.4 Support the development of incentive and subsidy schemes and financing mechanisms for sustainable NRM within WSM

1.5 Facilitate and participate in networking on NRM relevant topics at local, province and

1.6 Provide training in WSM relevant topics at local and sub-national level

Indicators for the achievement of Output 1: 1.4 The institutional arrangements for integrated WSM planning are in place in two

03 and a trans-border WSM committee is established and functioning in at least 1 cross-border watershed by 12/2003.

1.5 Integrated WSM plans for two watersheds with an area of at least 400 km 7



February 2002)

The watersheds of the Lower Mekong River Basin fulfil their ecological, economic and social functions and provide a sustainable basis for improved livelihood of the population.

the MRC Secretariat make use of operation, information exchange / sharing and improved approaches for

operation in Watershed Management is drafted by 12/2004 and endorsed by MRC and the relevant national authorities by 12/2005.

sample of people from Government and Non- s involved in Watershed Management in the LMB yield the

operation activities of the

operation avtivities

Z% of interviewed persons state that improved WSM information contributes to better

border) watersheds are further

1.1 Participate in feasibility study and project appraisal for German Financial Co-operation

1.2 Support integrated WSM planning at district and province level and develop

1.4 Support the development of incentive and subsidy schemes and financing

ocal, province and

national level

1.4 The institutional arrangements for integrated WSM planning are in place in two border WSM committee is established and

1.5 Integrated WSM plans for two watersheds with an area of at least 400 km2 each are

available and submitted to relevant authorities for approval by 06/2004. The multi-sectoral plans are based on the principles of participation and sustainable management of natural resources. The plans describe the methodologies and instruments used, the activities to be implemented, the necessary financing

8


mechanisms and the tasks, responsibilities and contributions of the major stakeholders.

1.6 Experience from and products of integrated WSM planning in the pilot areas are fed- back to the relevant national and regional institutions, programmes and working groups.

Output 2:

Mechanisms for analysis and further development of national WSM policies and guidelines in the LMB are established and functioning

Activities to be carried out inorder to achieve Output 2:

2.1 Identify major national stakeholders in the development of WSM policies, strategies, systems, methodologies

2.2 Establish and support national working groups (or similar arrangements) on identification and documentation of best practices in WSM

2.3 Establish and support national working groups (or similar arrangements) on analysis and further development of policies and guidelines

2.4 Facilitate documentation of work results and dissemination at national and regional level (incl. feed-back mechanisms into activities 2.2 and 2.3 in other countries and into activity 3.3)

Indicators for the achievement of Output 2:

2.3 An annotated regional inventory of national WSM policies and guidelines is available by (to be specified)

2.4 An annotated regional compilation of “best practices” in WSM is available by (to be specified).

Output 3:

Mechanisms for continuous and effective regional collaboration in WSM are established and functioning


3.1 Analyse relevant international conventions and agreements on NR in view of their relevance to WSM

3.2 Facilitate identification of priority issues for regional co-operation in WSM and feed-back into BDP, WUP and EP

3.3 Facilitate regional exchange of experiences and co-operation on defined priority issues 3.5 Support regional HRD in WSM relevant topics


3.4 A regional committee on WSM with clearly defined TOR is in place by 12/2003. 3.5 At least 3 regional working groups or partnerships on defined priority issues are

established and functional by 12/2003 (Examples: forest land allocation, funding

mechanisms, etc.) 3.6 A report with recommendations for (regionally acknowledged) principles of sustainable

WSM as a basis for decision-making on regional investment in WSM is available by 12/2004.

Output 4:

Regional and national information management on WSM is improved


9


4.1 Assess data and information needs of AIFP and partner organisations

4.2 Coordinate data / information management with other MRC Programmes and relevant other stakeholders in WSM

4.3 Compile / generate data / information needed for AIFP and not available from other sources

4.4 Support data / information exchange through WUP / TC agreements between countries based on defined standards (formats, quality, meta-data)

4.5 Facilitate public access to AIFP information / data (through Mekong Info, Web, Meta Data Bases, etc.)

4.6 Contribute to capacity building for partner organisations in AIFP-related data and information management

(Links between this output and all other outputs need to be established.)


4.4 A consolidated concept for improved regional WSM information and data management is available by 12/2003 and partly implemented. (Milestones for implementation are to be defined when the concept has become available.)

4.5 The concept provides for the integration of WSM information into the core programmes of MRC.

Important Assumptions:

• A proposal for WSM components to be supported through Financial Co-operation is available by 06/2003 and approved by 12/2003.

To be completed.

1


DESCRIPTION OF POSSIBLE PILOT SITES

Name of Pilot Site: Nam Ou Watershed Nam Noua/ Rum Sub-

catchment

Se Bang

Hiang Watershed

Sekong Watershed

Upper Sesan Watershed

Srepok Watershed

Mae Nam Kok Watershed Mae Nam Suai Sub-

catchment

Tonle Sap/ Mongkol

Borey Watershed

Countries concerned: Vietnam Laos

Vietnam Laos

Vietnam

Laos

Cambodia

Vietnam Cambodia

Vietnam Cambodia

Thailand Thailand Cambodia

Provinces concerned:

Districts

Lai Chau (V) Phongsaly (L) 1 V / 1 L

Quang Tri (V) Savannakhet (L)

1 V / 1 L

Thua T. Hue, Kontum (V) Sekong, Attapeu L

Kontum, Gia Lai (V) Ratanakiri(C)

Dac Lac (V) Monduliri (C)

Chiang Rai

1 T

Sa Kaew (T) Battambang (C)

2-3 T / 2-3 C Area (km2) 1395 V / 1900 L 735 V / 2000 L 688 V / 17.000 L 11.260 V / 6.725 C

13.600 V / 6.640 C

437 4.038 T / 4.504 C

Elevation range (m asl) Slopes > 30%

2000 – 250 58,6%

2000 – 100 12,8%

2100 – 80 27%

2300 – 80 20,1 %

2300 – 80 7,2%

1685 – 463 91 %

1500 – 30 2,6%

Watershed Classes I&II

Critical areas

87,3% 71,2%

19,2% 8,5%

40,6% 10,9%

33,3% 10,6%

10,8% 3,2%

91 %

37%

3,8% 0,6%

Forest Cover 1997 Changes 93-97

17%

- 7%

57%

-8%

70%

-9%

54%

-11 %

63%

-9%

18%

-6%

40%

-12% Population (‘000) Population density (P/km2)

Ethnic minorities

+/-70.000 10

> 85% L

+/-90.000 20

50% L

197.090 (95) 7

> 75% L

57.695 (95) 3

> 75% C

61.443 (95) 2

> 80% C

46.376 (96) 30

> 40%

281.900 (96) 46

Hardly any

Poverty Medium(V)/high (L)

Medium High High High Medium Medium

Presence of potential partners (national programs, ODA,

NGOs)

Very good (V) Hardly any (L)

Hardly any (V) Few (L)

(V)? (C)? Several (L)

Some (V) Many (C)

Several (V) Hardly any (C)

Good Some (T) Several (C)

2


Name of Pilot Site: Nam Ou Watershed Nam Noua/ Rum Sub-

catchment

Se Bang

Hiang Watershed

Sekong Watershed

Upper Sesan Watershed

Srepok Watershed

Mae Nam Kok Watershed Mae Nam Suai Sub-

catchment

Tonle Sap/ Mongkol Borey Watershed

Access to the area Access within the area

Good(V) / difficult (L) Very difficult

Good

Difficult

Diff.(V), Good

Difficult

Good

Medium

Good (V),

Difficult (C)

Very good Good

Good

Difficult

Illegal logging Some Heavy (L) Very heavy (L) Very heavy (C)

Heavy (C) Some Heavy

Large-scale

plantations or concessions

Few - None Some (V) Few (L)

Some (V) Many (L)

Many (V) Many (C)

Many (V) Few (C)

Few ?

?

Land encroachment, in-migration

Hardly any Strong (V)(L) Strong (L) Very strong Some Some Strong

Shifting Cultivation Frequent Some Frequent Frequent Frequent (C) Some Some

Hydropower schemes None Downstream Several Yali (V) None 2 small res. None

Security aspects Good Good Quite insecure Quite

insecure

Average Mines, traffick. Very insecure

Particular Opportunities

-Cooperation with GO/NGOs

(V)

-Critical WS -Dialogue V-L

-Deforestation -Heavy

deforest. -Triangular dev. -Border dialogue

-3 countries

-Heavy deforest. -Triangular dev. -Many

partners in C.

-Critical WS

-Partners

avail.

Particular Constraints -Remoteness -Hardly any partners and staff (L)

-Plateau area -No partners (V)

-Remoteness -Security?

-Low pop. Dens.

-

Remoteness

-Very low

pop. Density -

Remoteness

-Security? -Very insecure -Not critical -Border

conflicts

1


RELEVANT PROJECTS/PROGRAMMES AND NATIONAL NETWORKS IN NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT OR WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

IN THE FOUR RIPARIAN COUNTRIES OF THE LMB

1 CAMBODIA

In general:

• Participatory NRM in the Tonle Sap Region (FAO/Belgian Government) • Community Forestry Programme - CONCERN Worldwide

• Provincial Development Program-Kampong Thom and Kampot – NRM Components (GTZ)

• Cambodian-German Forestry Project (CGFP) (GTZ) • Community Forestry Research Project in Cambodia (IDRC/RECOFTC) • Land Management Project (LMP) (GTZ) • Cambodian Sustainable Forest Management Project (ADB) • Environment and Natural Resources Management in Coastal and Wetland Areas

(DANIDA)

• Watershed Management in Stung Pursat and Mongkol Borey (DANIDA) (planned)

Networks:

• NGO Forum – over 60 active Cambodian and international NGOs, advocacy on issues of concern to the Cambodian people and coordination among the NGOs working in Cambodia

• Community Forestry Working Group

• Working Group on Natural Resources Management (Donor Forum)

In Ratanakiri:

• Biodiversity Conservation in Virachey National Park (World Bank) • Community-based NRM (SIDA) • Community-based NRM (CARERE/IDRC) • NTFP – Cambodian NGO focusing on the management of natural resources in

Ratanakiri Province, started Oct. 1996 with financial support by Oxfam

• Ratanakiri Integrated Community Development Programme (CIDSE) • World Concern

• Oxfam America

• Local NGO Network (12 members)

2 LAOS

In general:

• Lao-DANIDA Natural Resources and Environment Programme – National Capacity Building Project Phase I&II (DANIDA)

• Integrated Watershed Management in Huaphan and Xieng Khouang – NIWMAP (DANIDA)

• Nam Ngum Watershed Planning (ADB TA 2734) • Nam Ngum Watershed Management and Conservation Project – NAWACOP (GTZ) • Nam Niam Watershed Management (UNDP)

2


• Watershed Management Plan for Forest Conservation in Vang Vieng District (J I CA/JAFTA)

• Dong Dok Forestry College Project (GTZ) • Industrial Tree Plantation Project (ADB) • Integrated Upland Agricultural Research Project (IUARP)

In Phongsaly:

• Phongsaly Forest Conservation and Rural Development Project (EU) • Phongsaly Rural Development Project (CCL –French Gvmt.) • German Agro Action

• WWF – Nam Ou Watershed Management Project (planned for end of 2002) • ADB – RETA 5771 (Phase III) Nam Ou Watershed Management (planned based on

existing study from Phase II)

3 THAILAND

In general:

• Upper Nan Watershed Management Project (DANCED)

In Chiang Rai (Mae Nam Suai):

• Local NGOs and Peoples Organisations

• German NGO (?) in Mae Nam Suai area

4 VIETNAM

In general:

• Re-afforestation through local credit schemes in the provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Quang Tri (KfW funded)

• Forestation in Quang Ninh, Bac Giang and Lang Son (KfW funded)

• Community-based Watershed Rehabilitation and Management (in 4 provinces) (ADB-funded)

• Denmark-Vietnam Water Program Support

Networks:

• Community Forestry Working Group

• Support Group for the 5 Million ha Reforestation Program

In Lai Chau Province:

• Social Forestry Development Project – SFDP (GTZ) • Lai Chau – Song La Rural Development Project (EU) • Action Aid

• SNV

1


Integrated Forest Rehabilitation in the Lower Mekong Basin

A Project Proposal for an Investment Program in the Forest Sector

Complementary to the MRC-Based Sustainable Land and Water Use Program

Submitted by the Mekong River Commission Secretariat to the Bundesministerium fuer Wirtschaftliche Entwicklung und Zusammenarbeit (BMZ)

Mr. L. Zimmer

Director South-East Asia Division

Developed jointly by the Mekong River Commission Secretariat and the Sustainable Management of Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin Project (SMRP)

2


Table of Contents Page

1. Short description of the project and the German contribution 3

2. Objective and Justification 4

2.1. Problem Analysis 4

2.2. Project Objective, Target Groups, Relevance to Development 7

Policies

3. Project Proposal 8

3.1. Measures until now, and their Interaction/ Connection to the 8

Proposed Project

3.2. Project Activities and Expected Results 9

3.3. Proposed Implementation 11

3.4. Ways of maintenance and utilization 15

4. Description of the Receiver and Project Implementing Organization 17

4.1. Description of the Receiver of Funding 17

4.2. Description of the Project Implementing Organization 18

5. Total Costs and Means of Financing 19

5.1. Total Costs 19

5.2. Means of Financing 21

6. Project Impact 21

6.1. Description of Micro-economic and Macro-economic Benefits 21

6.2. Description of Socio-economic and Socio –cultural Benefits 22

6.3. Description of Ecological Benefits 22

Quantities and Unit Cost Calculations 24

3


1. Short description of the project and the German contribution

The project proposal describes an investment of DM ten million in the forest sector for integrated participatory watershed rehabilitation in selected watersheds of the Lower Mekong Basin.

The project addresses the regional problem of watershed degradation through forest degradation and deforestation in upland watersheds in the Lower Mekong Basin due to expanding agriculture, population growth, prevailing non-sustainable land use systems and other factors.

The target groups are local people living in the selected watersheds and also staff of local administration, line departments, and national governments. The project proposal is closely connected to past and ongoing projects and programs on the forest sector, natural resources management of the MRC in the Mekong basin. In particular the project planning, implementation, and monitoring needs to be closely linked with the Sustainable Land and Water Use Program of the MRC. The project considers and is built on national policies towards poverty alleviation and rehabilitation of natural resources of all 4 Mekong countries. The five result areas of the project are

• Participatory land use planning

• Watershed rehabilitation through re-planting and enrichment planting

• Agroforestry through community forestry

• Small scale infrastructure like check dams

• Training centers

The implementation considers different capacities and agendas in each country and composes a relevant package for each country. The program packages are designed in a way, that follow up costs and maintenance costs can fully be incorporated by the recipients/ beneficiaries of the programs.

The receiving organization of the proposed funds is the Mekong River Commission Secretariat, which involves competent national sector line agencies in each country. Those national line agencies use provincial level implementing organizations.

The total costs of the proposal is DM 10 million. The expected benefits are primarily ecological benefits with sub-national, national and regional dimensions. Further expected benefits are socio-cultural and economic benefits.

4


2. Objective and Justificatio

2.1. Problem Analysis

For the ecological and socio-economic health of the Lower Mekong Basin the ecological functions of the water catchment areas in the Mekong Basin are decisive. As clearly expressed in the objective statement of the Sustainable Land and Water Use Program of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) in December 2000, the sustainable development of water resources is crucial for poverty alleviation and food security in the river basin. Any major disturbances of the very important ecological functions of sub-watersheds has direct implications not only for the particular country, but for the region as a whole.

The sub-watersheds of the Mekong in the 4 countries of the Lower Mekong Basin experience deforestation and forest degradation at an increasing rate. Particularly in upland watersheds deforestation and forest degradation has become a serious problem during the last 2 decades. The average deforestation rate for these countries between 1990 and 1995 was 1.6% per annum, higher than any other region in the world. In addition to this rapid loss of forest cover, extensive areas of forests have been severely degraded in terms of their structure and composition, through various forms of exploitation and exposure to fires and other destructive factors.

Extensive deforestation and wide-spread loss in forest quality have resulted in a number of serious environmental and socio-economic problems for most countries in the Lower Mekong Basin. Such problems include loss of ecosystem function, reduction in supply of timber and non-timber forest products and decline in spiritual, cultural and recreational values.

The predominant inhabitants of those watersheds are ethnic groups of various origin, which practiced and still practice shifting cultivation, while facing diminishing resources due to population increase, degradation of natural resources, and reduced possibilities for mobility. Several programs have responded to these problems by implementing massive plantation and forest restoration programs. Many of those could not yet sufficiently address the problems sufficiently for reasons of being non participatory, or centralized approached, which did not take sufficient note of locally available resources and limitations. On the other hand it has become evident that decentralized and well planned and implemented forest restoration programs particularly in upland watersheds can provide a wide range of environmental and socio-economic benefits including bio-diversity conservation, improved ecosystem functioning, income, forest goods and services and recreational opportunities.

In the recent past in some countries of the Lower Mekong Basin forest rehabilitation in upland watersheds has become increasingly important for national and provincial governments. The program “ Forest Investment in the Lower Mekong Basin” will concentrate on areas of mainly ethnic minority population. Land use planning and forestry activities will directly involve local poor farmers in all locations.. Recent societal problems in this area were mainly based on land tenure and land use issues and are presently addressed by the

5


GOV. Improving the college’s infrastructure for technical teaching as well participatory teaching methods in the areas of land use planning, forest management techniques, monitoring and quality control of nursery production, etc. are the main support themes. The provision of improved teaching facilities will allow more members of the mainly ethnic minority population to be technically trained to provide technical forestry services to their communities.

Thailand has faced in the last 40 years a tremendous loss of forest coverage. Whereas in 1961 the forest cover was 53%, it decreased to only 26% in 1995. In many areas of the country, particularly in the upland watersheds of the Northern Areas, the trend is still continuing.

The reasons for deforestation are manifold: conversion of forest land to agriculture land as a result of increasing population density, conversion of areas of shifting cultivation to permanent cropping, mostly commercial crops with high inputs of chemicals. Parallel to changing land uses wide spread forest fire caused loss of forests and subsequent loss of ground cover and soil erosion. Other main causes of deforestation were over grazing, mining, logging for commercial purposes and road construction (as well as widespread illegal logging), which eventually forced the government to impose a logging ban in 1989. The Royal Forest Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives started since 1965 reforestation activities for watershed rehabilitation particularly in head watersheds of the Northern and North Eastern parts of Thailand, and has in the recent past introduced additional technical programs to complement reforestation. Many of those programs have been launched successfully in a number of watersheds earlier, but so far not in an integrated way. Ideas and strategies for a more comprehensive approach have been developed only in the recent past. Based on the new constitution, which emphasizes local decision making for natural resources management at the Tambon Administration level, community forestry as a community based approach to forest management found legal and procedural recognition by the Royal Government. The Royal Forest Department and their decentralized structures in upland watersheds have taken steps to change from a centrally organized hierarchical approach to more decentralized participatory ways of forest management. Now, with the legal basis for community based forest management, the Royal Forest Department has the first time an

opportunity to implement forest rehabilitation programs in a participatory integrated manner in upland watersheds. While technical expertise, organizational capacity, and procedures seem to be in place, the Watershed Management Division as the relevant Sector Organization for forest rehabilitation in upland watersheds will not be able to receive sufficient funding from government to address the issues of progressing deforestation and forest degradation sufficiently and timely.

In Viet Nam

Over 60% of Viet Nam's land area, some 19 million ha, is classified as forest land, and most of this is in the upland and mountainous areas located in the west and north of the country. About 24 million people live in or around forests and derive a substantial part of their food and income from the forest and forestland.

6


Viet Nam has suffered deforestation and forest degradation during the past 40 years, and annual forest loss has been of the order of 100-140,000 hectares (ha). Rapidly expanding populations and migration into forest areas are among the major reasons why pressures remain to clear forests to provide additional agricultural land. Poverty is widespread in rural areas, and people are essentially forced to use forest resources for subsistence and market purposes. State forest enterprises have also contributed to forest degradation by engaging in unsustainable harvesting to meet production quotas set by central government. It is estimated that there are about 9.7 million ha of land that is potentially available for rehabilitation. The Government has recognized the need to rehabilitate the large areas of degraded forestland, and has established ambitious programs

The experiences with reforestation are mixed. The early plantings showed poor results due to the use of poor quality seed and seedlings, poor technique and poor species-site matching. The Government has become aware of the problems with the country's forests and is keen to redress them by embarking on ambitious forest rehabilitation programs. The single most important and famous one is the 5 Mio ha program, which aims at establishing five million ha of forest by natural and artificial regeneration, thereby increasing national forest cover to 43%. This 5 Mio ha program additionally will create jobs for local people and contributes to the national programs of hunger eradication and poverty reduction.

In Laos

The general problems of degradation and deforestation of watersheds is most significant in the northern parts of the country, where shifting cultivation has resulted to the loss of almost all large forested areas, even though the country in the north is populated with only 10 to 15 persons per sq.km. Ambiguities over tenure, particularly regarding access and use rights, have created difficulties in dealing with ethnic groups living in watershed areas. The government is attempting to ban or at least curtail shifting cultivation, but to date there are no livelihood alternatives so far proven that shifting cultivators can adopt with confidence. Land allocation and community based land use planning are currently on trial throughout the country, but progress is inevitably slow. Most communities in watersheds are impoverished and their primary concern is with food security. Any development program to deal with forest rehabilitation in the upland areas need to integrate rehabilitation activities with overall development.

Cambodia In Cambodia the loss of forest cover and forest quality in forested areas during the last 20 years shows the highest rate in the Lower Mekong Basin. This can largely be attributed to the long lasting periods of unrest and political instabilities, partly to expanding population and construction of new roads into forested areas for forest harvesting by private concessionaires, which created a sudden access to so far non accessable huge resources. Illegal logging could be controlled to a large extent only very recently. Forests today still play a significant role for the majority of rural population. Particularly in the watersheds of the north eastern parts of Cambodia forests are the basis for people’s

7


livelihoods and provide a variety of products and functions to local communities beyond the ecological functions.

Community based natural resources management has been an important agenda of many development agencies in the north eastern parts of Cambodia, not only by international and local NGOs, but also by government and projects in the province of Ratanakkiri. Concepts and practices for community involvement in planning and monitoring of resources utilization have been developed over the past years, and succeeded in a comparative high level of technical skills, communication systems, and effective cooperation between various stakeholder groups and provincial government structures. Procedures for participatory land use planning and collaborative community forest management practices have been established. However, larger applications for a more substantial coverage of watershed areas, where forests and people live in co-existence, are not yet in place, since this part of Cambodia never has been in the main focus of government or donor attention.

2.2. Project objective, target groups, relevance to development policies

The project objective is to improve ecological functions of upland watershed in a participatory way through integrated forest rehabilitation programs in selected watersheds of the Lower Mekong Basin.

This objective addresses not only particular areas of the four member counties of the Mekong River Commission, but the Mekong Basin as a whole. The significance of the objective for the health of the Mekong Basin is further expressed by way of selection of watersheds under this proposal. Since the proposed project is small in size in comparison to the magnitude of the problem, particularly those watersheds will be chosen for the project implementation, which are critical from a regional angle. This objective addresses as well peoples’ livelihood and socio-economic development in target areas.

It is further envisaged that the project produces a model for participatory integrated watershed rehabilitation for other watersheds in the countries or the region. The necessary instrument for ensuring these pilot functions is the creation of mechanisms for scaling up and training for replication within the given resources of the implementing government organizations. Both aspects will become an integral part of the project design and project implementation. The target groups of this project are both, local people living in upland watersheds from agricultural and forest resources, as well as local organizations like commune, district and provincial administration, non government organizations, and relevant line agencies in target areas. Additional indirect target groups are administration and line organizations working in other parts of the Lower Mekong Basin, and can learn from experiences from target areas through exposure visits or formal training courses. Finally target groups are sector specialists in national and regional organizations, who will take the opportunity to make use of available experiences and incorporate those in their own organizations. Throughout the Lower Mekong Basin the government policies welcome concepts and programs which help to implement practical ways for decentralized decision making and

8


peoples’ participation on the one hand and focus on protection and rehabilitation of natural resources on the other hand. This expresses itself in the new constitutions, immobile property laws, forest laws, community forestry sub decrees and community bills throughout the Mekong Basin. During the last 2 years governments of all 4 member countries of the MRC took either efforts in supporting broad public consultation processes for the formulation of policies and guidelines (Thailand, Cambodia) or established the first steps for those processes (Lao PDR, Viet Nam).

3. Project proposal

3.1. Measures until now, and their interaction/ connection to the proposed project

The proposed project draws on available data, information products, and experiences of two MRC based projects, which were supported by the German and the Swiss donors:

• The Forest Cover Monitoring Project FCMP, which ended in the year 1999 and has significantly contributed to the development of techniques and skills for building up geographic information systems and maps

• The Watershed Classification Project WCP, which ends in December 2001 and leaves behind a huge data base on bio-physical properties of all watersheds in the Lower Mekong Basin

• The Sustainable Resources in the Lower Mekong Project SMRP, which shall operate until the end of 2002 and has built up information systems for collaborative forest management, strategic partnerships in countries and beyond countries and contributed to policy formulation for the forest sector in the basin.

The successor program of the SMRP will be the Sustainable Land and water Use Program SLWUP of the MRC, which is considered to be a strategic partner and facilitator for the proposed project. In all countries of the Lower Mekong Basin forest rehabilitation has been an important national agenda in general, ever since an historically unpreceded speed of forest degradation due to logging, rapid expansion of agricultural production, and other reasons caused drastic losses of forest cover. Some of the countries are responding to problems by planning and implementing massive plantation and forest rehabilitation schemes. Viet Nam has started implementing a large program involving the rehabilitation of some 5,000,000 ha of degraded lands over a period of fifteen years. If fully implemented, the program in Viet Nam would nearly double the nation’s current area of forest. Thailand has recently launched a 5 year program to reforest 800,000 ha. Lao PDR has plans to establish 500,000 ha of plantations and to rehabilitate 2,000,000 ha of degraded forests by the year 2020. Forest rehabilitation programs generally contribute to numerous goals of conservation and development such as the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable development of natural resources, poverty alleviation, the building of rural institutions, and the sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere. However, specific concrete and comprehensive programs for the rehabilitation of upland watersheds are not yet in place except for a few scattered activities in Northern Thailand.

9


Outcomes of successful forest rehabilitation schemes in upland watersheds depend on how such schemes are conceived, planned, implemented, monitored and evaluated. For this reason, it is desirable for forest rehabilitation to be based on;

• a sound understanding of experience of forest rehabilitation schemes compared to expectations;

• policies that prescribe principles and criteria for achieving ecologically and socio-economically sound forest rehabilitation; and,

• institutional capacity to extend and support the application of these policies and practical approaches in the field.

In the majority of the countries of the Lower Mekong Basin, those desirable conditions are at least partly in place. However, an integrated and participatory approach to forest rehabilitation programs in upland watersheds is a new concept, that involves a multiple stakeholder approach and the implementation of multiple tasks in an often to bureaucrates unknown territories. Predominantly ethnic groups different to the low land people live in watersheds with practices of land and water use, which is occasionally considered harmful by governments. Implementing them is sometimes complicated and complex. The proposed technical packages are developed and widely used, their integration and wider application finds limited pre-existing experience. Insofar the proposed project contributes to the development of procedures and mechanisms for scaling up and integrating existing knowledge and skills.

This proposed project “ Forest Investment in the Lower Mekong Basin” will concentrate on areas of mainly ethnic minority population. Land use planning and forestry activities will directly involve local poor farmers in all locations. Recent societal problems in some of the watershed areas close to borders were mainly based on land tenure and land use issues and are presently addressed by the government of Vietnam.

3.2. Project activities and expected results

The proposed project activities will not be uniform across countries, since marked differences in administration, organizational capacity, and available experiences have to be considered. The common feature of project activities is the combination of

• Participatory land use planning

• Re-planting (forest plantation) and enrichment planting in critical (1A) watersheds

• Community forestry programs in less critical watersheds

• Training and scaling up of workable practices

1.

10


Result Area 1: Participatory land use planning is carried out in selected areas close to and around critical (1A) watershed areas

• Select project areas and inventorise locally available community based organizations

• Determine present forms of land use and their causes

• Clarify legal situation (state claims), usufruct rights, NRM access rights and traditional ways of conflict resolution

• Facilitate negotiation processes for improved land use systems according to claims and rights, capacities and limitations of natural resources, land and people

• Document, map and communicate new land use plans on communal, district and provincial level

2. Result Area 2: Critical watersheds are rehabilitated through re-planting and enrichment planting

• Identify critical watershed areas for re-planting (denuded areas) and enrichment planting (degraded areas)

• Develop management scheme for re-planting and enrichment planting for 7 years

• Produce seedlings for indigenous trees and provide planting material

• Organize land preparation and planting with participation of local people

3. Result Area 3: Forest food bank programs (agro-forestry programs) are established through community forestry

• Identify forest land suitable for community forestry/ agro-forestry programs

• Develop production and maintenance schemes with community based organizations (CBOs) and local administration offices

• Supply seed material for selected plants (herbal, medicinal, fruit trees, etc.) and organize supply of other necessary inputs for planting and production

• Provide technical assistance and managerial support for establishing village nurseries and other necessary village based technical infrastructure

4. Result area 4: Check dams are established and maintained

• select suitable locations in identified areas in collaboration with CBOs and local administration

• develop construction and maintenance schemes through established village based committees and organize supply of material

• construct dams of various sizes according to suitability and requirements of slope, water flow, soil and land use

• identify organizational and technical possibilities for increased agricultural and forest production

5.

11


Result area 5: A national/ regional training center for participatory forest rehabilitation in upland watersheds has been built and is functioning

• Select suitable location and design training center, keeping in mind all necessary facilities for 50 trainees

• Construct / build up training center

• Develop maintenance schedule

• Develop training modules for target groups from within the countries and from neighbour countries

• Conduct training courses

3.3. Proposed implementation

The proposed project will be implemented in close co-operation with and partly through the MRC based “Sustainable Land and Water Use Program (SLWUP)”, which is envisaged to start in late 2002. By its nature the proposed project is an investment project for the forest sector and thus takes a complementary role to the SLWUP, which takes into consideration not only forestry, but the whole range of sectors and disciplines relevant to watershed management. The proposed project will, therefore, also be implemented in the trans- boundary context characterizing the SLWUP.

Particularly in the two smaller LMB countries Cambodia and Loa PDR, a certain level of technical, administrative, and managerial integration of the country components of the proposed project into the implementation structures of the forthcoming SLWUP will be a pre-requisite to guarantee effectiveness of investment programs and sustainability of the benefits to target groups and institutions. It is proposed to use technical know-how, planning and monitoring capacity as well as implementation capacity of the SLWUP to ensure highest possible standards of project performance and project impact.

The proposed implementation does not foresee an equal allocation of funds to each country, since

• The absorption capacity of administration and target groups in villages differs largely from country to country, whereby relatively high capacity will be found in Thailand and to some extent in Viet Nam, and comparatively low capacity is available in Cambodia and Lao PDR.

• The forthcoming implementation programs under the SLWUP already foresee a higher financial contribution to countries to Lao PDR and Cambodia in comparison to Thailand and Viet Nam.

The implementation of programs also differ from country to country with regards to various combinations of result areas. All of them have in common that any field work for forest rehabilitation of agro-forestry program implementation through community forestry needs to build on the results of a participatory land use planning exercise, which involves all important stakeholders in the respective areas and which is built on existing government policies and legal frameworks.

12


Thailand

In Thailand result areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 will be implemented. The implementing organization is the Watershed Management Division of the Natural Resources Conservation Office, Royal Forest Department. The Watershed Management Division (WMD) operates through Watershed Management Centers and their attached Watershed Management Units. Each Watershed Management Center is equipped with one office and necessary mobility.

For the program implementation, the sub-watersheds of the rivers Kok and Ing are selected. They are situated in North-East Thailand and both drain into the Mekong. The respective provinces are Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Phao province.

The Watershed management Centers for the watersheds of the rivers Kok and Ing are the Watershed Management Centers 8, 9, and 10 of the WMD. They comprise a total of 19 Watershed Management Units with 233 attached villages and around 90.000 people. The result areas 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 will be implemented in the following way: Result area No of units Implemented by Involved groups

Participatory Land Use Pl. 120 villages WMD CBOs26, TAO27

Forest rehabilitation 3000 ha WMD Farmers, labourers

Community Forestry 120 villages28 CBOs WMD, TAO

Check dams 1200 WMD and CBOs TAO

Training Center 1 WMD TAO

Viet Nam

In Vietnam it is envisaged to implement results 1, 2 and 5. The implementation organizations are provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) und the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. DARD has provincial as well as district offices.

The two locations, Lai Chau Province, Dien Bien Phu District and Gia Lai Province, Pleiku, for programme implementation in Vietnam are located in the Lower Mekong Basin. Lai Chau is situated in the northern part of Vietnam bordering Laos. Pleiku, Gia Lai is located in the central highlands of Vietnam, the largest part of its area within the Lower Mekong Basin. Gia Lai shares its border with Ratanakiri Province in Cambodia. In addition to field programs for watershed rehabilitation, the program will support the existing Tay Nguyen Agriculture and Forestry College, which provides vocational training for all three provinces of the Central Highlands

26 CBO= Community Based Organization 27 TAO= Tambon Administration Office 28 each village will have an average of about 40 Ha forest land for development of agro forestry programs

13


The result areas 1, 2 and 5 will implemented as follows:

Lai Chau Province

Result area No of units Implemented by

Involved group

Participatory land use and forest resource planning

1500 ha Lai Chau DARD

Lai Chau Department of land management

Replanting (incl. deposit accounts)


Lai Chau Forest Protection

Department Enrichment planting (incl. deposit accounts)


Lai Chau Forest Protection

Department

Gia Lai Province

Result area No of units Implemented by

Involved group


2300 ha Gia Lai DARD Gia Lai Department of land management Gia Lai forest protection department


300 ha Gia Lai DARD Gia Lai forest protection department Gia Lai Bank for Agriculture

Enrichment planting (incl. deposit accounts)

2000 ha Gia Lai DARD Gia Lai forest protection department Gia Lai Bank for Agriculture

Vocational training centre

1 DARD Tay Nguyen

Agriculture & Forestry Training Centre

Laos

In Laos result areas 1, 2, 3, will be implemented. The implementing organization is the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on national level and the Provincial Planning Office on provincial level. The Provincial Planning Office operates though line offices on provincial level and their field staff. The program will be implemented in the watershed of the Moung Mai river, which drains into the Mekong and forms the lower part of the Dien Bien/ Moung Mai watershed. This area is situated at the north-eastern part of Laos and borders Vietnam.

14


The result areas 1, 2, 3, will be implemented in the following way:

Result area No of units Implemented by Involved groups

Participatory Land Use Pl. 30 villages Prov. Planning Unit

CBOs, local admin, PFO

Forest rehabilitation through terraces, contour lines

800 ha Prov. Planning Unit, PFO, CBOs

Farmers, labourers

Community Forestry for agro-forestry + enrichment planting

450 ha 1500 ha

CBOs, PFO Farmers, labourers

Cambodia In Cambodia the result areas 1, 2, 3, will be implemented. The implementing organization is the Provincial Rural Development Committee (PRDC) under the provincial governor. The PRDC operates through the government organization “Partnership for Local Governance” (PLG), which is a UN supported development program in the majority of Cambodia’s provinces today. The PRDC would oversee resources utilization, coordination

with other important government structures in the province and also with NGOs. The single most important partner for technical advice, planning and monitoring will be the Provincial Forest Office (PFO). For the program implementation, the sub-watersheds of the rivers Sesan and Sepok, which have their origin in the central highlands of Viet Nam, and are already marked as target areas for the SLWUP of the MRC. Both rivers drain into the Mekong. The respective province is Ratanakkiri. Province.

The implementation level for the Cambodia components will be the Commune. Since after the forthcoming local elections in Feb 2002 the commune level will be considerably strengthened administratively and politically, the proposed project can play a significant role in building up a model for decentralized community forestry in watershed areas in Cambodia. The Result Areas 1, 2, 3 will be implemented in the following way: Result area No of units Implemented by Involved groups

Participatory Land Use Pl. 50 villages PRDC / PLG, PFO, NGOs

NGOs, CBOs, Communes

Forest rehabilitation 2000 ha PRDC / PLG, PFO, NGOs

PFO, Farmers, Communes, CBOs

Community Forestry 50 villages PRDC/ PLG, PFO, NGOs,

PFO, Communes, farmers, CBOs

15


3.4. Ways of maintenance and utilization

Principally the project is designed in a way that maintenance costs would be fully taken over by either government line agencies, local administration, NGOs, Communes, or village based communities.

Thailand:

During and after the implementation of the project, organization and costs of maintenance of built up infrastructure will be shared in the following way:

Result area No of units Responsible for maintenance

Participating in maintenance

Part. Land Use Planning 120 villages CBO WMD, LDD29

Forest rehabilitation 4300 ha WMD TAO, farmers

Community Forestry 120 villages CBOs

Check dams 1200 CBOs WMD, TAO

Training Center 1 WMD

Viet Nam

During and after the implementation of the project, organization and costs of maintenance of built up infrastructure will be shared in the following way:

a) Lai Chau Province

Result area No of units Responsible for

maintenance

Participating



Lai Chau Department of land management



Lai Chau Forest Protection Department

Enrichment planting (incl. deposit accounts)


Lai Chau Forest Protection Department

b) Gia Lai Province

Result area No of units Responsible for

maintenance

Participating


2500 ha Gia Lai DARD Gia Lai Department of land management

Gia Lai forest protection department

29 LDD = Land Development Department. This department is responsible for cadastrial services

16



750 ha Gia Lai DARD Gia Lai forest protection department

Gia Lai Bank for Agriculture Enrichment planting (incl. deposit accounts)

1750 ha Gia Lai DARD Gia Lai forest protection department

Gia Lai Bank for Agriculture Vocational training centre 1 DARD Tay Nguyen Agriculture &

Forestry Training Centre

Laos

The maintenance of infrastructure such as contour lines, plantations, enrichment planting, fruit trees, village based nurseries, etc, will entirely be taken over by communities through their CBOs:

Result area No of units Responsible for maintenance


Part. Land Use Planning 30 villages CBO

Forest rehabilitation

through terraces, contour lines

600 ha CBO PFO, Prov, Planning Unit

Community Forestry for agro-forestry +

enrichment planting

450 ha 1500 ha

CBO PFO, Prov. Planning Unit

Cambodia During and after the implementation of the project, organization and costs of maintenance of built up infrastructure will be shared in the following way: Result area No of units Responsible for

maintenance


Part. Land Use Planning 50 villages CBO, Commune PFO, PLG

Forest rehabilitation 2000 ha Commune PFO, PLG

Community Forestry 50 villages Commune, CBO PFO, PLG

17


4. Description of the receiver and project implementing organization

4.1. Description of the Receiver of Funding

The receiver of the funds is the Mekong River Commission Secretariat, Phnom Penh.

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) was established on 5 April 1995. The MRC member countries are Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. MRC maintains regular dialogue with the two upper states of the Mekong River Basin, China and Myanmar.

Legal Form, Tasks and Responsibilities

The MRC member countries agree to co-operate in all fields of sustainable development, utilisation, management and conservation of the water and related resources of the Mekong River Basin, such as navigation, flood control, fisheries, agriculture, hydropower and environmental protection.

The MRC consists of three permanent bodies: The Council, the Joint Committee (JC) and the Secretariat.

National Mekong Committees (NMCs) act as focal points for the Commission in each of the member countries and are served by the respective National Mekong Committee Secretariats.

The Council, which meets once a year, consists of one member from each country at ministerial or cabinet level. The Council makes policy decisions and provides other necessary guidance concerning the promotion, support, co-operation and co-ordination of joint activities and programmes in order to implement the 1995 Agreement.

The Joint Committee consists of one member from each country at no less than Head of Department level. The Joint Committee is responsible for the implementation of the policies and decisions of the Council and supervises the activities of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat.

The MRC Secretariat is the operational arm of the MRC. It provides technical and administrative services to the Council and the Joint Committee. Under the supervision of the Joint Committee, the Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the day-to-day operations of more than 100 professional and general support staff. The main counterparts for MRC activities in the four member countries are the National Mekong Committees (NMCs). The MRC defines its main objective of the cooperation between the riparian countries as follows:

"To cooperate in all fields of sustainable development, utilization, management and conservation of the water and related resources of the Mekong River Basin ( ... ) in a manner to optimise the multiple use and mutual benefits of all riparians and to minimise the harmful effects that might result from occurrences and man-made activities".

18


The 1995 agreement defines in 42 articles the principles of sustainable use of the Mekong River system and it constitutes a binding institutional framework for sustainable cooperation.

4.2. Description of the Project Implementing Organization

The Project Implementing Organizations in the 4 member countries of the MRC are described here only on national level. The actual implementation shall take place in selected provinces in all 4 countries, and their exact description would go beyond the format of this proposal. The Implementing Organizations on National Level are those, which will be directly accountable to the MRC Secretariat for the implementation of programs in their respective country.

Thailand

The Project Implementation Organization in Thailand will be the Royal Forest Department (RFD). The RFD was established in 1892. It had the function to oversee timber harvesting and regularize tax revenues in the 19th and also major parts of the 20th century. During the recent years the RFD has embarked on a series of initiatives to encourage protection of

the remaining forests and to encourage participation of local people in the development of sustainable programs for forest protection and forest rehabilitation. The RFD operates in watersheds through the Natural Resources Conservation Office, which has the Watershed Management Division as one of their 5 divisions. The Watershed Management Division implements programs through Watershed Centers, which are located in watersheds and Watershed Units o each Center.

Viet Nam

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) was created in 1995 combining the former ministries of agriculture, forestry and water resources. The creation of the MARD allows for the integration of three major sub-sectors dealing with natural resource management serving the objectives of rural development. MARD is represented on provincial and district levels county-wide and mostly well staffed in terms of numbers. However, skills of the staff to support the nation-wide processes in decentralisation and devolution, putting communities into decision-making positions are still limited. There is a clear need for training in participatory methods and technical skills for forest management.

Lao PDR

In Lao PDR the program component would be implemented through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF). The MAF has since 1976 demonstrated interest in stabilizing shifting cultivation by encouraging upland communities to adopt sedentary agricultural practices. The year 1989 marked a shift from exploitation based forestry to the preservation, planting, and development of forests, and resulted in the Tropical Forestry Action Plan for Lao PDR (TFAP). Recent development decided to allocate forest land to individuals and communities, which is also clearly expressed in the new Forestry Law in 1996. The last year experienced a major shift from sectoral orientation to a more comprehensive rural development orientation for poverty alleviation, during which the MAF was reorganized into 2 major departments: Research and Extension. The general policy in

19


Lao PDR is decentralization of planning and implementation of watershed and forest rehabilitation to provincial authorities, whereby the Provincial Planning Office has the coordination and monitoring role.

Cambodia The Cambodia National Mekong Committee (CNMC) has been established some 40 years ago, primarily for the concerns of navigation and flood control. After the formation of the today’s Mekong River Commission in 1995 and with the formulation of the basin Development Plan BDP, the CNMC added more subject matters to their themes of interest. As a result, the implementation of the Sustainable Land and Water Use Program (SLWUP), which was endorsed by the governments in the year 2000, is going to be the

coordinated by the CNMC. For reasons of technical expertise the coordination will consider the involvement of the Department of Forestry & Wildlife in the first place. The Department of Forestry & Wildlife (DF&W), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries, has been established after the end of the Khmer Rouge Period during the subsequent ten years of occupation by the neighbor Viet Nam in the mid eighties. Only during the last few years the DF&W started conceptualizing community involvement in forest protection and forest management and entered a broad consultative and transparent process for the formulation of the community forestry sub-decree in the year 2001. On provincial or sub-provincial level the DF&W still has very limited capacity for the implementation of community based forest rehabilitation in watersheds. Hence the Provincial Rural Development Committee under the provincial governor will be the main partner for practical implementation in the selected watersheds in Cambodia.

5. Total Costs and Means of Financing

5.1. Total Costs

The total costs of the project are estimated at 10 Million DM. The costs of the program components are summarized in the following table:

Component Costs in USD Costs in DM Remarks

Thailand 1.232.000 2.710.000 Starting in the beginning

Viet Nam 1.232.000 2.710.000 Starting in the beginning

Lao PDR 0.741.000 1.630.000 Starting with 1 year delay

Cambodia 0.741.000 1.630.000 Starting with 1 year delay

Overheads KfW 0.300.000 0.660.000 Estimated

Overheads MRC 0.300.000 0.660.000 Estimated

Total 4.546.000 10.000.000

20


The costs for each country component and years are summarized in the table below30:

Thailand costs in DM

Year Result 1 Result 2 Result 3 Result 4 Result 5 Total

1 30.000 50.000 100.000 50.000 230.000

2 40.000 200.000 70.000 150.000 300.000 760.000

3 40.000 250.000 80.000 150.000 90.000 610.000

4 40.000 300.000 60.000 150.000 550.000

5 30.000 340.000 40.000 150.000 560.000

Total 180.000 1.090.000 300.000 700.000 440.000 2.710.000

Viet Nam costs in DM


1 20.000 20.000

2 30.000 160.000 300.000 490.000

3 30.000 350.000 450.000 830.000

4 10.000 600.000 151.200 761.200

5 8.800 600.000 608.800

Total 98.800 1.710.000 901.200 2.710.000

Lao PDR costs in DM


1

2 10.000 120.000 80.000 210.000

3 6.000 200.000 150.000 356.000

4 8.000 300.000 200.000 508.000

5 6.000 300.000 250.000 556.000

Total 30.000 920.000 680.000 1.630.000

30 those costs are based on calculated units costs and quantities, as prescribed in detail on p. 24 ff.

21


Cambodia costs in DM


1

2 8.000 60.000 240.000 308.000

3 10.000 80.000 250.000 340.000

4 10.000 110.000 330.000 450.000

5 12.000 120.000 400.000 532.000

Total 40.000 370.000 1.220.000 1.630.000

5.2. Means of financing

The financial contributions will be made available to the MRC Secretariat, Phnom Penh. The Secretariat will establish all necessary infrastructure and technical expertise to allow for transparency, regular reporting and required levels of accountability to the German donor.

The MRC Secretariat will further disburse the funds according to laid down and agreed investment plans in all 4 countries to identified direct partners. Those direct partners will be in all cases government institutions, which work either in close collaboration with sector organizations in the forest sector or are sector organizations. The proposed partners in the four members countries of the MRC are

• For Viet Nam the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development •

For Thailand the Royal Forest Department • For Lao PDR the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry • For Cambodia the Cambodia National Mekong Committee.

Details of financial flow, monitoring and accounts systems and reporting systems between those direct partners and their collaborative partners for project implementation will be established at a later stage.

6. Project Impact

6.1. Description of micro-economic and macro-economic benefits Micro-economic benefits

The project components on community forestry/ agro-forestry directly benefit rural households with supply of food items, which can be consumed by the households or which can be marketed within the village or to nearby town centers. It is envisaged that the returns to investment per ha will be substantial beyond year 3 and 4 after planting, when fruit trees and other perennial tree crops start yielding. For annual crops from community

22


forestry activities such as medicinal plants, rattan, firewood, poles, herbal plants, etc., the returns can be expected at an earlier stage.

The project component on enrichment planting and re-planting yields direct economic returns to rural households in all those cases, where rural labor will be employed by the implementing organizations for that work (Thailand, Viet Nam, Laos). This component further produces micro-economic benefits to selected village households, which establish tree nurseries either on communal agreement or on contract basis with the implementing organizations. This activity also supports micro-economic entrepreneur-ship and entrepreneurial behavior and skills in villages.

The project component on check dams generates employment and paid wage labor to participants from villages either as a result of directly hired labor or as a result of work organization by village based organizations.

Macro-economic benefits

The project produces substantial benefits on a macro-economic level as a result of improved watershed management, which is a better distribution of water flow from upcountry areas as well as better quality of water. Better distribution and quality are fundamental pre-requisites for agricultural irrigation, domestic use, and also commercial use more downstream.

Additional benefits derive from supply of high value timber as a result of forest rehabilitation programs to government.

6.2. Description of Socio-economic and Socio –cultural Benefits

Inhabitants of upland watersheds in the Lower Mekong basin are predominantly ethnic groups, which have been mostly mobile in earlier days, practiced shifting cultivation and became permanent settlers on either side of national borders only recently. They have been, in the best case, never been in the main focus of development programming by any government so far, in the worst case they were identified as having been collaborating with the US forces in the Vietnam war, which resulted in sometimes extreme forms of marginalization by governments. Today nearly all ethnic groups in upland watersheds have an average income far below national averages, hardly access to government social services, and very little access to business activities of the private sector, which would contribute to economic development. They largely depend with their livelihood on cultivation of rain fed crops on marginal soils without much support by modern agricultural inputs, which is available mostly to low land people and on forest products. The programs described in this project benefit first of all those ethnic groups not only economically, but also socially and culturally. Particularly programs for forest rehabilitation and agro-forestry through community involvement are able to restore the basis of livelihood also in a cultural and spiritual sense, and may contribute to new forms of social integration.

23


6.3. Description of ecological benefits

Ecological benefits are by far the most significant and the most important ones.

The proposed project forms strategically an important complementary part to the forthcoming Sustainable Land and Water Use Program (SLWUP) of the MRC, which addresses besides watershed rehabilitation also the agenda of consultation and negotiation between countries of the Lower Mekong basin for development of standards for sustainable watershed management, and a common understanding of the importance of the watershed issue in each country for the health of the Mekong basin.

The SLWUP will be implemented in the same geographical areas which have been proposed for he project as well in order to guarantee the fullest possible integration of the financial contributions under this project.

All selected watersheds under this project proposal are critical watersheds. They are either

• Deforested watersheds or watersheds that carry highly degraded forests

• Important watersheds for flood control in the Lower Mekong basin

• Watersheds, that go across borders and have a significant area in 2 countries

Thus the ecological benefits are first of all to be seen in a regional context. The basin wide complex problems of soil erosion due to degraded watersheds will be aimed at in three ways:

• By rehabilitating watersheds, which are classified as critical watershed

• By building up replicable models for integrated participatory watershed management

• By installing mechanisms and opportunities for regional exposure and training in two training centers Vietnam and Thailand for sector experts and practitioners throughout the Mekong basin.

24


Quantities and Unit Cost Calculations

1. Viet Nam

Program Unit costs USD

Unit costs DM

Quantities Total costs DM

Replanting

Enrichment planting

4.9 mio

2.45 mio

700 / ha

350 / ha

1500 ha

2300 ha

1.860.000

Vocational Training centre

910,000 1 901.200

PLUP and forest resource planning

182.000 26 / ha 3.800 98.800

2. Thailand

Program Unit costs ThB

Unit costs DM

Quantities Total costs DM

Enrichment planting 3.600 185 / ha 702 ha 1.090.000

Re-planting 16.000 800 / ha 1.200 ha

Village food banks through community forestry

5.000 / ha 250 / ha 1.200 ha

10 ha/ village

300.000

120 villages

Small check dams 6.000 / ha 300 / ha 7 / village 700.000

Large check dams 25.000 / ha 1.250 / ha 3 / village

120 villages

Training centre 8.800.000 440.000 1 440.000

PLUP 30.000 / village 1.500/ village 120 villages 180.000

25


3. Lao PDR


Unit costs DM

quantities Total costs DM

Replanting

Enrichment planting

523 / ha 1150 / ha 800 ha 920.000

Community forestry

Agro-forestry

Enrichment planting

264 / ha

127 / ha

580 / ha

280 / ha

450 ha

1500 ha

680.000

PLUP 455/ village 1000/ village 30 villages 30.000

4. Cambodia


Unit costs DM

quantities Total costs DM

Enrichment planting 84 / ha 185 / ha 2.000 ha 370.000

Agro-forestry through community forestry

444 / ha 976 / ha 1.250 ha

25 ha/ village

50 villages

1.220.000

PLUP 364 / village 800 / village 50 villages 40.000

PCS

FAS

H RS


Organogramme of the MRC Secretariat

Working Group Basin Modeling and Knowledge

Base

Working GroupEnvironmental

Transboundary Issues

ENV- Environment Division

FAS – Finance and Administration

HRD – Human Resource Division

NRDPD – Natural Resource Development Planning Division OPD – Operations Division

PCS – Programme Coordination Section

TSD – Technical Support Division

Office of the CEO

TSD NRDP

D

ENV OPD

Programmes Coordination

Group

Temporary Working Group


Organogramme of the MRC Secretariat

Working Group

Environmental and

Transboundary Issues

Working Group

Basin Develop- ment Planning

and Socio- Economic Issues

Finance and Administration

Human Resource Division

Natural Resource Development Planning Division

Programme Coordination Section

Technical Support Division

Core Programmes Management

Group

OPD



1


2


WORK PROGRAMME OF THE MISSION AND PEOPLE MET

Monday, 14-01-2002

Arrival of national and international consultants in Phnom Penh (except S. Preuss)

Tuesday, 15-01-2001 and Wednesday 16-01-2002

Start-up workshop for the mission (Clarification of TOR, work and travel planning)

Thursday, 17-01-2002

Departure of national consultants from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam

National consultants from Cambodia and international consultants: Discussions with representatives of relevant institutions in Cambodia (in 2 groups)

Institution People met

Cambodia National Mekong Committee Secretariat

Mr. Pich Dun, Director, Projects Dept. Mr. An Pich Hatda, BDP Focal Point Mr. Watt Bokosal, Focal Point for SMRP

Ministry of Interior Mr. Leng Vy, Director, Dept. of Local Administration

Ministry of Planning Mr. Hoy Sythikun, Dep. Director, Dept. of Economic Planning

UNDP Cambodia Cancelled, as relevant UNDP representatives were not available

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Department of Wildlife and Forestry

Mr. Ty Sokhun, Director of Dept. of Forestry and Wildlife

Mr. Tieng Sokhom, Chief of GIS Office Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Land Improvement

Mr. Mak Soeung, Chief of Technical Office

SEILA Mr. Scott Leiper, Programme Manager Mrs. Joanne Morrison, Operations Adviser Mr. Julian Abrams, Infrastructure Adviser

GTZ Office Cambodia Dr. Thomas Engelhardt, Director

3


Friday, 18-01-2002

National consultants from Cambodia and international consultants: Discussions with representatives of relevant institutions in Cambodia (in 2 groups)


Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Production

Dr. Duch Wontito, Gen. Director, General Dept. of Land Mangement and Urban Planning

Mr. Prak Angkeara, Dep. Director, Dept. of Research and Regulation

Ministry of Rural Development Mr. Nhep Phan, Dep. Director, Dept. of Planning and Public Relations

CDC-DANIDA Natural Resources and Environmental Programme

Mr. Lars Lund, Programme Co-ordinator Mr. Loeung Kesaro, Programme Officer

Asian Development Bank Cancelled, as relevant ADB representatives were not available

Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology

Mr. Am Norinn, Dep. Director, Dept. of Water Conservation and Management

Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy Dr. Bun Narith, Director, Hydroelectricity Dept.

Ministry of Environment Dr. Neov Bonheur, Dep. Director, Secretariat of Tonle Sap Biodiversity

Mr. Meng Monirak, Officer

Mrs. Phum Vicheth, CTA, World Bank Project „Biodiversity Conservation in Virachey

Worldwide Fund for Nature Cambodia Conservation Project

Mr. Toby Carson, CBNRM Specialist

Mr. Marc Guichot, Co-ordinator of Strategical Mekong Partnership Oxfam America Mr. Michael Ounsted, Regional Director South-East Asia

Mia Hyun, Senior Programme Officer

Saturday, 19-01-2002

National consultants from Cambodia and international consultants: Discussions with representatives of relevant institutions in Cambodia


Concern Mr. Pissad, CFM Coordinator

Ms. Danny Harvey, Community Forestry Adviser MRC-GTZ Sustainable Management of Resources Project

Dr. Hans Helmrich, Chief Technical Adviser Mr. Michael Glück, Information Management Adviser

Mr. Christoph Fedkötter, GIS Adviser MRC-AFIP Mr. John Leak, Consultant

Sunday, 20-01-2002

International consultants: Study of documents, departure to Bangkok

4


Monday, 21-01-2002

National consultants from Thailand and international consultants: Internal discussions and discussions with representatives of relevant institutions in Thailand


Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Suwat Dulyapach, Dep. Director General, RFD

Royal Forestry Department Mr. Korkiat Kaysornsiri, Director, Watershed

Management Division

Mr. Udhai Thongmee, Chief of Wazershed

Promotion and Development Subdivision (National Consultant) Mr. Chuen Boonnao, Chief of Watershed

Management Subdivision No. 1

Mr. Warin Jirasuktaveekul, Chief of Watershed

Management Research Subdivision

Nr. Ruang Janmahatansien, Technical Officer 7

Royal Forestry Department, Mr. Korkiat Kaysornsiri, Director, Watershed

Watershed Management Division Management Division

Mr. Udhai Thongmee, Chief of Wazershed

Promotion and Development Subdivision (National Consultant)

Tuesday, 22-01-2002



Ministry of Science, Technology and Dr. Wanee Samphantharak, Dep. Secretary

Environment, General, OEPP

Office of Environmental Policy and Ms. Duangmal Sinthuvanich, Director, Natural Planning Resources and Environmental Management Co-

ordination Division (NRMECD) of OEPP

Mr. Somchai Tasingsa, Chief of Watershed resources Subdivision (WSRS) of NREMCD

Mr. Intanin Inchayanunth, Senior Environment Officer, WSRS

Mr. Chartree Panuves, Senior Environment Officer, WSRS

Ms. Oraprapim Channual, Senior Environment Officer, WSRS

Ms. Warintorn Manosittisak, Senior Environment Officer, WSRS

Ms. Pakawan Chufamanee, Chief of Water Resource, Energy and Mineral Subdivision

(WREMS) of NREMCD

Ms. Sukanya Wisan, Senior Environment Officer, WREMS

Kasetsart University, Faculty of Vice-Dean of Faculty

Forestry

5


Wednesday, 23-01-2002



Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Chaiyasit Anaksaiphan, Dep. Director General, Land Development Department LDD

Ms. Promsit Tragcondit, Land Use Planning

Division, LDD

Ms. Waraporn Boonsorn, Planning Division, LDD

Mr. Kamron Saiphuk, Director, Coastal Management Dept., LDD

Mr. Sunun Kunaporn, Soil Survey and

Classification Division, LDD

Mr. Sutham Paladsongkhram, Director, Soil and

Water Conservation Division (SWCD) of LDD

Mr. Amoon Pongkanjana, SWCD

Mr. Sathaporn Jaiarree, SWCD

Thailand National Mekong Committee Dr. Suphot Tovichakchaikul, Acting Director, Office

Secretariat of Energy Co-operation

Mr. Burachat Buasuwan, Senior Hydrologist, Focal Point for BDP

Mr. Trirong Santimetvisul, Senior Policy and

Planning Analyst, Focal Point for AIFP

Ms. Kobkul Rungsijarog, Senior Policy and

Planning Analyst, Focal Point for AIFP

Ms. Rinnapa Paneetapalin, Policy an Planning

Analyst


Departure of international consultants to Vientiane (F. Rock) and Hanoi (F.E. Brandl), respectively

Vietnam team (Boi, Brandl, Siem):


Arrival of F. E. Brandl in Hanoi Afternoon: Internal meeting of national and international consultant (TOR, Finalisation of work and travel planning in Vietnam)

6


Friday, 25-01-2002

National consultants from Vietnam and international consultant: Discussions with representatives of relevant institutions in Vietnam


Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountainous Areas

Mr. Trinh Cong Khanh, Dep. Director, Dept. of Mountainous Areas Policies

Ms. Ho Thi Thanh Truc, International Co-operation Department MARD-DANIDA Water Sector

Programme Support Mr. Lars Skov Andersen, Programme Co-ordinator

National Environment Agency Dr. Truong Manh Tien, Deputy Director General


National consultants from Vietnam and international consultant: Study of documents and discussions with representatives of relevant institutions in Vietnam


Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development

Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan, Deputy Director, Department of Forest Development

Vietnam National Mekong Committee Secretariat

Dr. Do Manh Hung

Sunday, 27-01-2002

Flight to Hue and drive to Dong Ha, Quang Tri Province (Brandl, Siem)

Monday, 28-01-2002

Discussions with Government Institutions and field visit to Huong Hoa District


Huong Hoa District People’s Committee, Khe Sanh

Mr. Vo Xuan Keng, Vice-Chairman, DPC Mr. Le Van Thieu, Chief of District Administration

Tan Long Commune Mr. Truong Duc Thi, Secretary of Communist Party

Mr. Do Van Hoa, Chairman, Commune Committee Mr. Do Van Kha, Vice-Chairman, Commune Committee

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Quang Tri Province

Mr. Truong Van Khanh, Deputy Director Mr. Truong Dinh Cuoc, Head of Forestry Section Mr. Huong Van Thien, Planning Officer

7


Tuesday, 29-01-2002

Drive to Hue and flight to Hanoi Afternoon: Discussions with representatives of relevant institutions in Vietnam


Institute for Water Resources Planning Dr. Le Van Hoc, Director, IWRP

Mr. Tran Van Nau, Head of Division of Water Planning of IWRP

Ms. Phi Thi Thu, Director, Project for Water Planning, Dien Bien District (Project completed) Song Da Social Forest Development

Project Dr. Elke Förster, Chief Technical Adviser Dr. Ulrich Apel, formerly Forestry Adviser




Department of Water Resources and Hydraulic Works Management (MARD),

River Basin Organsitation Boards: Song Hong, Dong Nai, Mekong

Dr. Pham Xuan Su, Director General of DWRHWM and Vice-Chairman of RBO Boards

IUCN, Vietnam Office Mr. Nguyen Minh Thong, Country Representative Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen, Forest Programme Officer

Forest Inventory and Planning Institute (MARD)

Dr. Nguyen Huy Phon, Deputy Director Dr. Hoang Sy Dong, Head, International Co-operation Division and Focal Point of MRC BDP




Vietnam National University Hanoi, Centre for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES)

Prof. Dr. Truong Quang Hoc, Director of CRES Prof. Dr. Pham Binh Quyen, Ecologist-Entomologist

Dr. Le Dien Duc, Director of Wetland Restauration Programme

Vietnam National Mekong River Committee,

Dr. Nguyen Nhan Quang, Dep. Secretary General of VNMRC

Dr. Do Manh Hung, VNMRC

Dr. Nguyen Hong Quan, Deputy Director, Department of Forest Development, MARD

Dr. Pham Quang Minh, DFD Worldwide Fund for Nature Mr. Hoang Thanh, Manager, Vietnam Conservation

Programme

Mr. Michael C. Baltzer, Ecoregion Action Conservation Co-ordinator

Mr. Martin Geiger, Forestry Co-ordinator

8


Friday, 01-02-2002

Departure of F.E. Brandl to Phnom Penh

Laos team (Douangsavanh, Rock, Viravongsa):


Arrival of F. Rock in Vientiane

National consultants from Laos and international consultant: Discussions with representatives of relevant institutions in Laos


NAFRI – National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute

Dr. Ty Phommasack, Director General

WWF Mr. Roland Eve, Country Director

Department of Forestry Division of Forest Resource Conservation

Mr. Soulisack Detphachanh, Deputy Director

Department of National Land Use Planning and Development

Mr. Phoumy Vongleck, Director General

Friday, 25-01-2002



Lao National Mekong Conmittee Mr. Boriboun Sanapsisane, Director General Mr. Oudomsack Philavong, AIFP Focal Point

ADB Resident Mission Mrs. Arouny Anne Sakulku, Senior Project Implementation Officer

WB Vientiane Office Mrs. Linda Schneider, Chief of Office

MAF Cabinet Mr. Thongphou Vongsiphansom, Deputy Director

Water Resources Coordination Committee

Mr. Phonechaleun Nonthaxay, Chairman

STEA – Science, Technology and Environment Agency

Mrs. Keobang A Keola, Deputy Director General of Cabinet


National consultants from Laos and international consultant: Drive to Louang Prabang

Sunday, 27-01-2002

National consultants from Laos and international consultant: Drive to Phongsaly

9


Monday, 28-01-2002



Phongsaly Forest Conservation and Rural Development Project (EU)

Mr. Thorkild Q. Frandsen, Forestry Advisor

Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office Phongsaly

Mr. Bounay Nounouannavong, Director

Tuesday, 29-01-2002

National consultants from Laos and international consultant: Field visit to Mai District, Phongsaly Province


Mai District Government Phongsaly Mr. Bounmay, District Gouvernor


National consultants from Laos and international consultant: Drive to Louang Prabang


National consultants from Laos and international consultant: Flight to Vientiane Discussions with representatives of relevant institutions in Laos


Department of Housing and Land Management

Mr. Bounyo, Deputy Director

National Capacity Building Project - MAF (DANIDA)

Mr. Peter Qwist-Hoffmann, Advisor

IUCN Mrs. Latsamay Sylavong, Senior Programme Officer

Rural Development Project Muang Sing (GTZ)

Mr. Guenther Kohl, German Teamleader Mrs. Brigitte Sugiono, Administrator

MAF Mr. Phoun Parisack, Vice-Secretary General, Head of Planning and Cooperation Department

Swedish Embassy Vientiane Mrs. Lisbet Bostrand, First Secretary

10


Friday, 01-02-2002



Wrap-up Meeting Dr. Bounthong, Vice-Director, NAFRI Mr. Khamsone Sysanhouth, Project Coordinator,

National Capacity Building Project (MAF) Mrs. Chandavanh Dethrasavong, Chief of Water Resources, LNMC – Operations Division

Mr. Oudomsack Philavong, AIFP – Focal Point, LNMC – Operations Division

Mr. Soulisack Detphachanh, Deputy Director, DoF

– Division of Forest Resource Conservation

Mr. Phonechaleun Nonthaxay, Chairman, Water Resources Coordiantion Committee

Departure of international consultant to Phnom Penh


Compilation of findings from country visits

Arrival of International Consultant S. Preuss in Phnom Penh

Sunday, 03-02-2002

Briefing of GTZ representatives on country visits

Monday, 04-02-2002

Internal meeting of GTZ representatives and consultants

Tuesday, 05-02-2002


German Embassy Dr. Frank Rückert, First Secretary

Preparation of Strategy Workshop on 06 and 07-02-2002

Arrival of national consultants from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam in Phnom Penh


Strategy workshop

11



Strategy workshop

Evening and next morning: Departure of national consultants from Laos, Thailand and Vietnam

Friday, 08-02-2002

International consultants: Discussions at Mekong River Commission Secretariat and study of documents


Mekong River Commission, Basin Planning Programme

Mr. Nguyen C. Cong, Team Leader of Basin Development Plan

Mr. Stephen Carson, Senior River Basin Planner Ms. Robyn Johnston, Natural Resources Planner Ms. Solieng Mak, Environment/Natural Resources Planner

Mr. Nouanedeng Rajvong, Water Resources International Union for the Conservation of Nature

Mr. Hans Friedrich, Head of Regional Wetland and Water Resources Programme (SP via phone)


International consultants: Internal discussions and study of documents

Sunday, 10-02-2002


Monday, 11-02-2002



International Development Research Centre / Regional Community Forestry Training Centre

Mr. Doug Henderson, Project Adviser, Community Forestry Research Project

12


Tuesday, 12-02-2002


Mekong River Commission, Fisheries Programme

Ms. Jeanineke Dahl Kristensen, Programme Manager Dr. Chris Barlow, Senior Programme Officer

Mekong River Commission, Programme Co-ordination Section

Mr. Lars Pedersen, Head of Section

Mekong River Commission, Capacity Building Support Programme

Mr. Henh Socheath, Programme Officer, Human Resource Section Ms. Anna de Boer, Regional Programme Facilitator

Mekong River Commission, Flood Management and Mitigation

Mr. Lieven Geerinck, Navigation Programme Manager and Chairman, Flood Management and Mitigation



Mekong River Commission Mr. Joern Kristensen, Chief Executive Officer, MRC

Mekong River Commission, Technical Support Division

Mr. Pech Sokhem, Director Mr. Dirk van der Stighelen, Senior Data Manager

Mekong River Commission, Water Utilisation Programme

Mr. Ruud Corsel, Consultant



Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, Cambodian-German Land Management Project

Mr. Willi Zimmermann, Team Leader

Department of Forestry and Wildlife, Cambodian-German Forestry Project

Mr. Jürgen Hesse, Chief Technical Adviser

Swedish International Development Assistance Natural Resources Management Programme Cambodia

Mr. Daniel Asplund, Counseller, Head of Develoment Co-operation Section – SIDA Resident Representative

Mekong River Commission, Environment Programme

Mr. Ian Campbell, Senior Environment Specialist Mr. Sein Mya, Environmental Data and Monitoring Specialist

Friday, 15-02-2002

Wrap-up meeting of international consultants Departure of S. Preuss to Bangkok


Study of documents and report writing

13


Sunday, 17-02-2002

Study of documents and report writing

Monday, 18-02-2002

Preparation of draft Planning Matrix

Tuesday, 19-02-2002

Preparation of Draft Budget Preparation of Draft Agreed Minutes


Preparation of Project Planning Workshop


Planning Workshop

Friday, 22-02-2002

Planning Workshop

Departure of F. Rock to France


Editing of agreed Minutes

Wrap-up meeting at MRC Secretariat and signing of agreed minutes

Sunday, 24-02-2002

Departure of F.E. Brandl to Germany

1


List of Documents

Documents with particular reference to the proposed target areas are highlighted in italics.

1 CAMBODIA

ADB (July 1999): Se Kong – Se San and Nam Theun River Basins Hydropower Study: Final Report: Volume 1 – Main Report (excerpts only)

ADB (July 1999): Se Kong – Se San and Nam Theun River Basins Hydropower Study: Final Report: Volume 2 – Technical Data, Surveys and Analysis

ADB (July 1999): Se Kong – Se San and Nam Theun River Basins Hydropower Study: Final Report: Volume 4 – Environmental and Social Aspects Report

ADB, RETA 5771 (Phase I) (no date): A Review of National Social Policies - Cambodia, by John Dennis

ADB, RETA 5771 (Phase I) (no date): A Review of Policies and Institutions Related to Management of Upper Watershed Catchments: Cambodia, by Esa Puustjarvi

ADB, RETA 5771 (Phase II) (March 2001): Final Report: A Proposal for Project Interventions: Se San – Cambodia

ADB, RETA 5771 (Phase II) (March 2001): Final Report: Project Progress, Achievements and Conclusions

CIDSE (Dec. 2001): Indigenous Adaptation to a Rapidly Changing Economy – The Experience of Two Tampuan Villages in Northeast Cambodia, by John P. McAndrew

Commune Council Support Project (CCSP) (no date): Promoting Pro-Poor Local Governance, Two Year Project Proposal, July 2001 – June 2003

Commune Council Support Project (Aug. 2001): Decentralization, A Review of Literature, by David Ayres

CRES (Feb. 2001): Study Into Impact of Yali Falls Dam on Resettled and Downstream Communities, Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES), Vietnam National University

DANIDA (Jan. 2001): Project Document for National Capacity Development – Cambodia

DANIDA (March 2001): Programme Document (2001-2005) for Natural Resource and Environment Programme – Cambodia

Electricity of Vietnam (May 2001): Hydrodynamic Modeling of Se San River: Tentative Terms of Reference

Gartner, Dr. Joseph A. (April 2001): Mandate of the Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Land Improvement, Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project

GTZ (Oct. 2000): Review of the GTZ/MRC Sustainable Management of Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin Project (SMRP): Cambodia Report on the 2nd Phase: Nov. 1998 – Aug. 2001, by Noelle O’Brien, Khieu Borin and Chin Chharom

2


GTZ (Dec. 2001): Review of the GTZ/MRC Sustainable Management of Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin Project (SMRP), Cambodia Report, Prepared by Danny Harvey, Khieu Borin and Ken Serey Rotha

Hasselskog, M. et.al. (June 2001): Addressing Anarchy: Decentralization and Natural Resources Management in Ratanakiri Province, Upland Cambodia

McAndrew, J. P. (2001): Indigenous Adaptation to a Rapidly Changing Economy – The Experience of Two Tampuan Villages in Northeast Cambodia

McKenney, B. (Jan. 2001): Economic Valuation of Livelihood Income Losses and Other Tangible Downstream Impacts from the Yali Falls Dam to the Se San River Basin in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia

MRC (no date): Existing Institutional Legal and Policy Structure for Wetlands Management in Cambodia, www.mekong.info

Oxfam America (Nov. 2001): Sesan River Protection Network: Rehabilitation, Research & Advocacy – Phase 1, Dec. 2001-Dec. 2002

PRDC Ratanakiri (Jan. 2002): Ratanakiri Seila Work Plan and Budget 2002

RGC (no date): Action Program for Development of Agriculture in Cambodia 2001-2010, MAFF, Dept. of Planning, Statistics and International Cooperation

RGC (no date): Agriculture Development Plan 2001-2005, MAFF, Dept. of Planning, Statistics and International Cooperation

RGC (no date): A Poverty Profile of Cambodia 1999, Min. of Planning

RGC (Jan. 1998): Cambodia National Environmental Action Plan 1998-2002

RGC (Dec. 1999): The SEILA Programme of the Royal Government of Cambodia – Management Structure Roles and Responsibilities

RGC (Dec. 1999): Cambodia Poverty Assessment, Min. of Planning

RGC (May 2000): SEILA Programme 2001-2005, (SEILA Task Force)

RGC (June 2000): Community Forestry Guidelines, ADB Sustainable Forestry Management Project TA-3152-CAM

RGC (Aug. 2000): Second Five Year Socio-economic Development Plan 2001-2005, Min. of Rural Development

RGC (Aug. 2000): Sub-Decrees, PRAKASs (Regulations) and Decisions of the SEILA Programme

RGC (Oct. 2000): Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, Phnom Penh

RGC (Dec. 2000): SEILA Program Document 2001-2005, (SEILA Task Force)

RGC (April 2001): Poverty Monitoring and Assessment for Informed Dialogue and Decision Making in Cambodia – Principles, Diagnostic, and Recommendations, Report prepared by IDEA International, Canada, and UNDP/Bureau for Development Policy, New York

3


RGC (Oct. 2001): Integration and Competitiveness Study – Part A: Overview (DRAFT!) (A pilot study prepared under the Integrated Framework for Technical assistance Program of the world trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the International Trade Centre, United nations Development program, United Nations Conference for trade and development and the World Bank)

RGC (Nov. 2001): National Workshop – Formulation of the 2002 Seila Program Support Work Plan and Budget, Council for the Development of Cambodia

RGC (Nov. 2001): SEILA Natural Resource and Environment Management Mainstreaming Strategy 2002-2005, (SEILA Task Force)

RGC (Nov. 2001): Support Programme to SEILA Natural Resource Environment Management Strategy 2002-2005, Programme Document, Funding Request to DANIDA, (SEILA Task Force)

Romeo, Leonardo (March 2000): The SEILA Program and Decentralized Planning in Cambodia

UNDP (no date): Project Document for CMB/01/007 – Partnership for Local Governance (UN Donor to SEILA Programme), July 2001 – Dec. 2005

Working Group on Forest Rehabilitation (DFW) (June 2001): National Strategic Plan for Forest Rehabilitation

World Food Programme (cooperation with Min. of Planning and PNDP) (Feb. 2001): Identifying Poor areas in Cambodia: Combining Census and Socio-Economic Survey Data to Trace the Spatial Dimensions of Poverty

WWF (2000): Conservation Programme in Cambodia

WWF (2000): Virachey National Park, Ratanakiri and Stung Treng Provinces, Cambodia

WWF/Oxfam America/IDRC) (July 2001): Project Profile of CBRNM Case Study and Networking Initiative

WWF/Asia Foundation (no date): Resource Rights and Participatory Planning (RRaPP) Project

4 LAOS

ADB, RETA 5771 (Phase II) (February 2001): Final Report: A Proposal for Project Interventions: Nam Ou – Lao PDR

BCEOM/DoF (April 1999): Nam Ngum Watershed Management – Final Report, ADB TA 2734-LAO

DANIDA (Nov. 1999): Integrated Watershed Managament in Xieng Khouang and Huaphan Provinces, Natural Resources and Environment Programme Lao PDR / DANIDA

DANIDA (Feb. 2001): Inception Report – Integrated Watershed Management in Xieng Khouang and Huaphan Provinces

4


DANIDA (Sept. 2001): Progress Report Jan.2001-Aug.2001 – Integrated Watershed Management in Xieng Khouang and Huaphan Provinces

DoF/LSFP/IUCN (Oct. 2000): Fact Sheets for National Biodiversity Conservation Areas in the Lao P.D.R.

Department of Land Use Planning and Land Allocation (no date): Pre-feasibility Study on National Land Use Master Plan, Lao PDR

GOL-MAF (Dec. 1999): The Government‘s Strategic Vision for the Agricultural Sector

LSFP/DoF/IUCN (2001): Review of the National Protected Area System of Lao PDR, by William Robichaud, Clive W. Marsh, Sangthong Southamakoth, Sirivan

Khounthikoummane

National Capacity Building Project (Nov. 2001): Concept and Practice of Integrated Watershed Management (IWM) in Lao PDR, Lao-DANIDA Natural Resources and Environment Programme

NAWACOP (June 1997): Towards a National Watershed Management Strategy, Consultancy Report No. 14, by Herbert Christ

SMRP (May 2000): Upland Resources Management in Lao P.D.R. – Directory of Organisations and Projects

SPC-National Statistics Center/ADB (June 2001): Participatory Poverty Assessment Lao PDR

STEA (Oct. 2000): National Environmental Action Plan 2000

World Bank (May 2000): Logging Survey Mission: Technical Report, Nam Theun Social and Environment Project

World Bank (May 2001): Project Appraisal Document on a proposed Credit to the Lao PDR for an Agricultural Development Project

World Bank/SIDA/Gov. of Finland (June 2001): Lao PDR Production Forestry Policy – Status and Issues for Dialogue, Vol. 1, Main Report

World Bank/SIDA/Gov. of Finland (June 2001): Lao PDR Production Forestry Policy – Status and Issues for Dialogue, Vol.2, Annexes

WWF (March 2001): WWF in Lao PDR – Country Strategic Action Plan (Program Focus) 2001-2005

5 THAILAND

Gilmore, D. (1999): Rehabilitation of Degraded Forest Ecosystem in Thailand. Workshop Proceedings Rehabilitation of Degraded Forest Ecosystems in the Lower Mekong Basin Assessment of Rehabilitation Policy and Practice in Thailand 24 – 25 November, 1999. Chiang mai, Thailand.

5


Liwgasemsan W.(1996): Economic Development and Natural Resource planning Approach: Thailand’s Experience. In the Group Training Course on Community Forestry Development Techniques, January 13-February 25, 1996, Bangkok, Thailand. Pp 94-102.

Halcrow/DFID/OEPP/MRC (2001): Kok River Basin – Pilot Study for Water Resources and Environment Management (Basinwide), Final Report

Halcrow/DFID/OEPP/MRC (2001): Kok River Basin Pilot Study – Special Report 6: Watershed Management

Halcrow/DFID/OEPP/MRC (2001): Kok River Basin Pilot Study – Special Report 7: Land Use

Halcrow/DFID/OEPP/MRC (2001): Kok River Basin Pilot Study – Special Report 8: Agriculture

Halcrow/DFID/OEPP/MRC (2001): Kok River Basin Pilot Study – Special Report 12: Socio-economics

Halcrow/DFID/OEPP/MRC (2001): Kok River Basin Pilot Study – Special Report 13: Community Participation

MRC/OEPP (1999): Pilot Study for Water Resource and Environment Management, Interim Progress Report.

Nalampoon Anan (1998): Watershed Research Subdivision of Forest Environment Research and Development Division, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok, Thailand. Northern Watershed Management Project, (1996): Would Bank Funded Project Design and Feasibility study, Draft final report. Volume 1.

OEPP (1997): Policy and Prospective Plan for Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality, 1997-2016.

OEPP (Dec. 1997): Thailand – Policy and Prospective Plan for Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality, 1997 - 2016

Project Summary (no date): Upper Nan Watershed Management Project Sawintara, S. and Thongmee, U. 1991. Investment Priority for Watershed Management in National Periodic Plans in Thailand. Proceeding of the Policy Workshop “Investement Priority for Watershed Management in National Periodic Plans” Beijing Chaina. 11-14 June, 1991. (RAS/86/107- GCP/RAS/129/NET) p 122-144.

Sriratana Tabucanon, M. (1998): An Overview of Watershed Management in Thailand. Paper presented at the Regional Environmental Workshop on “Poverty Reduction and Environmental Management in Remote Greater Mekong Subregion Watershed” August 4- 5, 1998. Science Technology and Environment Organization, Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Sukawong, S. (1999): Emerging Policy and Institutional Settings for Forest Rehabilitation in Thailand. Workshop Proceedings Rehabilitation of Degraded Forest Ecosystems in The Lower Mekong Basin Assessment of Rehabilitation Policy and Practice in Thailand 24 – 25 November, 1999. Chiang mai, Thailand.

Tangtham, N. (1996): Watershed Classification : The Macro Land-use Planning for the Sustainable Development of Water Resources. In International Seminar Workshop on

6


“Advances in Water Resources Management and Wastewater Treatment Technologies” 22-25 July 1996.

Thongmee, U. (1999): Watershed Management in Thailand (Draft). Watershed Management Division, RFD, Bangkok, Thailand.

Wongbundit, A. (1996): Legal and administrative aspects of watershed resources management in Thailand. Proceedings of the FORTROP’96 : Tropical Forestry in the 21st Century 25-28 November 1996.

6 VIETNAM

Apel U. (1997): The potential of natural regeneration for re-establishment and restoration of forests in the Song Da watershed. CFU Working paper No 5. SFDP, Hanoi.

Apel, U. (1998): The Community Forestry Management Strategy of the SFDP Song Da, Community Forestry Paper No. 6. SFDP, Hanoi.

Asian Forest Network/FIPI (1998): Stewards of Vietnam’s Upland Forest

Birdlife International/FIPI (1999): Expanding the Protected Areas Network in Vietnam for 21th Century.

CEMMA (1995): Selected policies on Ethnic Minorities and Mountain Areas

CEMMA (2000): Handbook for Ethnic Minorities and Mountain Areas

CEMMA/UNDP (1995): Framework for External Assistance to Ethnic Minority Development. UNDP, Hanoi.

Dang Tung Hoa (1994): The Role of Women of Ethnic Minorities. Baseline Study No 5. SFDP, Hanoi.

DFD/MARD (1998): Proceedings of the National Seminar on sustainable forest management and forest certification

DFD/SMRP/SFDP (2000): Experiences and potential for community forest management in Vietnam. Workshop Proceedings, Hanoi.

FAO/FIPI (1996): Case study: People based Watershed Sustainable Management

FARM (1997): Vietnam National Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture in Rainfed Areas

Förster, Elke and Nguyen Huu Tho (1999): Technical Agriculture and Agroforestry Options for Sustainable Development Promoted by SFDP in the Song Da Watershed, Working Paper No. 5. SFDP, Hanoi

Government Gazette (1991): Law on Forest Protection & Development

Government Gazette (1997): Law on Agricultural Cooperatives

Government Gazette (2000): Law on Water resource Use and Management

7


Government of Vietnam (1998): Decision No. 661/QD-TTg of July 29 (1998) on the target, task, policy and organisation for the implementation of the project of planting five million new hectares of forest.

GTZ (1999): Sustainable Management of Natural Resources. Sector Programme of GTZ in Vietnam. Information Folder: Co-operation Federal Republic of Germany and Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

Hirsch P. (1992): Social and environmental implications of resource development in Vietnam: The case of Hoa Binh reservoir. RIAP Occasional Paper No. 17. Sidney, Australia.

IIED (1998): Sustainable livelihoods in the uplands of Vietnam: Land allocation and beyond

JICA/FSIV (2001): Assessment of productivity of forest lands in Vietnam

Lecup, I. and Bien Quang Tu (2000): Report on a participatory diagnosis of the local non timber forest products (NFTP’s) and their market environment in two communes in Tua Chua district, Lai Chau Province. Consultancy Report No. 23. SFDP, Hanoi.

MARD (1997): Rural Development in Vietnam – A Strategic Framework for Planning and Programme Development. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hanoi.

MARD (1998): Plan for implementation of the 5 million ha reforestation national programme 1998 – 2010. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hanoi. (unofficial translation)

MARD (1999): Circular No. 56/(1999)/TT-BNN-KL

MARD (2001): Collection of legislative and decisions on water resources

MARD (2001): Forestry Development Strategy 2001-2010; Draft of Sep. 2001

MARD (2001): National Coordination for Water Resources Management

MARD (2001): National Five Million Hectare Reforestation Program (1998-2010).

MARD (2001): Vietnam’s Forestry (An overview)

MARD/IRRI (1998): Eco-regional Approach for Natural Resources Management in the Red River Basin, Vietnam

Ministry of Forestry, 1991: Vietnam Forestry Sector Review-Tropical Forestry Action Program

MPI (1996): National Programme for Hunger Eradication and Poverty Reduction in Vietnam (DRAFT). Ministry of Planning and Investment, Hanoi.

PPC Lai Chau (2000): Decree No.30H/QD-UB of 12th December 2000

SFDP (1997): Land allocation in the Song Da watershed. Paper presented at the national workshop on participatory land use planning and forest land allocation, 3-5 December, 1997, Hanoi.

UNDP (1999): Country Economic Review, Vietnam

8


Wold Bank (2002): Report on Vietnam’s Development for 2001

World Bank (2001): www.worldbank.org (East Asia & Pacific, Vietnam)

7 REGIONAL

MRC (1998): Long-Term Environmental Programme 2001-2005, Main Document

MRC (1999): Capacity-Building for Implementation of the MRC Strategic Plan. Project Document 2000-2002 (funded by UNDP).

MRC (2000): Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme for 2001-2005, Sustainable Land and Water Use for Basin Health and People.

MRC (2000): Mekong River Commission Long-Term Environmental Programme 2001- 2005. Main document including Programme Implementation Plan.

MRC (2000): Project Document: Basin Development Plan

MRC (2000): Strategy Study on the Development of the Watershed Management / Forestry Sector in the Lower Mekong Basin: Strategy and Action Plan, by ARCADIS EUROCONSULT

MRC (2000): Work Programme 2001

MRC (2001): Annual Report 2000

MRC (2001): Fisheries Development in Nam Ou Watershed (Lao PDR and Vietnam), Component Proposal by MRC Programme for Fisheries Management and Development Cooperation

MRC (2001): Fisheries Development in Sesan-Srepok Watershed (Cambodia and Vietnam), Component Proposal by MRC Programme for Fisheries Management and Development Cooperation

MRC (2001): Programme for Fisheries Management and Development Co-operations. Annual Report April 2000 – March 2001

MRC (2001): Request for technical assistance from the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany for the implementation of a Programme Component of the Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme. MRC Secretariat, Phnom Penh, 2001.

MRC (2001): Strategic Plan 2001-2005 (Summary version)

MRC (2001): Strategy on Flood Management and Mitigation, November 2001

MRC (2001): Work Programme 2002

MRC (2002): Mekong River Commission Secretariat: Working Groups. Internal Paper, February 2002

MRC (no date): MRC gender policy

MRC (no date): MRC gender strategy

9


MRC (no date): Watershed Directory (on CD Rom),

MRC (2001): Integrated Forest Rehabilitation in the Lower Mekong Basin. A project proposal for an investment programme in the forest sector. MRC Secretariat/SMRP, Phnom Penh, 2001.

Neumann-Silkow, F. (2001): Study of International Conventions relevant to the Catchment Component of the AIFP. MRC/SMRP, Phnom Penh.

ODI/ARCADIS Euroconsult (2001): Transboundary Water Management as an International Public Good – Executive Summary

ODI/ARCADIS Euroconsult (2001): Transboundary Water Management as an International Public Good. Prepared for The Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Sweden, Stockholm.

Oxfam America (1999): The Voice of the Mekong: The Southeast Asia Regional Program 1999-2004

Oxfam America (no date): The Oxfam Mekong Initiative 2001-2003

Wolf, A. T. (2001): Transboundary Waters: Sharing Benefits, Lessons Learned. Draft Thematic Background Paper for the International Conference on Freshwater, Bonn 2001

World Wide Fund for Nature (2001): The Forests of the Lower Mekong Ecoregion Complex

Working Paper 01 b


in the Lower Mekong Basin

A Component of the Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme

of the Mekong River Commission

Volume 2: Country Reports

Appraisal Report

Phnom Penh / Bangkok / Hanoi, 25 February 2002

MRC-GTZ Cooperation Programme

Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme

Watershed Management Component

Date of report 20th March 2002

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin

Report on the Appraisal Mission

Commissioned by

Deutsche Gesellschaft f ür Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ)

GTZ regional unit: RG 204

Regional desk officer: Richard J ökel

Senior Planning officer: Dr. Petra Stremplat-Platte

Responsible for the commission: Dr. Hans Helmrich

Appraisal team: Dr. Fred E. Brandl

Consultant for Rural Development, Fohren-Linden, Germany (Mission leader) Sabine Preuss

Senior Planning Officer, Rural Development Division, GTZ, Eschborn

Florian Rock

Consultant for natural resources management, Mougins, France

Hour Limchun

Programme Manager, Cardamom Conservation Programme, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Kenneth Irwin

Consultant for Forestry and Adult Education, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tit Chankosal

Desk Officer, Department of Agronomy and Live-stock Improvement, Phnom Penh

Sichanh Viravongsa

Forestry Consultant, Earth Systems Lao, Vientiane, Laos

Linkham Douangsavanh

Head of Socio-economic Research Unit, National Agriculture & Forestry Res. Inst., Vientiane, Laos

Udhai Thongmee

Senior Forest Officer, WSM Division, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok, Thailand

Manu Srikhajon

Soil and Water Conservation Specialist, Land Deve-lopment Department, Bangkok, Thailand

Dr. Nguyen Tu Siem

Director, Project Management Board, Min. of Agriculture and Rural Development, Hanoi, Vietnam

Dr. Phung Tu ’u Boi

Director, NCCDC, Forest Inventory and Planning Institute, Hanoi, Vietnam

Main Report: F.E. Brandl, S. Preuss and F. Rock

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin. Country Reports.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

VOLUME 2: COUNTRY REPORTS

(A) Country Report Cambodia

(B) Country Report Laos

(C) Country Report Thailand

(D) Country Report

Vietnam VOLUME 1:

MAIN REPORT

Abbreviations and

Acronyms

1 BACKGROUND AND PROCEDURE OF THE APPRAISAL

2 SITUATION ANALYSIS

2.1 Natural Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin

2.2 Watershed Management in the LMB

2.2.1 The Watershed Management Concept 2.2.2 WSM in Cambodia 2.2.3 WSM in Laos

2.2.4 WSM in Thailand 2.2.5 WSM in Vietnam

3 INSTITUTIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE MEKONG RIVER COMMIS SION

4 ANALYSIS AND ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPOSED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMPONENT OF THE AIFP

4.1 Watershed Management as a component of the MRC Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme

4.2 Request for Technical Assistance for the Implementation of the WSM Component 4.3 Proposed Target Sites for Field Implementation

4.4 Assessment of the proposal and the baseline documents

5 DESIGN OF THE AIFP WATERSHED MANAGEMENT COMPONENT 5.1 Objectives

5.2 Strategy

5.3 Outputs, activities and indicators of success

5.4 Target sites

5.5 Organisational set-up and national lead agencies

5.6 Inputs

5.6.1 German contribution

5.6.2 Contributions of the MRC and its member countries

6 IMPACTS

6.1 Environmental impacts

6.2 Micro-economic impacts

6.3 Macro-economic impacts

6.4 Socio-cultural impacts

6.5 Institutional impacts

6.6 Political impacts at the regional level

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin. Country Reports.

7 ASSUMPTIONS AND RISKS

Annex:

1 Terms of Reference

2 Agreed Minutes

3 Proposed Target Areas

4 Relevant Programmes and Projects

5 Work programme of the mission and people met 6 List of Documents used

I

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin. Country Report Cambodia

Report on Catchment Management in Cambodia

For

GTZ Mission Appraising the Sustainable Land and Water Use Programme of the MRC

(Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme)

Prepared by:

Mr. Hour Limchhun Mr. Tit Chankosal Mr. Kenneth Irwin

Phnom Penh, February 2002

II


Table of Contents

1. Introduct ion 1

2. National policies, sub-decree and laws relevant to m ajor catchment 1

2.1 Forest resources 1

2.2 Land use planning 3

2.3 Agriculture 3

2.4 Decentralization and devolution 3

2.5 Poverty alleviation 4

2.6 Ethnic minority issues 5

3. Organizations and institutions relevant to catch ment management in

Cambodia 5

3.1 Government organizations 5

3.2 Multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors: 7

3.3 Non-Government Organizations: 8

3.4 Research Organizations: 9

3.5 Networks active in the NRM sector 9

4. List and inventory of selected watersheds in Cambodi a. 9

5. Prioritised policies and organisations for catch ment management in

Cambodia 12

5.1 Guiding policies, laws and sub-decrees 12

5.2 Government Partners/Organization 12

6. Conclusions and Recommendations 13

Annexes:

1. List of Organizations and Persons Met 14

2. Summary of field trip to Ratanakiri 16

3. List of All Used Documents 17

4. International Laws, Treaties and Conventions 20

5. Overview of Seila Programme 21

6. Review of Previous Catchment Management Selection Activities 24

7. List of priority catchments in Cambodia 28

8. List of Legal Documents 30

9. Schedule of Assessment 34

III


List of Abbreviations and Acronyms

ADB Asian Development Bank

AIFP Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme

CBNRM Community-Based Natural Resource Management CCSP Commune Council Support Project CD Community Development CF Community Forestry

CDRI Cambodian Development Resources Institute

CIDSE Cooperation Internationale pour le Development et la Solidarte

CFNG Community Forestry Networking Group

CNMC Cambodian National Mekong Committee

DAALI Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Land Improvement DANIDA Danish International Development Assistance

DCG General Department of Cadastre and Geography

DFW Department of Forestry and Wildlife

DLA Department of Local Administration

DLMUP General Department of Land Management and Urban Planning

DNCP Department of Nature Conservation and Protection

DPPR Department of Planning and Public Relations

DWRMC Department of Water Resource Management and Conservation

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization

GTZ (German Agency for technical Development) IDRC International Development Research Centre

IMC Inter-Ministerial Council IPRSP Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper MAFF Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

MIME Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy

MLMUPC Ministry of land Management, Urban Planning and Construction

MOE Ministry of Environment MOI Ministry of Interior MOP Ministry of Planning

MRC Mekong River Commission

MRD Ministry of Rural Development MWRM Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology

NGO Non-Government Organization

NRM Natural Resource Management NTFP Non-Timber Forest Products

PLUP Participatory Land-Use Planning

RECOFTC Regional Community Forestry Training Center RGC Royal Government of Cambodia

RUA Royal University of Agriculture

SEDP II Second Socioeconomic Development Plan 2001-2005

SMRP Sustainable Management of Resources in the Lower Mekong Basin

Project

UNDP United Nations Development Programme

UNOPS United Nations Office for Project Services

WWF World Wide Fund for Nature

1


1. Introduction

Like many developing countries, Cambodia has lost important forest resources over the last three decades. Between 1969 and 1997 the forest cover decline from 73% to 58% of the country areas. This resulted in reduced biodiversity, increased soil erosion, higher river silt levels, and changes to the shape of the Mekong River, Tonle Sap River and Tonle Sap Great Lake, which have contributed in recent years to extensive flooding.

These changes and others have prompted the use of development strategies aimed at both more participatory and broader-scale, integrated planning. One result has been the promotion of catchment/watershed management. Although defined differently by different stakeholders, in this report, catchment/watershed management is a process in which (1) the focus is on natural resource management in the area of a catchment; (2) participatory planning, implementation and monitoring take place for resource utilization; (3) all major stakeholders are involved; (4) recognized decentralized decision making, transparency, and good governance are guiding principles; and (5) aims at poverty alleviation while maintaining an ecological balance.

There are many watersheds in Cambodia, existing within the country and crossing its boundaries. This report presents an overview of Catchment-Based Management in Cambodia. It was created based on input from officials and institutions in Phnom Penh (Annex1) and Ratanakiri province (Annex 2) and a review of relevant documents (Annex 3). It identifies the main legal framework and institutions and organizations working with natural resources in catchments in Cambodia and presents a brief analysis of these. It ends with several recommendations for catchment management in Cambodia.

2. National policies, sub-decree and laws relevant to major catchment

The government has many policies that focus on rural development. The main ones involved with catchment based management cover natural resource management and poverty reduction. Furthermore, the government has also committed to uphold a number of international laws, treaties and conventions (See Annex 4).

2.1 Forest resources

In Cambodia, there are different Ministries with jurisdiction of forested land. The bulk of all forested land falls under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). The MAFF/Department of Forestry and Wildlife (DFW) is responsible for all forest land not controlled by other Ministries. The flooded forest is the responsibility of MAFF/Department of Fisheries, and the Ministry of Environment (MOE)/ Department of Nature Conservation and Protection is responsible for the 23 protected areas.

a. Forest policy

There is a lack of a comprehensive national forest policy that builds upon the available forest legislation and is harmonised among major stakeholders. Essential fragments of policies relating to forestry are available in a number of forest sector analysis documents. However the development of a comprehensive national forest policy based upon a consultative policy formulation process including all stakeholders still has to be initiated.

The RGC is committed to developing a comprehensive forest policy framework over the medium-term.

b. Forestry law

The DFW formulated the committee to draft, discuss and revise the forestry law. After the discussion and agreement at the ministerial level it was revised and adopted by the

2


Council of Ministers in the beginning of August 2001 and submitted to the National Assembly for approval. Ratification is expected at the beginning of 2002 after approval by the Senate and the Constitutional Council.

The Law defines the framework for management, harvesting, use, development and conservation of the forest in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The objective of this law is to ensure for present and future generations, the sustainable development of these forests for their social, economic and environmental benefits, including conservation of biological diversity and cultural heritage.

On Article 10, B of the law said that MAFF shall classify and set boundaries for all forestland within the Permanent Forest Estate. In carrying out this action, MAFF shall coordinate with local communities, authorities, stakeholders, and the MLMUPC and assist in registration of community land title and preparation of the national land use map

c. Law on water resources management

Currently the law on water resources management was drafted and will be discussed soon among the ministry concerned. Like other laws, the law on water resource management and catchment management will be submitted to and discussed at the ministerial level before it is submitted to the National Assembly for endorsement.

The Goal of this law is to develop and enhance the sustainable use of water resources in the Kingdom of Cambodia toward the socio-economic and health development of the people. The law identified: (1) right and duty of the user; (2) main policies for the management of water resources; (3) institution responsible for the execution and implementation of this law; and (4) the participation of the water user communities for sustainable development.

They were unable to supply a recent draft copy in English version.

d. Royal Decree on Watershed Management

The royal decree on watershed management was prepared by the DFW and it was approved on 11 January 1999. This Royal decree aims at protection and management of forests within the watersheds.

e. Sub-Decree on Community Forest Management

With the technical supports from MRC/GTZ-Sustainable Management of Resources Project, Concern Worldwide and the World Bank, since June 2001 a Task Force, including international advisors and law advisors, has been working on the Community Forestry Sub-Decree. Provincial participants from the 14 provinces concerned and from the NGOs Forum participated in a number of discussions. In the meantime, the task force is working and incorporating comments from government, international organizations and NGOs into the sub-decree. It is expected that there will be several more meetings until the sub-decree is finalized. The objectives of this sub decree include: (1) to implement the forestry law and other legislation regarding community management of forest resources; (2) to define the roles and responsibilities of the government authorities, communities and other stakeholders involved in community forestry management; (3) to establish mechanisms and procedures to enable communities to lawfully manage, use and benefit from forest resources, to preserve their culture, and improve their livelihoods; (4) to determine and ensure access and user rights for communities under a Community Forest Agreement; (5) to continue the implementation of the Royal Government of Cambodia policies of poverty alleviation, decentralization and sustainable management of natural resources; and (6) to provide an

3


effective means for communities to participate in the rehabilitation, regeneration and conservation of natural resources and biodiversity in Cambodia.

f. Sub-decree on forest concession management

The Sub-decree was prepared by the DFW and was approved by the Prime Minister on 07 February 2000. The Sub-decree gives the process for applying for and approving forest concessions, planning and managing the concessions, and monitoring compliance with laws and regulations.

g. Sub-decree on environmental impact assessment (E IA)

The sub-decree was prepared by the MOE and was approved on 11 July 1999. The purpose of the Sub-decree is to identify the project and activities which need EIA, outline the process for EIA and charges the MOE with evaluating EIA.

h. Law on environmental protection and natural reso urce management

This law was created by the Ministry of Environment and endorsed in November 1996. The objectives of the this law are: (1) to monitor, stop, reduce the pollution in order to protect and improve the quality of the environment and the people’s health; (2) to assess the environmental impact before issuing any government regulations for the proposed projects; (3) to ensure the existing of the conservation, development, management and reasonable and sustainable use of the natural resources in the Kingdom of Cambodia; (4) encourage and make it possible for the people to participate in the environmental protection and natural resource management; and (5) crack down any activities that may have negative impact on the environment.

This law is being implemented within the 23 protected areas of the MOE.

2.2 Land use planning

The Land Law was prepared by the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) and endorsed in August 2001. The land law aims to clarify previous legislation governing the use and ownership of land and other natural resources, regulates basic issues of land management and tenure. It provides for legal allocation of user rights to communes and private households or individuals.

With regard to land use, the ministry has been working in cooperation with other ministries such as MAFF, MOE and so on to create a master plan on land demarcation. This will take a longer time than was expected due to lack of equipment, transportation and capability. When the draft master plan on land demarcation is completed, it will need to be discussed with the ministries concerned.

2.3 Agriculture

At this time the agriculture sector is guided by the second Five-Year Socio-Economic Development Plan (2001-2005) and the Agricultural Development Plan (2001-2005). Most policy, laws and sub-decrees are still being formulated. The Agricultural Development Plan for 2001-2005 aims to increase the productivities of the agricultural crops to achieve and secure food security and conserve natural resources.

2.4 Decentralization and devolution

The law on the management of commune governance aims to manage all the communes in the Kingdom of Cambodia according to the decentralization policy. The law was created by the Ministry of the Interior (MOI)/Department of Local Administration (DLA) and assisted by the experts from UNDP, GTZ and Partnership on Local Governance. The first objective

4


of decentralization is to strengthen democracy, especially at the local level. This means that the leaders of the commune will be elected freely by the people in the commune itself. The people have the right to decide on what to do to develop their commune and they have the right to participate in any commune activities. The second objective is to develop human capacity at the local level with financial and technical support from the Ministry of Interior and other donor agencies for sustainable development.

Currently the MOI/DLA only have the Law on Commune Administration Management. In order to fulfil the above objectives the MOI/DLA have been preparing: (1) terms of reference of the commune that need to be approved by the Ministry of Interior; (2) the planning processes for development of communes that have to be joined approved by MOI and Ministry of Planning; and (3) other regulations, Prakas relevant to commune development.

A major vehicle for implementation of decentralization in Cambodia is the Seila programme, a Cambodian government programme, which is a collective undertaking of seven Ministries managed by a national Seila Task Force. A new phase has been approved (2001-2005) and the outputs aim for locally managed infrastructure and services, improved institutions for public sector and community development management and related capacities at provincial and commune levels, and decentralisation policy lessons and statements. (Annex 2)

2.5 Poverty alleviation

The eradication of poverty is the most important item on the agenda of the Royal Government of Cambodia. Guiding this process is the Second (2001-2005) Socio-Economic Development Plans (SEDPII), and the present draft Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (IPRSP). The RGC Council for Social Development has the coordinating role concerning poverty alleviation.

The SEDPII presents main issues of food security as access to land, lack of physical infrastructure, and different forms of social exclusion. It lays out three development objectives and bases them upon a range of governance reforms. Better governance is to be realized through effective implementation of the Government Action Plan 2001, which includes a section specifically dealing with natural resource management. The objectives are Sustainable Broad Based Economic Growth, Social and Cultural Development, and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and the Environment.

The IPRSP also places emphasis on good governance as a necessary condition of any sustainable poverty alleviation program. It focuses in three areas: promoting broad-based economic growth and opportunities, creating economic and social security, and strengthening capabilities and generating empowerment.

The Cambodia Poverty Assessment put out by the Ministry of Planning lists the issues in rural poverty as low agriculture productivity, inadequate rural infrastructure, poor marketing and distribution and inadequate access to credit and land for the country as a whole. When focusing on the upland areas, the greatest needs are land security and security of tenure of resource, improved health/health care, access to formal/informal education.

RGC and the WFP have been working together for five years researching into poverty and food security to understand the location of the poor and better plan adequate poverty alleviation measures. Maps based on data from three successive Cambodia Socio-Economic Surveys (last in 1999) and the National Population Census 1998 help to target WFP FFW schemes. These maps will guide WFP and RGC in the future. (It should be noted that Ratanikiri, Mondulkiri and Steung Treung provinces fall outside of WFP’s priority

5


areas for 2001-2003. This is due in part to the low population densities and poor infrastructure in the provinces. However, those provinces within the Seila program are eligible for FFW and other WFP activities.)

2.6 Ethnic minority issues

The ethnic minority population is small in Cambodia (less that 2%), but ethnic minority peoples make up the majority of the population in Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri and Steung Treung provinces. The Inter-Ministerial Council (IMC) was set up in the late 90’s to oversee ethnic minority development and was supported by the UNDP Highland peoples programme. It produced a draft policy for Ethnic Minority Peoples’ development, but the paper was never passed by the Council of Ministers. The UNDP Highland Peoples Programme closed in Cambodia in early 2001, and IMC has remained but is not presently an influential council.

3. Organizations and institutions relevant to catch ment management in Cambodia

3.1 Government organizations

Council for the Development of Cambodia

The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) is responsible for making decisions regarding the rehabilitation, development and investment projects in the country. CDC is also responsible for guiding the development of development strategies, coordinating donor support, facilitating inter-ministerial activities, and providing guidance on the utilization of all public and private resources in the country. The CDC is headed by an executive committee that includes the Prime Minister as chairperson. With respect to NRE management, CDC’s role as an investment approval body makes the council responsible for ensuring that foreign investment projects follow the Cambodian requirements including environmental procedures.

Cambodia National Mekong Committee

CNMC is under direct supervision of the Council of Ministers. The structure of the CNMC consists of General Secretariat covering 3 departments. They are: Policy and Planning Department, Administration and Finance, and Project Department. The CNMC plays an important role in coordinating between the MRC and the government line agencies concerned. Currently there are 10 ministries that have joined the CNMC as members.

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MA FF)

MAFF is responsible for managing and controlling the exploitation of natural resources within Cambodia's major primary production activities, i.e. agriculture, aqua-culture, fisheries, forestry and wildlife. The ministry consists of consist of 12 departments including the Department of Forestry and Wildlife (DFW) and the Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Land Improvement (DAALI). At the provincial level, the Departments form offices under the Provincial departments of Agriculture, which are accountable to the Provincial Governor, who passes reports on to the MAF. The mandate of the MAFF includes:

• Technology development, which includes dissemination of information to help farmers adopt improved farm technologies and apply new techniques in the management of soil, water and natural vegetation.

• Provision of needed infrastructure such as water supply systems for rural communities and irrigation and flood control systems

• Creation of a positive policy environment that encourages private sector investment

• Provision of agricultural extension services

• Establishment of production zoning

6


MAFF/Department of Forestry and Wildlife

DFW is divided into 6 offices, 2 companies, and one research institute. A GIS section is under the direct supervision from the Director. A Secretariat for national committee for development and implementation of the forest policy is chaired by the Prime Minister. The Director of DFW is the Executed Secretary. There are over 700 staff members allocated in the offices, companies and research institute. The DFW is responsible for the management of all forest estates not covered by other Ministries and Departments. This includes the majority of forest resources in Cambodia. (The flooded forests are the responsibility of the Department of Fisheries and the MOE manages the 23 protected areas).

MAFF/Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Land I mprovement (DAALI) The primary role of DAALI is to deal with all matters to do with plants in agricultural production and plant cover in agricultural land management and improvement. It has responsibility for all technical and regulatory services concerned with plant production

(except rubber and improved pastures) and agricultural land improvement in Cambodia. Its technical and regulatory services relate to Agronomy, Seeds and Plant Production, and Agricultural Land Improvement.

Ministry of Water Resources Management (MWRM)

The RGC has given the missions to the MWRM to conduct and manage the water resources and meteorology in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

The Department of Water Resource Management and Conservation (DWRMC) is one of 9 departments under the General Directorate of Technical Affairs of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology. The DWRMC is responsible for managing and protecting water resources for sustainable use. The DWRMC is made up of 3 offices and consist of 27 staff members working for 3 departments. They are (1) watershed management, (2) water policy and extension, and (3) hydrology and flood control.

On the Viet Nam side of the Se San basin, opposite Rattanakiri province, planning is going on for construction of hydropower dam. An assessment of natural and social environmental impact of the Cambodian side of the Se San River from the border to Veun Say district has been prepared.

Ministry Of Interior (MOI)

There are many departments exist under the MOI, however, the Department of Local Administration (DLA) is the one who responsible for decentralization and creation of commune councils. Therefore, it is important to include this department in catchment management.

Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Con struction (MLMUPC)

The MLMUPC consists of a cabinet, the secretariat, a laboratory, a training center and four general departments. The General Department of Land Management and Urban Planning (DLMUP) and the General Department of Cadastre and Geography (DCG) are two actively involved in NRM. The MLMUPC’s mandate is quite broad and for rural areas involves:

• studying all activities relating to land management

• implementing the Land Management Policy in cooperation with MRD and other line ministries

• conduct research and make rules and regulations related to land management and

allocation

• carry out cadastral surveys and issue land tenure certificates

7


Ministry Of Environment (MOE)

The MOE is responsible for the 23 protected areas that declared by the Royal Decree. The Department of Nature Conservation and Protection (DNCP) is one of six departments in the MOE. The DNCP located at the MOE in Phnom Penh with field offices in each province. The DNCP is responsible for the management and protection of Cambodia’s 23 protected areas.

Ministry Of Planning (MOP)

The Ministry of Planning is responsible for guidance and managing socio-economic development planning and statistics in the Kingdom of Cambodia. Its responsibilities include

• formulating concepts, strategies and policies and determining priorities for national development

• Preparing long, medium and short term plans and national programmes by coordinating with all relevant Ministries/Institutions

Ministry of Rural Development (MRD)

MRD consists of 3 general departments, 8 departments, a financial control unit and Cabinet advisors. There are Departments of Rural Development at the provincial level and District Offices at the district level. At the local level MRD is represented by Commune Development Committees and Village Development Committees.

MRD’s mandate is to: • coordinate, implement, monitor and evaluate rural development programmes and

projects

• coordinate the operational efforts of Line Ministries and assistance programmes at the provincial level

• undertake research initiatives to develop rural areas of Cambodia

Ministry of Health

• responsible for provide health services

Ministry of Education

• responsible for provide educational services

Ministry of Public Works

• responsible for infrastructure development

3.2 Multi-lateral and bi-lateral donors:

A number of donors are active in the areas involved with Catchment management. They are:

Asian Development Bank

• supported to the Cambodian Forest Sustainable Forest Management project • support to wetlands project in Tonle Sap area

• support to MRD to implement the Northeast Village Development Project • support to community based fisheries and buffer-zone management in ream

National Park

Belgian Government

• support to the FAO project in Siem Reap

• support to community development in Kampong Cham province

8


Danish Government/DANIDA

• support to MRC’s Wetlands Inventory Project and Fisheries Management Project • support to environment and natural resource management in coastal and wetland

areas

European Union

• support to rural development in six provinces through PRASAC II

FAO

• support to Tonle Sap programme, Biodiversity Action Plan, Integrated Pest Management and food security projects

German Government

• support to SMRP

• a forestry extension project • rural development in Kampot and Kampong Thom provinces

• support to Cambodian-German Forestry Project

Swiss Government

• support to watershed classification project which was executed by the MRC and implemented in the 4 riparian countries.

UNDP/UNOPS

• manager of trust fund for “forest Crimes Monitoring Project”

• ,manager for GEF funds for biodiversity activities

• support to Seila programme

The World Bank

• support to forestry sector to implement a community-managed forestry demonstration project in a degraded concession in Kampot province

• provide loan for the RGC to demonstrate of Forest Concession Management and Control Pilot Project

• support to MLMUPC and a land management project

• support to implement the Agricultural Productivity Improvement project of the MAFF

• Provide loan for a biodiversity project in Virachey National Park in Ratanakiri Province

3.3 Non-Government Organizations:

A number of International and Cambodian NGOs are active in rural development in Cambodia. The most important and their relevant activities are listed below.

CIDSE – Commune Council Support Project (CCSP), Community Development in Ratanakiri Concern Worldwide – Community Forestry Programme, PLUP, CCSP

NGO Forum – Environmental Working Group, NGO network in Ratanakiri – coalition of NGOs working in Ratanakiri province NTFP – Cambodian NGO with many projects in Ratanakiri

Oxfam America – Inland Aquatic Resources/Livelihoods and the Land Study

Projects, CBNRM, Oxfam GB – Cambodia Land Study Project, CCSP

RECOFT – support to Cambodia Community Forestry Training Team and PLUP World Wide Fund for Nature – Community-Based NRM and other projects

9


3.4 Research Organizations:

Several institutes and organizations undertake research on NRM in Cambodia.

• DFW/Research Institute for Forests and Wildlife

• MAFF/Royal University for Agriculture

• Royal University of Phnom Penh

• Cambodian Development Research Institute

• IDRC – Many projects in NE Cambodia

3.5 Networks active in the NRM sector

The Community Forestry Networking Group (CFNG):

CFNG was established during the CEMP Project and continues to meet every 3 months. It provides a forum to organizations and individuals interested in CF to share experiences. It is coordinated by Concern Worldwide.

Sub-Group on Natural Resources:

This group is made up of the major donor organizations and NGOs, and meets regularly. Previously it monitored progress made and set benchmarks for the development of the necessary framework for reform of the forestry sector. Since August of 2000 its mandate covers monitoring and supporting development of all natural resources.

Environment Working Group of the NGO Forum:

This working group is made of concerned NGOs and individuals and meets monthly at the NGO Forum to share information on environmental issues and deal with environmental advocacy issues.

4. List and inventory of selected watersheds in Cam bodia.

Several important watersheds have their outlets in Cambodia and their headwaters in other countries, while many others are wholly within Cambodia. The RGC has been working with MRC and others in promoting watershed/catchment management projects and programs to manage and protect these watersheds. Selection of watersheds for activities has created a range of principles and criteria to guide the selection process (See Annex 3). The principles and criteria cover most aspects of poverty alleviation and natural resources management, as well as several related dimensions such as cross-border contexts, ethnic minorities, and local government and community interest and capacity.

The watersheds selected for consideration for activity implementation in these projects/programmes included:

• Stung Se San

• Stung Se Kong

• Stung Sre Pok

• Stung Mongkol Borey

• Stung Pursat • Stung Sreng

• Stung Sen

The detailed information may be referred to Figure 1 and Table 1 (Also See Annex 4).

10


Key criteria for selection of watersheds for Catchment Management activities in this analysis will remain those of the AIFP, and put priority on:

• Trans-boundary areas

• Presence or high probability of environmental and/or social stress

• Poverty alleviation

• CBNRM (land tenure, resource rights, sustainable forest management) • Environmental issues such as biodiversity

• Local government and community interest and capacity

Of the seven watersheds previously identified by RGC, only four represent support for the cross-boundary criteria: Stung Se San, Stung Se Kong, Stung Mongkol Borey and Stung Sre Pok. Mongkol Borey and the Se San rivers have the highest local capacity for catchment planning, many local partners, and are scheduled to have Seila/DANIDA support soon subject to the availability of funds. The catchment of Pursat rivers was also to have schedule for Seila/DANIDA support. The three watersheds in the NE of the country ( Se San, Se Kong, Sre Pok) are the most remote, and are facing serious situations with regard to protecting and preserving biodiversity. The Se San, while being targeted for ADB support, is experiencing serious environmental effects blamed by some stakeholderson cross-border hydro-power generation.

Table 1: Description of Watersheds

1 Stung Sen (72) 2 Stung Pursat (70)

Stung Mongkol Borey (69)

Stung Sreng (74) Stung Se Kong (52) Stung Se San (59) Stung Sre Pok (78)

Total area: 16360 sq. km. Cambodia: 100%

Provinces:


Provinces:

Total area: 14966 sq. km. Cambodia: 73% Thailand: 27%

Provinces:

Total area: 9986 sq. km. Cambodia: 99% Thailand: 1%

Provinces:


Lao PDR: 78%

Vietnam: 3%

Total area: 18888 Cambodia: 40% Vietnam: 60%

Provinces:

Total area: 30942 sq. km. Cambodia: 41% Vietnam: 59%

Provinces: Pursat: 100% Banteay Mean Chey

37%, Battambang 30%, Krong Palin 5%, and Otdar Mean Chey 1%

48% Otdar Mean Chey, 45% Siem Reap, 6% Banteay Mean Chey, and 1% Battambang

19% Steung Treung and 1% Ratanakiri

35% Ratanakiri and 5% Stueng Treung

21% Mondulkiri, 16%Ratanakiri, 4% Steung Trueng, and 0% Kracheh

Preah Vihear 63%, Kampong Thum 28%, Siem Reap 6%, Otdar Mean Chey 2%, Kampong Chhnang 1%

River outlet: 5 MaS High Point: 802 MaS Majority between: 5-100 <1% of area critical concerning the risk of soil erosion

River outlet: 5 MaS High Piont: 1700 Mas Majority between: 5-300 <1% of area critical concerning the risk of soil erosion

River outlet: 10 MaS High Piont: 510 MaS Majority between: 100-

200

< 1% of area critical concerning the risk of soil

River outlet: 5 MaS High Piont: 671 MaS Majority between: 5-100 < 1% of area critical concerning the risk of soil erosion

River outlet: 46 MaS High Piont: 2174 MaS Majority between: ND 11% of area critical concerning the risk of soil erosion

River outlet: 46 MaS High Piont: 2397 MaS Majority between: 100-

800

11% of area critical concerning the risk of soil

River outlet: 46 MaS High Piont: 2145 MaS Majority between: 100- 500

3.2% of area critical concerning the risk of soil

Agriculture./grassland: 14% Shrubs/forestland: 85%







Protected areas: Cambodia: 27.9%


Protected areas: Cambodia: 18% Thailand: 2%


Protected areas: Cambodia: 3.8% Lao PDR: 18% Vietnam: 1.5%

Protected areas: Cambodia: 9% Vietnam: 11%

Protected areas: Cambodia: 12.4% Vietnam: 18%

Communes: ND Villages: 457 Population 97: 319,291 D e n s i t y : 2 0 p / s q . km.

Communes: 27 Villages: 260 Population 97: 177,912 D e n s i t y : 3 0 p / s q . km.

Communes: 80

Villages: ND Population 97: 903,846 Density: 80p/sq.km.

Communes: 65

Villages: 450 Population 97: 316,144 Density: 31 p/sq.km.

Communes: ND Villages: 600 Population 97: 197,090 D e n s i t y : 7 p / s q . km.

Communes: 38 Villages: 164 Population 97: 57,695 Density: 3p/sq. km.

Communes: ND Villages: 146 Population 97: 61,443 Density: 2p/sq. km.

Opportunities: Single province watershed Reduced extension Potential for ecotourism Potential for CB forestry Potential for CB fisheries

Opportunities: Single province watershed Reduced extension Potential for ecotourism Cardamoms wildlife reserve Potential for CB forestry Potential for CB fisheries Endangered species

Opportunities: Fast growing economy Cooperation w/Thailand Emerging

entrepreneurship Potential for ecotourism Potential for CB forestry Major National relevance Well established LUPU

Opportunities: Interaction up-low lands Potential for CB forestry Potential for CB fisheries RAMSAR zone

Articulation with Angkhor tourism zone

Opportunities: Intense NRE activities WB support to Virachey NP

Opportunities: Intense NRE activity Abundance of partners WB support to Virachey NP Strong LUMU Developing ecotourism CBNRM: a reality

Opportunities: Intense NRE activities GTZ, UNDP active in area

Challenges: Coordinate four provinces Important wildlife trade Important logging Land grabbing

Challenges: Shifting cultivation Important wildlife trade Erosion/floods No pre-existing land use unit Important logging Land grabbing

Challenges: Coordinate three provinces Pailin economic integration Important watershed size No access to Tonle Sap Little prior NRE experience Main rice zone Land Grabbing Population density

Challenges: OTD.M. weakness No LUPU capacity Hydropower project Intense deforestation Illegal logging

Challenges: Important wildlife trade Shifting cultivation Isolation from the national level Lack of regional strategy Important logging Few Partners

Challenges: Cooperation w/Vietnam Concession vs. Tribe’s rights

Shifting cultivation Intense land grabbing Isolation from the national level Lack of regional strategy Important wildlife trade Important logging

Challenges: Concession vs. Tribe’s rights Shifting cultivation Intense land grabbing Isolation from the national level Lack of regional strategy Important wildlife trade Important logging Few Partners

12


5. Prioritised policies and organisations for catch ment management in Cambodia

Catchment management planning is an interdisciplinary activity that provides a rational basis for optimising the use of the resources of the watershed for the local communities in the area and for the country as a whole. With the focus on natural resource management in the area of a catchment, those policies that directly affect and those institutions that have direct responsibility to manage the forests and wildlife, water, and other natural resources are selected as most important.

5.1 Guiding policies, laws and sub-decrees

5.1.1 Guiding policies, laws and sub-decrees

• forestry policy (under revision, draft is not available) • forestry law

• land law

• law on water resources management and catchment management (draft) • royal decree on watershed management • sub-decree on community forest management • sub-decree on forest concession management • law on environment protection and natural resource management • sub-decree on environmental impact assessment

5.1.2 Relevant policy

• law of commune administrative management • action program for development of agriculture in Cambodia 2001 - 2010

• agricultural development plan 2001 - 2005

5.1.3 Within framework policies

• RGC Second Five Year Socioeconomic Development Plan 2001-2005

• Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper

Because many policies, laws and rules and regulations are in draft stages and many policies and laws already passes await more legislation before they can be implemented. These two documents are important guides for all development work.

5.2 Government Partners/Organization

5.2.1 Essential

CNMC

MAFF/DFW MWRM/DWRMC

MLMUPC/GDLMUP & GDCG

MOE/DNCP

5.2.2 Wanted

MOI MIME MAFF/DAALI

MRD

13


5.2.3 Observed

Cambodian Development Council MOE MOH MPW RUA

6. Conclusions and Recommendations

The main conclusion the authors reached is that catchment management as a concept is somewhat to very well understood at local levels, but its meaning becomes more varied and is more difficult to clarify at the large watershed and trans-boundary watershed levels. At this time in Cambodia, there are many activities promoting locally based planning which integrate NRM issues into the planning process, and RGC has plans to spread such activities nationwide. But, as the scale of planning increases, political planning boundaries dominate those of watersheds.

When development activities are community-based or require the participation of the resource users, there is a need for watershed management that focuses on more that the management of natural resources. Non-formal and formal education, health, income generation and so on are interrelated with CBNRM. Thus, linking with and supporting, where possible, efforts in other sectors of development is needed.

With limited government and community capacity and resources, greater skills and knowledge are needed at all levels to support development. This is especially true regarding newer planning approaches such as catchment-based planning and management. However, the activities that support these catchment-based approaches should learn from and add to a large number of ongoing programmes and projects already working in CBNRM.

The main recommendations are:

• To work in one or all of the watersheds in the NE of Cambodia: Se San. Se Kong, Sre Pok.

• To collaborate or network with all government and non-government partners in the watershed.

• To build on and support ongoing programmes and projects that support increasing participation and community-based user access to the resource base.

• To provide appropriate skills and knowledge to strengthen local governance and planning capacity.

• To continue spreading awareness of the Watershed/Catchment Management concept at all levels.

14


Annex 1: List of persons met

Name Position Organization & Address 3 Contact Mr. Pich Dun,

Mr. An Pich Hatda, Mr. Heng Phearith,

Mr. Ou Sophana, Mr. Watt Botkosal

Director of the Department Focal point BDP

National Env. Program Coordinator

Technical staff Focal Point for MRC-SMRP Program

Cambodia National Mekong Committee St. Mao Tse Toung

Phnom Penh

Tel. 855 23 218506

4

HP. 855 11 871387

Mr. Ty Sokhun,

Mr. Tieng Sokhom

Director

Technical staff

MAFF/ Department of Forestry and Wildlife #40 Phreah Norodom Blvd., Phnom Penh

Tel. 855 23 211 595

5 Fax 855 23 212201

Mr. Mak Soeun Chief, Technical Office MAFF/Department of Agronomy and Land Improvement

#14A, St. Moniret P.O.Box 1677, Phnom Penh

Tel/ Fax. 855 23 216 227 Email.

[email protected]

Mr. Meng Monirak,

Mr. Nouv Bunoeu

Ms. Pum Vichet

Team Leader, National Policy and Capacity Building Component

Deputy Director

Program Manager Virachey National Park

MOE/Department of Nature Conservation and Protection

#48, St. Samdech Preah Sihanouk, Phnom Penh

MOE/Secretariat of Tonle Sap biodiversity

MOE

HP. 855 11 953 992

Tel/Fax. 855 23 219 164/ 721 073

Dr. Bun Narith Director MIME/Hydroelectri-ciry Department

#45, Preah Norodom Blvd., Phnom Penh

HP. 855 12 763 887

Tel/ Fax. 855 23 210 544 Email.

[email protected] .kh

Mr. Leng Vy Director MOI/Department Local Administration

Preah Norodom Blvd., Phnom Penh

HP. 855 12 915 473

Dr. Duch Wontito, ,

Mr. Prak Angkeara, ,

Mr. Um Borith,

General Director

Deputy Director

MLMUPC/ General Department of Land Management and Urban Planning

MLMUPC/ Department of Research and Regulation

Tel. 855 23 217 028

HP 855 12 940 203

Email. [email protected]

Mr. Hoy Sythikun

Mr. Ouk Touch

Deputy Director MOP/ Department of Economic Planning

Mr. Pich Sam Ang

Mr. Nhep Phan, Director

Deputy Director

MRD/ Department of Planning and Public Relation

Mr. Am Norin Deputy Director MWRM/ Department of

15


Watershed Management and Conservation

Mr. Lars Lund

Mr. Loeung Kesaro

Natural Resource Programme Coordinator Programme Officer

DANIDA/ CDC Government Palace Sisowath Quay P.O.Box 877 Phnom Penh

Tel. 855 23 981 197 HP. 855 12 961 583 Email.

[email protected]

Mr. Michael Ounsted Regional Director Oxfarm America

Southeast Asia Regional Office

#41, Street 352 Boeung Keng Kang I Phnom Penh

HP:855 12 803 644

Tel/Fax: 855 23 210 357

Email: [email protected]

Ms Mia Hyun Senior Program Officer Oxfarm America Southeast Asia Regional

H/P:855 12 818 931


Mr. Michael Researcher/Lawyer Oxfarm America Southeast Asia Regional

Mr. Scott Leiper Program Manager UNOPS Seila Program

Partnership for local Governance

CDC Building “E” Government Palace Sisowath Quay

P.O.Box 877

HP. 855 12 830 288 Tel. 855 23 362 175

855 23 361 900 Fax. 855 23 210 569

Ms. Joanne Morrison Operations Advisor UNOPS Seila Program

HP. 855 12 830 047 Tel. 855 23 362 175

855 23 361 900 Fax. 855 23 210 569

Ms. Julian Abrams Infrastruture Advisor UNOPS Seila Program

HP. 855 12 909 231

Ms. Danny Harvey Program Advisor Community Forestry Program

Concern World Wide #36, Street 352

Boeung Keng Kang I Phnom Penh

HP. 855 12 812 802 Tel. 855 23 214879 Fax. 855 23 210 314 Email.

[email protected] Mr. Pel Piseth Program Manager Community Forestry Program

Concern World Wide HP. 855 12 887 323

Email. [email protected]

Mr. Toby Carson

Mr. Marc Giochot

Technical Advisor CBNRM

Regional Advisor

WWF

#28, street 9 Tonle basac P.O Box. 2467 Phnom Penh

HP. 855 16 828 528 Tel. 855 23 218 034 Fax. 855 23 218 909 Email.

[email protected]

Dr. Hans Helmrich,

Mr. Michael Gluck, Mr. Min Bunnera

Chief Technical Advisor Technical Advisor Liaison Officer for Cambodia

MRC/SMRP/GTZ

#92 St 63

P.O.Box 1690

Tel. 855 23 212 494


16


Annex 2 - Summary of Field Trip to Ratanakiri

Mr. Min Bunnara and Mr. Ken Irwin flew to Ratanakiri province on January 10. That afternoon they met at the Seila office with Mr. Sang Polrith, Mr. Nhem Sovanna and Mr. Ashish Joshia Ingty John. That evening at dinner they again met with these people and were joined by Mr. Graham Brown, Mr. Gordon Patterson and Mr. Jeremy. The next morning they met with Mr. Kham Khoen, the First Governor of Ratanakiri. That afternoon they met with representatives from all department at the weekly Provincial Rural Development meeting, and received input from Mr. Hor Hong, Director of the Ratanakiri Provincial Department of Environment and Mr. Yat Sokhan, Director of the Ratanakiri Provincial Department of Planning. The meetings all went well.

During this short trip to Ratanakiri, the team learned the issues, activities, and government/NGO capacity, and mechanisms for and benefits from cross-border cooperation, and the understanding of the watershed/catchment management. Most issues revolve around NRM. Important trans-boundary issues include illegal trade in NTFP and wildlife, flooding, and water quality. The Provincial government/Seila and several NGOs have several programs building capacity at all levels (village to provincial), increasing awareness of NRM issues (including health and education), improving local governance, and improving local planning skills and processes. In most areas, capacity for NRM, governance and communication is limited, as is the number of personnel to carry out effective government services and training needs.

There is a road link between Vietnam and Cambodia with a locally significant amount of trade crossing it. Ratanakiri is part of the “Triangle Development Region” along with the bordering Provinces in Vietnam and Lao PDR. They will meet in February 2002 to share their 5-year development plans and explore opportunities for cooperation to boost the region as a whole.

Watershed/catchment issues and planning are understood at local levels, but there is less understanding as the size of the catchment increases to the size of the Se San or Sre Pok. Increasing this understanding along with capacity building activities to improve local planning and governance would be welcome, as well as more trans-boundary exchange of information and experiences.

17


Annex 3: List Of All Used Documents

ADB, Se Kong – Se San and Nam Theun River Basins Hydropower Study : Final Report: Volume 1 – Main Report , (excerpts only) July 1999

ADB, Se Kong – Se San and Nam Theun River Basins Hydropower Study : Final Report: Volume 2 – Technical Data, Surveys and Analysis , July 1999

ADB, Se Kong – Se San and Nam Theun River Basins Hydropower Study : Final Report: Volume 4 – Environmental and Social Aspects Report , July 1999

ADB, RETA 5771 (Phase I), A Review of National Social Policies , by John Dennis, (no date)

ADB, RETA 5771 (Phase I), A Review of Policies and Institutions Related to Management of Upper Watershed Catchments: Cambodia , by Esa Puustjarvi, (no date)

ADB, RETA 5771 (Phase II) – Final Report: A Proposal for Project Interventions: Se San – Cambodia, March, 2001

ADB, RETA 5771 (Phase II) – Final Report: Project Progress, Achievements and Conclusions, March, 2001

Commune Council Support Project (CCSP), Promoting Pro-Poor Local Governance , Two Year Project Proposal, July 2001 – June 2003,

Commune Council Support Project, Decentralization, A Review of Literature, by David Ayres, Aug. 2001.

CRES, Study Into Impact of Yali Falls Dam on Resettled an d Downstream Communities , Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (CRES), Vietnam National University, Feb. 2001

DANIDA, Project Document for National Capacity Development – Cambodia , Jan. 2001

DANIDA, Programme Document (2001-2005) for Natural Resource and Environment Programme – Cambodia , March 2001

Electricity of Vietnam, Hydrodynamic Modeling of Se San River: Tentative Te rms of Reference , May 2001

Gartner, Dr. Joseph A., Mandate of the Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Land Improvement, Agricultural Productivity Improvement Project, April 2001

GTZ, Review of the GTZ/MRC Sustainable Management of R esources in the Lower Mekong Basin Project (SMRP), Cambodia Report. , Prepared by Danny Harvey, Khieu Borin and Ken Serey Rotha, Dec. 2001

GTZ, Review of the GTZ/MRC Sustainable Management of Res ources in the Lower Mekong Basin Project (SMRP ): Cambodia Report on the 2nd Phase: Nov. 1998 – Aug. 2001, Oct. 10, 2000, by Noelle O’Brien, Khieu Borin and Chin Chharom

18


Hasselskog, Malin et.al., Addressing Anarchy: Decentralization and Natural Resources Management in Ratanakiri Province, Upland Cambodia , June 2001

McKenney, Bruce, Economic Valuation of Livelihood Income Losses and Other Tangible Downstream Impacts from the Yali Falls Dam to the Se San River Basin in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia , Jan. 2001

MRC, Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme for 2001-2005, Sustainable Land and Water Use for Basin Health and People , Dec 2000

MRC, Watershed Directory (on CD Rom),

MRC, Project Document: Basin Development Plan , May 2000

MRC, Long-Term Environmental Programme 2001-2005, Main D ocument , Oct. 1998

MRC, Existing Institutional Legal and Policy Structure f or Wetlands Management in Cambodia , www. mekong. info, (no date)

MRC, Strategic Plan 2001-2005 (Summary version), April, 2001

MRC, Strategy Study on the Development of the Watershed Management/Forestry Sector in the Lower Mekong Basin: Strategy and Acti on Plan , Jan. 2000

Oxfam America, The Voice of the Mekong: The southeast asia Regiona l program 1999-2004, (Aug. 1999)

Oxfam America, The Oxfam Mekong Initiative 2001-2003 , (no date)

RGC, Action Program for Development of Agriculture in Ca mbodia 2001-2010 , MAFF, Dept. of Planning, Statistics and International Cooperation,

RGC, Agriculture Development Plan 2001-2005 , MAFF, Dept. of Planning, Statistics and International Cooperation,

RGC, A Poverty Profile of Cambodia 1999 , Min. of Planning,

RGC, Cambodia National Environmental Action Plan 1998-20 02, Jan. 1998

RGC, Community Forestry Guidelines , ADB Sustainable Forestry Management Project TA-3152-CAM. June 2000

RGC, Cambodia Poverty Assessment , Min. of Planning, Dec. 1999

RGC, Integration and Competitiveness Study – Part A: Overview (DRAFT!) (A pilot study prepared under the Integrated Framework for Technical assistance Program of the world trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the International Trade Centre, United nations Development program, United Nations Conference for trade and development and the World Bank) – work in progress, 9, Oct. 2001

RGC, Interim Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper , Phnom Penh, Oct. 2000

RGC, National Workshop – Formulation of the 2002 Seila Program Support Work Plan and Budget , Council for the Development of Cambodia, Nov. 2001

19


RGC, Poverty Monitoring and Assessment for Informed Dial ogue and Decision Making in Cambodia – Principles, Diagnostic, and Recommendations , Report prepared by IDEA International, Canada, and UNDP/Bureau for Development Policy, New York, April 2001

RGC, Ratanakiri Seila Work Plan and Budget 2002 , by PRDC Ratanakiri, Jan. 2002

RGC, Second Five Year Socioeconomic Development Plan 200 1-2005, Min. of Planning

RGC, SEILA Program Document 2001-2005 , (SEILA Task Force), Dec. 2000

RGC, SEILA Programme 2001-2005 , (SEILA Task Force), May 2000

RGC, Seila Natural Resource and Environment Management M ainstreaming Strategy 2002-2005, (Seila task Force), Nov. 2001

RGC, The SEILA Programme of the Royal Government of Camb odia – Management Structure Roles and Responsibilities , Dec. 1999

RGC, Sub-Decrees, PRAKASs (Regulations) and Decisions of the SEILA Programme , Aug. 2000

Romeo, Leonardo, The SEILA Program and Decentralized Planning in Cambodia, March 2000

UNDP, Project Document for CMB/01/007 – Partnership for Local Governance (UN Donor to Seila Programme), July 2001 – 31 Dec. 2005

World Food Programme, (cooperation with Min. of Planning and PNDP) Identifying Poor areas in Cambodia: Combining Census and Socio-Econo mic Survey Data to Trace the Spatial Dimensions of Poverty , Feb. 2001

World Wide Fund for Nature, Conservation Programme in Cambodia , Oct 2000

World Wide Fund for Nature, Virachey National Park, Ratanakiri and Stung Treng Provinces, Cambodia , 2000

World Wide Fund for Nature (and Oxfam America and IDRC), Project Profile of CBRNM Case Study and Networking Initiative , July 2001

World Wide Fund for Nature (and Asia Foundation), Resource Rights and Participatory Planning (RRaPP) Project,

World Wide Fund for Nature, The Forests of the Lower Mekong Ecoregion Complex , Sept. 2001

20


Annex 4: International Laws, Treaties and Conventio ns

Cambodia is a signatory to a number of international laws, treaties and conventions. Many have only been recently signed. Those that relate to natural resources management and environmental protection include:

• Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River Basin (MRC) (1995)

• Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (1995) • International Tropical Timber Agreement (ITTA) (1995) • Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

(CITES) (1977, first signed in 1973) • Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC) (1996) • The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Ramsar Convention)

(1999)

• International Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD) (1994) • Convention concerning the protection of the world cultural and natural heritage

(1992)

• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and other Matter (MARPOL) (1994 and later additions)

21


Annex 5: Overview of Seila Programme

RGC, SEILA Programme 2001-2005, (SEILA Task Force), May 2000

RGC has reaffirmed SEILA’s identity as a Cambodian program for institutional strengthening of local authorities within the context of the decentralization and decentralisation strategies adopted by the Royal government of Cambodia.

The Seila program is an approach to improved local governance as the key to achieving sustainable poverty alleviation in Cambodia. It is a collective undertaking by seven national ministries most directly concerned with local/rural development and the development of decentralisation policy (MOEF, MOP, MOI, MRD, MWVA, MAFF, AND MWRM). These ministries comprise a national ‘Seila Task Force’ (STF) which is supported by a Technical Secretariat in the Council for Development of Cambodia. The STF is responsibly to provide policy guidance and overall supervision of program implementation.

Seila is

a local development program for poverty alleviation a program for institutional strengthening; and

a decentralization and deconcentration policy experiment

The programs activities are grouped into program components: decentralized financing system, decentralized and participatory planning system, decentralized management supervision and support to commune authorities and a decentralized monitoring, evaluation and information system.

The outputs aimed for in this phase include locally managed infrastructure and services, improved institutions for public sector and community development management and related capacities at provincial and commune levels, and decentralisation policy lessons and statements.

RGC, The SEILA Programme of the Royal Government of Cambodia – Management Structure Roles and responsibilities, 10, Dec. 1999

From village-level to STF-level, roles and responsibilities

Romeo, Leonardo, The SEILA Program and Decentralized planning in Cambodia, March 2000

SEILA had to experiment at its beginning since Cambodia had no decentralization policy.

It treated CDCs as equivalents of Commune Councils and PRDCs as equivalents of Executive Committees.

Seila set up decentralized Financial, Planning, Management and Capacity Building, and Monitoring and Evaluation Systems

Seila has experimented with the institutions of sub-national planning including: the organizational set-up of the planning system;

the instruments; and

the process.

The Organizational Structure The Seila programme has channeled resources and assigned overall development planning and management responsibilities at the provincial and commune levels. The

Provincial Rural Development committee (PRDC) and the Commune Development

22


committee (CDC) act as both ‘planning authorities’ and consultative/participatory ‘planning platforms’.

The PRDC is chaired by the Governor and includes representatives from all provincial departments, and from lower level District Development Committees (DDC). It is responsible for approving Provincial Development Plans (PDP) and Provincial Development Investment Programmes (PDIP), formulated through the provincial planning process led by the Provincial Department of Planning. Following approval of the PDIP, an Executive Committee (chaired by the Governor and including the Deputy Governor and the Provincial Department Directors of Rural Development, Finance, Women and Veteran’s Affairs, Planning and Agriculture) is responsible for execution of the provincial investment programmes that are financed through decentralized resource transfers to the province. The task of providing planning, facilitation and technical support services from the Provinces to Communes is carried out by a unit of the Executive Committee: the “Local Capacity Building Unit” (LCBU). The LCBU includes both province and commune facilitation teams of local planners and community development workers and a technical support services group of rural engineering technicians.

The CDC is chaired, in most cases, by the Commune Chief and includes as members one man and one woman from each village in the Commune who are elected to the Village Development Committees (VDC) and serve as village representatives at commune level. The CDC allocates and manages SEILA resources through a development planning and implementation process that involves the VDC in data gathering and validation, project identification and priorities setting, and project implementation and monitoring.

The integration of the province and commune-level planning processes is effected through annual district-level workshops. These consultation and negotiation forums, facilitate the flow of information between commune authorities, provincial line departments and development NGOs active in the provinces. They allow them to interact and to adjust their respective programmes to better implement provincial development strategies and better respond to the demands emerging in the commune planning exercises.

The organizational set-up of the SEILA planning system may have to change or adjust, as an effect of the decentralization reforms. To the extent that decentralization advances in Cambodia, the “planning authority” role will have to shift from the PRDC and CDC to the Provincial Administrations and Commune Councils respectively. Nevertheless, PDRC and CDC (or similar with different names, if necessary for clarity of purposes) will have to maintain and strengthen their character of consultative/participatory platforms for sub- national planning. They should remain the instruments for broad-based preparation, and recommendation to the planning authorities, of local plans, programs and budgets. The process of resource allocation will need to be strengthened under the guidance of the Provincial Department of Planning (PDOP), consistent with its institutional mandate. Also, the central government will have to clarify to which extent and how it intends to assume responsibility for support and supervision of the emerging commune councils. This may then require that adjustments be made to the current arrangements, in order to secure an institutionally sustainable way of providing the planning facilitation and technical support services currently managed by the LCBU under supervision of the Provincial Director of Rural Development.

The instruments Seila uses are: A five-year Provincial Development Plan

A 3-year Rolling Provincial Development Investment Programme An annual SEILA Investment Programme

A 3-year Commune Development Plan

An annual Commune Investment Plan

23


The Provincial Planning Process

8 step process for 5-year PDP

National guidelines -> Provincial guidelines -> PRDC meeting and sector guidelines -> Sectoral planning workshops -> Draft PDP -> PDRC approval -> PDP dissemination -> PDP evaluation.

8 step process for 3-year rolling PDIP. National guidelines -> Provincial guidelines -> PDRC meeting/sectoral guidelines ->Focal Points training and Sectoral Planning Workshops -> District integration workshops -> provincial Investment Resources allocation -> Draft PDIP -> PRDC approval

The Local (Commune-level) Planning Process (LPP) LPP process

LPP orientation -> Identify village-level priorities -> Formulate commune development plan -> District integration workshops -> Formulation of the commune investment plan (CIP) CIP Process

Review of CIP achievements -> Review of village-level priorities -> Review of commune- level priorities -> District integration workshop ->Annual CIP formulation

As the planning has developed, it has evolved to where the communes are main planning units and village plans are no longer prepared. Seila also dropped PRAs for quicker village-level surveys and participatory data analysis and validation (village data book) and links provincial and commune investment programs via district integration workshops.

The author’s assessment: - National government levels still quite centralized

- Decentralized financing needs to be added to make decentralized planning work

- Seila planning procedures were not conceived as “what provinces and communes should do” to access a specific source of funds and allocate its resources. Rather, they were designed and implemented to provide a unified framework for the investment of resources from a variety of governmental and non-governmental sources and to be institutionalized as local-level statutory planning procedures.

- there is not enough attention paid to helping provincial and district level administrations abandon the hierarchical controls of the past and learn how to provide the necessary support (facilitation and technical services) to the emerging local authorities.

The author recommends (1) incorporating Seila planning procedures into wider framework for public expenditures management and (2) their institutionalization as statutory procedures at the sub-national level.

24


Annex 6: Review of Previous Catchment Management Se lection Activities

A number of catchments, both trans-boundary and within Cambodia, have been identified by MRC, RGC and two donors as potential sites for catchment management activities. What follows is a review of these selection principles and criteria. A. MRC’s “Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme for 2001-2005” (Dec. 2000) lists three tests, all of which need to be satisfied, for activities to be taken by MRC. All activities must have:

• Some significant basin-wide implication that is not being adequately covered under other bilateral/national programmes in the basin.

• National Priority, that is at least one country and an appropriate institution (public or private) must want the activity to be undertaken for a national purpose.

• A relevance to the MRC mission. MRC in this sense includes NMCs and staff of relevant line agencies.

With regard to Catchment Management in the AIFP, the objective is to institutionalize a process of catchment management planning in selected MRB cross-border areas and where resource use in one domain is creating stress to other users of a sub-basin. The AIFP goes on to identify all watersheds bordering the Tonle Sap lake and the three large trans-boundary watersheds in NE Cambodia (Se Kong, Se San and Sre Pok) as proposed sites for Catchment Management.

B. MRC’s “Strategy Study on the Development of the Watershed Management/

Forestry Sector in the Lower Mekong Basin” (Jan. 2000) lists criteria for MRC forestry and watershed management interventions.

This document first states that forestry and watershed management activities should be in line with MRC’s mandate and strategy, which is to “promote and co-ordinate sustainable management of resources for the mutual benefit of people in the LMB”. The document goes on to state that the criteria for prioritizing projects and activities in the forestry/watershed management sector should be based on the following broad principles:

• activities should reinforce the MRC’s mandate and strategic direction

• activities should have significance and mutual benefit to LMB countries

• activities which stimulate regional (cross-boundary) co-operation

• activities should, where feasible, incorporate cross-cutting themes – environment, people-centred development, poverty alleviation, livelihood generation, gender issues, etc.

• activities should strengthen capacity of regional institutions to resolve forestry and watershed management problems, as elaborated in the Mekong River Basin Diagnostic Study

• activities should identify, document and disseminate “best-practices” in watershed management through links to global, regional ad national watershed management initiatives

The document lists four main focal areas for activities: 1. security of land tenure and resource rights,

2. sustainable forest management,

3. ecosystem improvement and biodiversity conservation,

4. human resource and institutional capacity building, and directs solutions to these issues and constraints to focus on:

• land tenure and forest resource security

• soil and water conservation

25


• forest protection and afforestation

• participation by upland farmers

• ecosystem improvement and biodiversity conservation

• public and private participation in programme development, priority setting and implementation

• cross-border cooperation

• institutional strengthening

The document goes on to give criteria for selection of individual critical watersheds. These criteria are:

• watersheds having more than 50%of Class I and II areas void of forests

• watersheds having more than 50% of the Class I and II areas void of forest, which have seen increase in population over the last five years by more than 10%

• watersheds with more than 50% comprised of Class I and II areas which discharge more than 1 % of total LMB flow

• watersheds straddling two international boundaries, thereby presenting opportunities for regional collaboration

• critical watersheds (sub-basins) with a major part of their area located in gazetted protected areas, thereby presenting opportunities for supporting integrated conservation and development projects. (These projects would have the dual objective of enhancing biodiversity/reserve protection with community development in the buffer zones.)

It is felt that using the above approach would have the following advantages:

• meaningful comparative evaluations can be conducted to select priority areas; and

• appropriate combinations of bio-physical and socio-economic remedial actions can be designed to maximise positive impacts from investment of limited resources.

For one of ADB’s regional projects (RETA 5771) – “Poverty Reduction and Environmental Management in Remote Greater Mekong Sub-region Watersheds”, watershed selection criteria were developed in Phase I and further refined in Phase II. The criteria focused on seven parameters: (1) areas where poverty is endemic, (2) environmental fragility, (3) significance of biodiversity at a national and regional level, (4) have adequate infrastructure, particularly access by road or foot trail, existing or planned before project start-up, (5) have interest and consent of local population, (6) government commitment to provide adequate institutional support, and (7) security.

In addition to these general criteria, specific selection criteria focused on project sites with the following characteristics.

Criteria Comment

Low population density Within sub-basins with relatively low population density (,30p/sq. km)

Watershed Mismanagement

located in areas where watershed mismanagement has an actual or potential negative impact on infrastructure investments

Common hydrological system

definition based upon watersheds or contiguous groups of micro-watersheds linked through either a common hydrological system or common bio-geographical zone

Community based land use development

Located within communities that are willing to adopt a process of participatory land use planning with local officials, resource user groups and other stakeholders

26


Criteria Comment

Development potential The area must demonstrate a need for development, where “need” can be demonstrated by poverty, natural resource depletion, drug promotion or dependence, or disease incidence

Areas where there are clearly defined opportunities for developing alternative livelihood projects that aim to increase household income levels well above the poverty line indicated for that specific region

Demand for development intervention

This can be demonstrated by local community willingness to participate, measured by local attempts to develop or improve

Resource use conflicts Located in areas where community conflicts over resource use are not currently evident

Local absorption capacity

Local absorptive capacity must be adequate, both in respect of implementing agencies and target communities. There must be counterpart government agencies in the area that can service the communities and provide an adequate level of frequency and service.

Presence of other donors

If other donors are in the same area, there must be sufficient counterpart resources and capacity to accommodate a new project. Activities with a low level of other donor activity could be tolerated but no presence is obviously more desirable.

Non-government organizations

Located where NGOs or other social engineering infrastructure exists in order to spearhead community participation process.

The phase I report identified a list of three watersheds, selected and prioritized by the MOE for further study during Phase II. The ranked list was:

1. Stung Pursat, Pousat Province

2. Stung Sen, Preah Vihear Province

3. Se San, Ratanakiri Province

Although it did not match RGC’s priority, during Phase II the choice was made to focus on the Se San watershed (or at least the Cambodian side of the Se San watershed). The main reasoning for this decision appeared to be a combination of extreme poverty, urgent need for development, remoteness and presence of a large numbers of ethnic minority people.

3. Danida was approached by the Seila Task Force (STF) with a proposal to mainstream natural resource management into the normal development and planning processes (“Seila natural Resource and environment management mainstreaming Strategy 2002- 2005”). STF followed three basic considerations when selecting provinces and watersheds. The NRE Strategy watershed component would only be applied where

1. The province component (Seila system and mechanisms) was also being implemented.

2. Provinces were not new to the Seila system.

3. Where previously built capacities in land use planning and management and inter-communal cooperation could be used.

Following these considerations, a series of criteria were considered to compose a first

selection list of provinces and watersheds.

27


• Numbers of provinces to be associated

• Province experience with Seila

• International border crossing watershed

• Number of communes to be covered

• Population concerned

• Watershed size

• Strategic development opportunities

• Environmental challenge and relevance with NEAP

• Past experiences with NRE

• Opportunities for partnerships

STF Secretariat has decided to start with the watersheds at Stung Pursat and Stung Mongkol Borey (mid-2002), and then expand to cover Stung Se San and Stung Sreng Late-2002/early-2003).

28


Annex 7: List of priority catchments in Cambodia

The Se San Catchment lays 40% within Cambodia ( 35% Ratanakiri and 5% Stueng Treung) and 60% within Vietnam (43% Kon Tum and 17% Gia Lai). It covers 18,888 km2 and is equivalent to 3.05% of the LMB. The catchment outlet is at 46 MaS and the highest point at 2397 MaS, with the majority between 100 and 800 MaS. The catchment has a high relief potential. More than two fifths of the slopes are steep and hilly, while about one fourth are flat. The catchment can be considered as not very critical concerning the risk of soil erosion at this time, since only 11 % of the total area shows WSC classes 1 and 2 without forest cover. 12.4% of the catchment area is covered by Cambodian protected areas, and 18% by Vietnamese protected areas. Most of the land (75%) is covered in forests and shrubs and much of the rest (23%) is for agriculture or grassland. The total population for the Cambodian side of the catchment is 57,695, giving a population density of 3 people per km2, which is rather low. The Sre Pok Catchment lays 41% within Cambodia (21% Mondulkiri, 16%Ratanakiri, 4% Steung Trueng, and 0% Kracheh), and 59% within Vietnam (Dac Lac 44%, Gia Lai 9% and Lam Dong 6%). It covers 30,942 km2 and is equivalent to 5% of the LMB. The catchment outlet is at 46 MaS and the highest point at 2145 MaS, with the majority between 100 and 500 MaS. The catchment possesses a high relief potential. Nevertheless, almost one half of the slopes are flat, with only a few steep and hilly slopes. The catchment can be considered as not critical concerning the risk of soil erosion, as only 3.2% of the total area shows classes 1 and 2 without forest cover. 9% of the catchment area is covered by Cambodian protected areas, and 11 % by Vietnamese protected areas. Most of the land (78%) is covered in forests and shrubs and much of the rest (22%) is for agriculture or grassland. The total population on the Cambodian side of the catchment is 61,443 (146 villages), giving a population density of 2 people per km2, which is very low. The Se Kong Catchment lays 78% within Laos, 19% within Cambodia (19% Steung Treung and 1% Ratanakiri), and 3% within Vietnam. It covers 28815 km2 and is equivalent to 4.66 % of the LMB. The catchment outlet is at 46 MaS and the highest point at 2174 MaS, with the elevation classes scattered quite evenly between 1 and 1300 MaS. The catchment possesses a high relief potential. Almost one third of the slopes are flat, and two fifths are steep and hilly. The catchment can be considered as not critical concerning the risk of soil erosion, as only 11 % of the total area shows classes 1 and 2 without forest cover. 18% of the catchment area is covered by Lao NBCA, 3.8 % by Cambodian protected areas, and 1.5% by Vietnamese protected areas. Most of the land (91%) is covered in forests and shrubs and much of the rest (9%) is for agriculture or grassland. The total population for the catchment is 197,090 (600 villages), giving a population density of 7 people per km2, which is rather low.

The Stung Pursat Catchment lies wholly within Cambodia and covers 5965 Km2, which is equivalent to 0.96% of the LMB. The catchment outlet is at 5 MaS and the highest point is 1700 MaS, with the majority between 5 and 300 MaS. The catchment possesses a high relief potential. Almost half the slopes are flat and more than one forth are steep and hilly. The catchment can be considered as not critical concerning the risk of soil erosion, as less than 1 % of the total area shows WSC classes 1 and 2 without forest cover. 26.28 % of the area is covered by Cambodian protected areas. Most of the land (82%) is covered in forests and shrubs and much of the rest (18%) is for agriculture and livestock. The total population in the catchment in 177,912 (260 villages), giving a population density of 30 people per Km2, which is within the upper middle range of all the LMB catchments.

The Strung Mongkol Borey lays 73% within Cambodia (Banteay Mean Chey 37%, Battambang 30%, Krong Palin 5%, and Otdar Mean Chey 1%) and 27% within Thailand. It covers 14966 km2 and is equivalent to 2.4 % of the LMB. The catchment outlet is at

29

10


MaS and the highest point at 510 MaS, and the majority between 100 and 200 MaS. The catchment possesses a low relief potential. Over four-fifths of the slopes are flat. The catchment can be considered as not critical concerning the risk of soil erosion, as only 0.6% of the total area shows classes 1 and 2 without forest cover. 18% of the catchment area is covered by various protected areas. Just less than half of the land (46%) is covered in forests and shrubs and most of the rest (54%) is for agriculture or grassland. The total population for the catchment is 903,846 (Cambodian side only)(80 communes), giving a population density of 80 people per km2, which is within the highest range of all the LMB catchments.

The Stung Sreng Catchment lays 99% within Cambodia (48% Otdar Mean Chey, 45% Siem Reap, 6% Banteay Mean Chey, and 1% Battambang) and 1% within Thailand. It covers 9986 km2 and is equivalent to 1.61 % of the LMB. The catchment outlet is at 5 MaS and the highest point at 671 MaS, with the vast majority between 5 and 100 MaS. The catchment possesses a low relief potential. Almost all of the slopes are flat. The catchment can be considered as not critical concerning the risk of soil erosion, as less than 1% of the total area shows classes 1 and 2 without forest cover. 11.7% of the catchment area is covered by Cambodian protected areas. Most of the land (71%) is covered in forests and shrubs and much of the rest (29%) is for agriculture or grassland. The total population for the catchment is 276,441 (450 villages), giving a population density of 28 people per km2, which is within the upper middle range of all the LMB catchments. The Stung Sen Catchment lays 100% within Cambodia (63% Preah Vihear, 28% Kampong Thum, 6% Siem Reap, 2% Otdar Mean Chey, 1% Kampong Chhnang, and 0% Tonle Sap). It covers 16360 km2 and is equivalent to 2.64% of the LMB. The catchment outlet is at 5 MaS and the highest point at 802 MaS, with the vast majority between 5 and 100 MaS. The catchment possesses a low relief potential. Almost all of the slopes are flat. The catchment can be considered as not critical concerning the risk of soil erosion, as less than 1% of the total area shows classes 1 and 2 without forest cover. 27.9% of the catchment area is covered by Cambodian protected areas. Most of the land (85%) is covered in forests and shrubs and much of the rest (14%) is for agriculture or grassland. The total population for the catchment is 319,291 (457 villages), giving a population density of 20 people per km2, which is within the middle range of all the LMB catchments.

30


Annex 8: List of Legal Documents

Sub-decree on the Forest Concession Management –

Sub-decree on Environmental Impact Assessment Process - August 11, 1999 Draft Forestry Law (Submitted to the National Assembly, 20 July 2001)

Draft Sub-Decree on Community Forestry Management, 2001

The Land Law, October 18, 2001

Royal Decree on Watersheds, Dec 1998

Law on Environmental Protection and Natural Resource Management Law on Administration of Communes

Sub-Decree on Organizing and Functioning of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, 1999

Sub-decree on the Organization and Functioning of the Ministry of Planning Sub-Decree on Organizing and Functioning of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology

Sub-Decree on Organization and Functioning of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

31


Annex 9: Schedule of Assessment

This schedule of the assessment covers the period from Jan. 1, 2002 until Feb. 4, 2002. It is broken into three phases. Part one covers ‘Phase I’, which focused on data and information collection. Part two covers the ‘Cambodian country meetings’. Part three covers the activities of the Cambodian Country Team while the international consultants visited the other three LMB countries.

Part One:

Date Person/Organization Reason Team Member

1 Jan 02 SMRP Planning meeting Limchhun/Ken

2 Jan 02 Mr. Sik Boreak/ WFP SMRP

Meeting

Planning meeting

Limchhun/Ken Limchhun/Ken

3 Jan 02 Mr. Hans Helmrich/SMRP Watt Kosal/CNMC

Planning meeting Planning Meeting

Limchhun/Ken Limchhun/Ken

4 Jan 02 Mr. Hong Sokheang/UNDP Mr. Lay Khim/UNDP

Mr. Tuon Sophal/MRD

Mr. Meas Sophal/MOE Mr. Kol Vathana/MOE

Mr.Theng

Meeting/documents Meeting/documents Meeting/documents Meeting/documents Meeting/documents Meeting/documents

Ken

Ken

Limchhun Limchhun Limchhun Limchhun

5 Jan 02 SMRP Planning meeting Limchhun/Ken

6 Jan 02 Planning meeting Limchhun/Ken

7 Jan 02 Mr. Paul Im/ADB

Mr. Toby Carson & Mr. Marc Goichot/ WWF Librarian/Seila Ms. Sous Sophal/MLMUPC/DUP Home

Meeting

Meeting/documents Meeting/documents Report writing

Ken

Ken

Limchhun Limchhun

8 Jan 02 Mr. Puch Sothon/CIDSE Mr. Paul Im/ADB

DAN I DA

Mr. Michael Gluck/SMRP Mr. Watt Bot Kosal/CNMC

Collect Documents Meeting

Meeting

Planning meeting Arrange

appointments

Ken Ken Ken

Limchhun/Ken Limchhun

9 Jan 02 Ms. Danny Harvey & Mr. Pel Piseth/Concern

Mr. Leng Vy/MOI/DLA Mr. Sao Chivorn/MRD

Meeting Meeting/documents Meeting/documents

Ken

Limchhun Limchhun

10 Jan

02

SMRP

Mr. Sang Polrith, Mr. Nhem Sovanna & Mr. Ashish John/UNDP/UNOPS/Rat.

Mr. Graham Brown, Mr. Gordon Patterson, Mr. Jerramy/Ratanakiri NGO

Network

Home

Planning meeting

Meeting

Meeting Report writing

Limchhun/Ken/ Chankosal

Ken

Ken Limchhun

11 Jan

02

Mr. Kham Khoen/First Governor of Ratanakiri Mr. Hor Hong, Mr. Yat Sokhan and others/Provincial Rural Development Meeting

Meeting

Meeting

Ken

Ken

32


Mr. Pen Vuth Fix appointment Kosal 12 Jan

02

13 Jan

02

SMRP Planning meeting Limchhun/Ken/ Chamkosal

14 Jan

02

Jan 15/16 – TOR Workshop at MRCS – Limchhun/Ken/Chankosal

Part two:

International Consultant’s Meeting Schedule: Jan 17-19, 2002

Mr. Fred Brandl, Mr. Kenneth Irwin and Mr. Min Bunnara

Mr. Florian Rock, Mr. Hour Limchhun and Mr. Tit Chankosal

17-01 -2002

8:30 Cambodia National Mekong Committee Secretariat

Messrs Pich Dun, W.B Kosal, An Pichhada, H. Sophearith. and Ou Sophana

10:00 Ministry of the Interior

Department of Local Administration Mr. Leng Vy

Director

8:30 Cambodia National Mekong

Committee Secretariat

Messrs Pich Dun, W.B Kosal, An Pichhada, H. Sophearith. and Ou Sophana

10:00 Ministry of Agriculture,

Forestry and Fisheries/

Deptartment of Forestry and Wildlife

Mr. Ty Sokhun Lunch Lunch

14:00 Ministry of Planning

Department of Economic Planning Mr. Hoy Sythikun

Deputy Director

14:00 Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Land Improvement

Mr. Mak Seoun

Chief

Technical Office

16:00 SEILA Programme Mr. Scott Lepair Program Manager Mr Joanne Morrison Operation Advisor Ms Julian Abrams

Infrastructure Advisor

18-01 -2002

33


8:30 Ministry of Land Management, Urban

Planning and Construction

General Department of Land Management and Urban Planning

Dr. Duch Wontito

General Director

Department of Research and Regulation

Mr. Prak Angkeara

Deputy Director

Mr. Um Borith,

10:00 Ministry of Rural Development Department of Planning and Public Relation

8:30 Ministry of Water Resources

and Meteorology/

Department of Water Resource Management and Conservation Mr. Am Norin

Deputy Director

10:00 Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy Hydro-electricity

Department

Dr. Bun Narith

Lunch Lunch

14:00 DANIDA

Mr. Lars Lund,

NRE Programme Coordinator

Mr. Loeung Kesaro Programme Officer

17:30 Oxfam America

Mr. Michael Ounsted Regional Director Ms. Mia Hyun

Senior Program Officer Mr. Michael Lerner

14:00 Ministry of Environment Department of Nature

Conservation and Protection Mr. Nouv Bunheou/Dep Dir Mr Meng Monirak

Ms. Pum Vicheth

16:00 WWF

Mr. Toby Carson, Advisor Mr. Marc Giochot, Advisor

17:30 Oxfam America

Mr. Michael Ounsted

Regional Director

Ms. Mia Hyun

Senior Program Officer 19-01 -2002

9:30 Concern Worldwide

Ms. Danny Harway, Program Advisor Mr. Pel Piseth

Program Manager

9:30 Concern Worldwide

Ms. Danny Harway, Program Advisor Mr. Pel Piseth

Program Manager

Part Three:

In the period from 20-01-02 until 4-02-02, the Cambodian team has continued to visit various ministries and people to collect documents and clarify information already collected. Documents were collected from and people visited at MAFF, MOE, MOP, and the Seila. Programme. The team also spent several days finalizing this report.

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin. Country Report Laos

Sustainable Management of Resourcesin the Lower Mekong River Basin

Workshop #1, 15

January, 2002


MRC - GTZ

Sustainable Management of Resourcesin the Lower Mekong River Basin

Briefing Note

for the AIFP Appraisal

Workshop #1, 15-16th January 2002

Prepared by:

EARTH SYSTEMS LAO


Sustainable Management of Resources

in the Lower Mekong River Basin

January 2002

1


1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT IN LAO PDR

Watersheds of Lao PDR

64 watersheds have been identified in Lao PDR of which 53 drain into the Mekong River (Danida 2001)1.

Significance to LMB

Lao PDR encompasses approximately 207,000 km2 or 33% of the Lower Mekong Basin (MRCS, Watershed Classification Project).

Definition of Catchment Management

Rural Development with special emphasis on natural resource management in catchment areas (SMRP Briefing Material):

➢ decentralised planning / implementation

➢ local governance

➢ PLUP (Participatory Land Use Planning)

➢ multi-stakeholder involvement

➢ cooperation between GOs / NGOs / communities

➢ land allocation

➢ forest estate demarcation

➢ resource tenure

Generalised Objectives of Catchment Management

The objectives of Integrated Watershed Management as defined by Danida (2001) is a process that achieves one or more of the following development objectives:

➢ Increases the marginal productivity values; ➢ Poverty alleviation and improved standards of living;

➢ Improved conservation and protection;

➢ Improved conservation and management; and

➢ Improved water resource management.

2. IDENTIFICATION AND COMPILATION OF MAJOR CATCHMEN T-RELEVANT NATIONAL POLICIES, SUB-DECREES AND LAWS

A list of documents relevant to the Regulative Framework for Catchment Management is provided in Table 1 Attachment 1. The list has been ordered accordingly:

➢ Land use planning

➢ Agriculture and Forestry

1 Danida (2001) Concept and Practice of Integrated Watershed Management in Lao PDR.

2


➢ Decentralization

➢ Poverty alleviation

➢ Ethnic minority issues

➢ Investment

➢ Environment

➢ Infrastructure Development

➢ Water Resources

<Please note the presence of data gaps in Table 1 – these gaps have been highlighted.>

Of particular relevance to catchment management, the government of Lao PDR has prepared a number of action plans for sustainable natural resources management including: ➢ National Tropical Forestry Action Plan (MAF 1991)

➢ National Environment Action Plan (STEA 2000)

There are also several laws that are relevant to watershed / river basin management:

➢ Water and Water Resources Law

➢ Land Law

➢ Forest Law

➢ Environmental Protection Law

➢ Electricity Law

➢

(Refer to the Danida Study (2001) for an outline of the relevant sections of these laws to catchment management.)

A copy of these plans and laws accompany this Briefing Note.

3. ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS RELEVANT TO CATCH MENT MANAGEMENT IN LAO PDR

(A contact list of key persons working in the field of catchment management is provided in Table 1 Attachment 2.)

3.1 Government Organisations

Central government is the level at which policy is decided. Provinces are defined as strategic units – the level at which development decisions are made and implemented. Districts as planning and budgetary units. Villages as implementing units. This recent move toward decentralization of power has given local officials greater authority in issues relating to environmental management (Ecolao 2000)2.

2 EcoLao (2000) Lao Environmental, Institutional & Background Research Project – ADB 5783 Strategic Environmental Framework for the Greater Mekong Sub-region.

3


The institutions involved in the development of watershed management can be divided into those mainly operating at the level of central government and those mainly operating at provincial and district levels.

Central Level Agencies

A List of Institutions/Organizations relevant to catchment management is provided in Table 2 Attachment 2 (Danida 2001). An Organisational Chart for central government is shown in Figure 1 Attachment 2 (Ecolao 2000). An Organisational Chart for Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is shown in Figure 2 Attachment 2 . Provincial Level Agencies (Danida 1999)3

Lao PDR is broken down into 16 provinces plus the Saisombun Special Zone and Vientiane Prefecture. The provinces are headed by a politically appointed governor, who has a large degree of autonomy over the use of economic and national resources including environmental issues.

The governors are assisted by line ministries, which have department level representation in the provinces and in most districts. Development issues are coordinated and implemented by the Rural Development Committees (RDCs). The RDC has a senior administrative position within the provincial government and is situated directly below the Governor’s Office. The RDC also has representatives at the district level. Relevant institutions at the provincial and district level include: Provincial and District Agriculture and Forestry Offices; and the Planning Department. An Organisational Chart for provincial and district level government is shown in Attachment 2, Figure 3 and 4 respectively (Ecolao 2000). Village Level Agencies (Danida 1999)

At the village level the institutional point of entry is the Village Administration Committee consisting of 3 to 5 members and village headman. Specific development activities would have to be handled through a Village Development Committee.

Mass Organisations (Danida 1999)

There are three significant mass organizations in Lao PDR; Lao Women’s Union; Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Organisation; and National Front for Reconstruction. These organizations receive support from and are controlled by the GOL. The Lao Women’s Union and the Youth Organisation have well developed networks.

3.2 Non-Government Organisations

Cooperation with International NGOs has seen gradual growth and development however the extent to which NGOs contribute toward environmental management is relatively small. NGO activity within natural resource sector typically involves small-scale “on the ground” activities within the remote, rural communities (Ecolao 1999). The key NGOs involved in natural resource management include: ➢ IUCN (The World Conservation Union)

3 Danida (1999) Integrated Watershed Management in Xieng Khouang & Huaphan Provinces.

4


➢ WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)

3.3 Projects and Programmes

A list of projects and programmes in the area of natural resource management and development, that are relevant to catchment management are listed in Table 3 Attachment 2 (Danida 2001).

3.4 Research Organisations

Major research organisations are co-ordinated by the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) which is a government research institute operating under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. NAFRI is an umbrella organisation for 11 different centres including (SMRP Briefing Material):

➢ Coffee Research Center

➢ national Agriculture Research Center

➢ Horticulture and Vegetable REsearch Center ➢ Livestock Research Center

➢ Living Aquatic Resource Research Center

➢ Soil Survey and Land Classification Center ➢ Forest Research Center

➢ Forest Inventory and Planning Center

➢ Agro-climate Research Center

➢ Northern Agriculture and Forestry Research Venter ➢ Hydrology Research Center

<Provide detail on relevant activities of the Institute of Environmental Research operating under STEA.>

International research organisations include: ➢ Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) ➢ International Rice Research Institute (IRRI)

➢ IBSRAM

➢

4. LIST AND INVENTORY OF SELECTED WATERSHEDS IN LAO PDR

A profile for the selected transboundary watersheds of Nam Ou, Se Bang Hieng

and Se Kong are provided in Attachment 3 (MRC Watershed Classification

Project).

The profile provides information on aspects including: land use, slope, size, and

population.

<Further work is required to identify major organizations, major problems, and

impact on downstream habitat.>

5


5. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF A CATCHMEN T MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME

Some issues to be addressed in the development and implementation of a

catchment management programme include (Danida 2001):

a. Continued capacity and awareness building in the area of catchment

management at all levels of government.

b. Designation of watersheds as legal entities for planning purposes.

c. Clarification of mandate for watershed management among

government agencies i.e. MAF and WRCC.

d. Consolidation of data into a National Watershed Management

Information System.

e. Prioritization of the development needs within watersheds.

f. Coordination of donor assistance within the natural resources and

environment sector.

g. Development of Regional standards for catchment management,

particularly for trans-boundary watersheds.


Attachment 1 – Regulative Framework Relevant to

Catchment Management


6

Land Use Planning

No. Document Type

Document ID Date Document Name Level Implementing Agency

Sector

1

2

Decree 99/PM 01/97/NA

1993

1997

Management and Use of Land National MF MF/MAF

Land Land Law Land Law National

Agriculture & Forestry

No. Document Type


Sector

3 Decree 188/CCM 1989 Management and Protection of Aquatic Animals, Wildlife and on Hunting and Fishing

National CCM Biodiversity

4 Decree 117/CCM 1989 Management and Use of the Forest and Forested National CCM Forestry Land

5 Strategy 1999 Strategic Vision for the Agricultural Sector Until National MAF Agriculture

2010

6 Law 1998 Agriculture Law National MAF Agriculture

7 Strategy Agriculture and Forestry Sector Development National MAF Agriculture Plan

8 Strategy Environmental Action Plan for Sustainable National MAF Agriculture Agriculture

and Rural Development

9 Regulation 0542/AF 2001 The Management of the National Biodiversity National MAF Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA), Aquatic and Wild

Animals

10 Decree 164/PM 1994 National Biodiversity Conservation Areas National MAF Biodiversity

11 Strategy 2000 Forestry Vision for 2020 National MAF Forestry

12 Regulation 0221/MAF.2000 2000 Management of Timber and Forest Products National MAF Forestry

Exploitation

Forestry National MAF 1997 Sustainable Forest Management and Conservation in Lao PDR Vision 2020

14 Order 0054/MAF 1996 Customary Rights and the Use of Forest National MAF Forestry Resource

15 Law 01-96/NA 1996 Forest Law National MAF Forestry

16 Decree 186/PMO 1994 Allocation of Land and Forest Land for Tree National MAF Forestry

Plantation and Forest Protection

13 Strategy

17 1993 Decree 164/PM

18 1993 Decree 169/PM

19 Decree

22 Decree

24 1998 Decree 89/PM

Decree 66/PM 1991

Decree 67/PM 1991

Decree

118/MAF 1999

243/PM 1998

Decree 84/PM 25

1992 28

29

Convention

Convention

Strategy 27

89/PM 1993

20

21

23

Plan 26

MAF

MAF

Institutional MAF

MAF Institutional

Heritage Internation UN

National MAF

Forestry

Forestry

MAF National Forestry

National MAF Forestry

Forestry

National

National

National National

Internation

al

Institutional MAF

MAF Institutional

STEA / MAF

STEA / MAF

Biodiversity

Biodiversity

Biodiversity UN

National

National National

National


Establishment and use of Forest Reserves Throughtout the Country

Management and use of Forests and Forest Lands

Stating National Forestry Reservation Over the Country

Adoption of the Tropical Forestry Program of Lao PDR

National Logging Ban

Role, Functions, Rights and Organizational Structure

of National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute Organization and Activities of Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Prime Ministerial Decree on implementation of the activities of MAF

The Organisation and Operation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

National Biodiversity Action Plan

National Biodiversity Strategy

Biological Diversity

Protection of World Heritage and Natural Heritage

al 30 Policy OP 4.36 1998 Forestry Internation

al WB Forestry

Decentralisation

Document ID

01/PM

Date

2000 National Institutional Instruction

Level Sector Document Type

Document Name

Policy of building up the Provinces as strategic units, Districts as planning and budgeting units, Villages as implementing units.

Implementing Agency

CPC

No.

31

Poverty Alleviation

No. Document Document ID Date Document Name Level Implementing Sector Type Agency

32 Strategy 2002 Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper, Draft National CPC Social 33 Strategy National Socio-Economic Development Plan National CPC Social 34 Instruction 010/PM Formulation of Poverty Eradication Program National PMO Social


Environment

No. Document Type


Sector

41 Agreement 1995 Agreement on the Sustainable Development of the

Regional LNMC Environment

Mekong River Commission

42 Regulation 447/MIH 2001 Implementing Environmental Assessment for National MIH-DoE Environment Electricity Projects, Draft

43 Regulation 1770/STEA 2001 Environmental Impact Assessment National STEA Environment

in Lao PDR

45 Law

44 Strategy

02/99/NA

National Environment Action Plan

Environmental Protection Law

National National

STEA

STEA

46

47

48

Decree

Regulation

Convention

68/PM

1122/ STENO

1999

1998

Establishment of the Science, Technology and Environment Agency

Control and Inspection of Wastewater Discharge Wetlands of International Importance Especially as

National

National Internation

al

STEA

STENO UN

Institutional

Environment Environment

49 1998 Pollution Prevention and Abatement Handbook Internation

al WB Environment

50 Agreement Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and ASEAN Agreements

Regional Environment

Environment Environment

2000

1999

38 Resolution Resolution Concerning Ethnic Minority Policy National 1981 Social


Ethnic Minority Issues

No. Document Document ID Date Document Name Level Implementing Sector Type Agency

35 Guidelines Public Involvement Guidelines, Draft National STEA Social 36 1998 Public Disclosure Internation

al WB Social

37 Guidelines Note F Preparation of a Public Consultation and Disclosure Plan

Internation

al WB Social

Investment

No. Document Type


Sector

39 Law 1/94 1994 Law on the Promotion and Management of Foreign Investment

National CPC Investment

40 Lao Law on Domestic Investment National CPC Investment

67 Strategy National Water


Infrastructure Development

No. Document Type


Sector

51 Regulation Implementing Environmental Assessment for National MCTPC Infrastructure

MCTPC Projects, Draft

52 Law 04/99/NA 1999 Road Law National MCTPC Road

53 Decree 05/PM 1995 Guidelines for Reducing Environmental Effects of National MCTPC Road

Road Projects

54 Regulation 180 1994 Industrial Waste Discharge Regulation National MIH Industry

55 Law Industrial Law National MIH Industry

56 Law 04/97/NA 1997 Mining Law National MIH Mining

57 585/MIH.DOE 2001 Environmental Impact Assessment for Electricity National MIH.DOE Electricity

Projects

58 Policy 581/MIH.DOE 2001 Power Sector Environmental Policy National MIH.DOE Electricity

59 Strategy 2000 Hydropower Development Strategy, Draft Regional MIH-DOE Electricity

60 Law 02/97/NA 1997 Electricity Law National MIH-DoE Electricity

61 Law 1991 The Constitution National NA

62 Policy OP 7.50 1998 Projects on International Waterways Internation

al WB Infrastructure

Water Resources

No. Document Type


Sector

63 Decree Fisheries National MAF Fisheries

64 Policy 2000 Draft Policy on Water & Water Resources, Draft National PMO Water 65 Strategy 2000 Management of Water Resources 2000 - 2005 National PMO Water 66 Law 1996 The Water and Water Resources Law National PMO Water

National Rural Water Supply Strategy


ADB = Asia Development Bank

CCM = Council of Ministers

CPC = Central Planning Committee

DoE = Department of Electricity

LNMC = Lao National Mekong Committee

MAF = Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

MIC = Ministry of Information and Culture

MCPTC = Ministry of Communication, Post, Transport and Construction

MIH = Ministry of Industry and Handicraft MF = Ministry of Finance

NA = National Assembly

OP = Office of the President PMO = Prime Minister's Office

STEA = Science, Technology and Environmental Agency

STENO = Science, Technology and Environmental Organisation

UNDP = United Nation Development Program

WB = World Bank

7


Attachment 2 – Organisations and Institutions Relevant

to Catchment Management


Table 2 Attachment 2- Natural Resource Sector Agenc ies in Lao PDR

(Danida 2001)

Organization Responsibilities Role

National Assembly Has ultimate political authority over natural resource use. Approves Regulator National Socio-Economic Development Plan (NESDP).

Committee for Planning and Cooperation (CPC) Prepares National Socio-Economic Development Plan. Technical and

executive functions related to approval of watershed/river basin management plans for incorporation into the NESDP. Support provincial, district and village organizations. Monitors the execution of programs and projects.

Regulator and Manager

➢ Dept. for the Promotion and Management of Solicits and coordinates private sector investment initiatives in the water Domestic and Foreign Investment sector, particularly hydropower BOT investments. Ensures coordination

among agencies involved in foreign investment bids and contracts

➢ Dept. International Cooperation Coordinates public sector donor support to Government water sector programs and initiatives.

➢ Dept. for Monitoring and Evaluation Monitors project implementation and reports to the PMO. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) ➢ Dept. of Law and Treaties

Provides advice on negotiation and signing and follows up implementation of agreements with foreign countries; gives legal advice to State agencies.

Regulator

Ministry of Justice (MJ) Develops Government policy into law and promotes the law Regulator

Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Regulator and

Manager

➢ Water Resource Coordinating Committee and Apex agency for water resources planning and allocation. WRCC is still Executing Secretariat (WRCC) in formative state.

WRCC has prepared Water Sector Profile and Water Sector Strategy



and Action Plan.

➢ National Leading Committee for Rural Development Lead agency to formulate and implement the National Rural Development Program.

➢ National Land Use Planning and Allocation Lead agency to formulate the Government’s land allocation program, a

Committee key element in watershed/river basin management.

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)

➢ Dept. of Forestry

➢ Dept. of Irr igation

➢ Dept. Meteorology and Hydrology

➢ Dept. Livestock and Fisheries

➢ National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute

Implements GOL policies, strategies and programs related to the development and management of irrigation, drainage, flood control, fisheries (and livestock).

Collects, evaluates rainfall, evaporation, river height and flow information for the Lao hydro-meteorology network. Monitors and evaluates data and information related to all of the above.

Responsible for monitoring and management for the protection and conservation of watershed resources, protected forest areas, wetlands and wildlife.

Regulator, Manager, Operator and

Service Provider

Ministry of Communications, Transport, Post and Construction (MCTPC)

Regulator, Manager, Operator and

Service Provider ➢ Inland Waterway Division within Dept. of

Communication

Manages the use of waterways for transport and ensures safe navigation via dredging and navigation aids. Responsible for river bank and urban flood protection. Collects hydrologic data on Mekong and main tributaries.

➢ Dept. of Housing and Urban Planning Responsible for urban development planning. Develops policies,

regulations and plans for water supply and drainage, solid wastes and sewerage in urban areas.

➢ Provincial Authorities Urban Water Supply Supplies water to urban locations (greater than 2000 dwellings and

density greater than 30 persons/ha); implements WHO guidelines for drinking water quality, manages sewerage in urban areas

Operator



sewerage systems, oxidation ponds and new settlements.

Ministry of Industry and Handicraft (MIH)

➢ Dept. of Industry Determines policies, plans, regulations and standards relating to

industrial waste water.

➢ Dept. of Geology and Mines Explores mineral deposits, coordinates development and regulates

mining operations.

➢ Dept. of Energy Determines policies, plans, laws and regulations for developing and

controlling the production and distribution of electricity. Reviews and evaluates project proposals, contracts and agreements.

Regulator, Operator, Service Provider



Manager and Operator

Ministry of Health Manager Operator

and Service Provider

➢ National Institute of Hygiene Epidemiology and Rural

Water Supply

Supplies water and sewerage services to non-urban locations.

➢ Food and Drug Dept. Sets and monitors standards for drinking water supplies.

National Geographic Service Provides mapping and other cartographic information. Service Provider

Provincial Governor’s Offices Executing agency for provincial projects and provincial budgets. Main Manager agency with links to district and village organizations. Empowered by PMO of all national resources.

N a t i o n a l U n i ve r s i t y o f L a o s A w o r k i n g g r o u p u n d e r t h e F a c u l t y o f A g r i c u l t u r e a n d F o r e s t r y , t h e

Faculty of Social Science and Humanities and the Faculty of Biology have established an Inter-disciplinary Working Group focusing on Environmental Education and Research


Table 3 Attachment 3 – List of Projects and Programmes Relevant to

Catchment Management

Project Name Donor Target Area Output

ADB TA 3006 and TA 3205: Institutional

Strengthening of the Water Resources

Coordination Committee

Asia Development Bank

(ADB)

National National Water Sector Strategy

Action Plan

National Water Sector Profile

Draft Decree on WRCC Mandate

ADB TA 3285: Strengthening the Capacity for Aid

Coordination and Monitoring

ADB National Multi -sectoral Donor Activity

Database

ADB TA 2734: Nam Ngum Watershed Management ADB National

ADB TA 3374: Power Sector Strategy Study ADB National IPP Power Project Rankings and

Assessments

ADB TA 3403: Towards Implementing of the

Agricultural Strategy

ADB National Procedures, agencies, approaches

and summary of donor activities.

ADB Loan 1525: Secondary Towns Urban

Development

ADB Selected Sites Water sector infrastructure

development

ADB Loan 1558: Power Transmission and

Distribution

ADB National Water sector infrastructure

development



ADB Loan 1710: Water Supply and Sanitation ADB National Water sector infrastructure

development

Nam Ngum Watershed Conservation Project

(NAWACOP)

German Technical

Assistance (GTZ)

Paek and Pukoud

Districts, Xieng

Khouang

Province

RRA and PRA land use appraisals

and planning

Nam Ngum Resources Management Project Integrated Rural

Development Committee

(IDRC)

National Catchment wide socio -economic

database.

Participatory land use planning

experience and approaches.

Watershed Management Plan for Forest

Conservation in Vang Vieng District

JICA / JAFTA Vang Vieng

District

PRA / RRA approaches to resource

and watershed management

planning.

Sekong, Sesan and Nam Theun River Basin

Hydropower Development Strategy

ADB External river

basins

National Policy for hydropower

including related environmental

issues and mitigation measures.

ADB Loan Shifting Cultivation Stabilization Project ADB Houaphanh

Province

Development of sustainable

agricultural systems.

Poverty Reduction and Environmental

Improvement in Remote Areas

ADB Mekong

subregion

Holistic approach to integrated

development and natural resource



Improvement in Remote Areas subregion management policies.

Watershed Classification Project MRC / CDE National Digital terrain maps for preparation

of thematic maps.

Assessment and Monitoring of the Mekong Basin

Forest Cover

MRC / GTZ National Digital forest cover maps.

Lao-Swedish Forestry Cooperation Program SIDA National Vocational training.

Participatory land use planning.

Monitoring and Evaluation Systems.

Lao-Danida Natural Resources and Environment

Programme

DANIDA National Concepts and Practice in Integrated

Watershed Management.

Forestry Management and Conservation Project

(FOMOCOP)

WB / GEF / Finland Southern

Provinces

Vocational training.

Participatory land use planning.

Monitoring and Evaluation Systems.

Industrial Tree Plantation Project ADB Paek and Pukoud

Districts, Xieng

Khouang

Province

Tree production.

Dong Dok Forestry College Project GTZ National Vocational training.



Management of Protected Areas IUCN National Policy for biodiversity, ecosystems

and conservation.

Capacity building for local

institutions.

Forest Conservation and Afforestation Project JICA Vang Vieng

District

Forest Conservation and

Management.

Sustainable Management of Resources in Lower

Mekong Basin

MRC / GTZ Regional Information dissemination,

interactive conferencing on regional

problems / strategies.

Co-financing of local initiatives.

Agricultural Strategy Study ADB National Strategy reform in the agricultural

and forestry sector.

ADB TA 1745 and TA 2333: Institutional

Strengthening and Development of MAF

ADB National Capacity building in irrigation,

forestry, agriculture, livestock,

fisheries, hydrology and

meteorology sectors.

ADB TA 2447: Small Scale Community Managed

Irrigation

ADB 5 provinces Infrastructure development and

water resource use and management

capacity building.



ADB TA 3189: Irrigation Management Transfer ADB 5 provinces Water resource management and

development at the community level.

Integrated Rural Development Program IFAD / UNDCP Xieng Khouang

Province

Integrated agro -forestry, community

development and irrigation.


Attachment 3 – Contact Institutions for WSM In Lao PDR


Organisation Contact Name Position Phone

Ministry of Agriculture & Thongphou Chief of Office, 412340

Forestry Vongsipasom Vice Chairman of Water 413347

Resources Coordinating

Committee

Dept. of Forestry, MAF

Phetsamay Vongkhammounty

Director 215000


Veunvang Boutthalath

Deputy Director 222563


Linthong Douangphachanh

Deputy Head of Forest Resources Division

222534


Savay Thammavongsa

Head of Water Resources Division

415540

Dept. of Irrigation, Pheng Deputy Director 215010

MAF Phieangpanya 412341

Dept. of Meteorology and Vilavanh Director 412349

Hydrology, Phanoulath

MAF

Dept. of Agriculture, MAF

Thanousay Ounthouang

Deputy Director

National Agriculture & Dr. Ty Director 712047

Forestry Research Phommasack

Institute

MAF

STEA Noulinh Sinhbandit

President, Chairman of WRCC

218738

STEA Ms Keobang A Deputy Chief 020

Keola 519788

Dept. of Environmental Phone Chalern Deputy Director

Research, Nonthaxay

STEA

PPTA Nam Ngum River Hugh Milner Team Leader 020

Basin, 519035

WRCC, STEA

Dept. of Electricity, MIH

Houmphone Bulyaphol

Director 413014

National Institute of Dr.Nouanta Director 413310

Sanitation and Rural Maniphousay 217204

Water Supply,

MPH

Dept. General Planning, Sornthavixay Technician 216752

CPC Phetdaoheuang 612081

Ethnic Minority Dept., Ye Keu Ya Technician 213764

National Front for 251971

Edification of Lao Nation

Gender Resource and Bounphèng Librarian 412078

Information Development

Center,

Lao Women's Union

Danida - National Peter Quist- Technical Advisor 415364

Capacity Building Project Hoffmann


MAF = Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

CPC = Central Planning Committee

MPH = Ministry for Public Health

MIH = Ministry for Industry and Handicrafts

WRCC = Water Resources Coordinating Committee

STEA = Science Technology Environment Agency

14 January 2002

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin. Country Report Thailand

Country – based Watershed

Management Informational

in Thailand

Udhai Thongmee

Watershed Management Division

Royal Forest Department

Bangkok, Thailand

******************************


CONTENTS

Page

1. Introduction to Watershed Management in Thailand 1

1.1 General Characteristic 1

1) Location 1

2) Topography / Watershed Characteristics 1

3) Climate 2

1.2 Watershed Problems / Degradation 2

1) Conversion of Forest lands to Agricultural lands 2

2) Forest Fire 3

3) Logging Operation 3

4) Other Activities 3

1.3 Evolution of Watershed Management 4

1) Watershed Rehabilitation Stage 4

2) Integrated Watershed Management Stage 4

3) Participatory Watershed Management Stage 5

2. Policy on Forestry and Land Use Planning relevan t to Watershed Management 9 2.1 National Policy 9

2.2 Forest Policy 10

2.3 Policy and Prospective Plan for Enhancement and Conservation of National 11

Environment Quality (1997-2016) 2.4 Watershed Classification 13

3. Laws and Regulations Relevant to Watershed Management 15

3.1 Thai constitution, 1997 15

3.2 Laws concerning forest and wildlife 16

3.3 Laws concerning land and soil 16

3.4 Laws concerning water resources 16

3.5 Laws concerning environmental protection 17

3.6 Cabinet Resolution concerning natural resources related to watershed management17

4. Organization Relevant to Watershed Management 19

4.1 Office of Environment Policy and Planning 19

4.2 Royal Forest Department 20

4.3 Land Development Department 23

4.4 Hilltribe Welfare Division, Department of Public Welfare 24

5. Watershed Areas in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) in Thailand 27

5.1 Mekong River Basin 27

5.2 The Tributary Basin in LMB within Thailand 27

5.2.1 Kok River Basin 27

5.2.2 Chi River Basin 27

5.2.3 Mun River Basin 28

5.2.4 Mekong River Basin 28

REFERENCES 33

*************************

1


1. Introduction to Watershed Management in Thailand

1.1 General Characteristic

1) Location

The kingdom of Thailand is located in the centre of the Indo-chinese Peninsula within the Southeast Asia; between latitudes 50 40/ and 200 30/ North and between longitudes 97070/ and 1050 45/ East. It has a common border line with Myanmar in the west and northwest, Republic of Laos’ People Democratic is situated on the northeast. Cambodia is on the east and Malaysia in the south. The South China Sea is on the east and the Andaman Sea on the West of the southern peninsula. The total area of the country is about 320 million rai (513,115 sq.km.) and total population is about 62 million. There are approximately 65% of the total population depend on agricultural activities.

2) Topography / Watershed Characteristics

The characteristics of watersheds in Thailand vary from place to place, due to differences in physiography. The National Hydrology Committee was classified the watershed area into 25 major watersheds for the whole country (Figure1). The total areas, upper watershed areas and average annual water volume of the major watershed are 512,066 sq.km., 127,731 sq.km. and 215,558 km.3 respectively. The detail of each watershed is inlustrated in Table 1.

Northern region : The northern region where the Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan rivers originate, is the most important watershed area in the country. The river join together to form the Chao Phraya River, flowing through the central plain towards the Gult of Thailand. The others are Salawin, Kok, and Mekong watersheds. The northern region is mountainous with long ridges and steep narrow valleys in head watersheds. This is a general topographic of northern Thailand with about 75% comprising of highland. The altitude ranges from 100 meters to 2,685 meters above mean sea level. In the upland areas, there are almost a million population have been settled. Most of them are hilltribe minorities which have been practiced shifting cultivation.

Northeastern region : There are two main watersheds in the northeastern region. The Chi and Mun rivers flow eastward through the region and join the Mekong River. The other is Mekong watershed. It tributaries flow directly through the Mekong river such as Huai-Banghes, Huai Luang, Mae Nam Songkhram, etc. The topography of the watershed is the main characteristic of the Plateau, which gradually changes from undulation to rolling landforms in the lower portion to mountainous areas in the upper portion. The northeast is the most critical area where drought is prevalent during the dry season; floods and soil erosion in the rainy season. The soil is quite sandy, with low nutrient content and low water holding capacity.

Central region : The central region consists of the Chao Phraya, Sakae Krang, Pasak and Thachin watersheds

Eastern region : In the eastern region, consists of Prachin Buri, Bang Pakong, Tonlesap and East Coast Watersheds.

Western region : The western region consists of the Kwai-Yai and Kwai-Noi rivers which are the tributaries of the Mae-Klong watershed, flowing towards the Gulf of Thailand. The other watersheds in the southern part of this region are the Petchaburi and West-Coast watersheds.

2


Southern region : The southern region is a long slender peninsular which runs in a north-south direction. The watersheds can be physically distinguished between the east coast and the west coast. The eastern coast consistes of Peninsala East Coast watershed, Tapi Watershed, Tonle Sap Songkhla watershed and Pattani watershed. The western watershed is Peninsula West Cost watershed consists of small with short distance of river system such as Mae Nam Kraburi, Khlong La Un, Khlong Thom, Mae Nam Trang, etc.

3) Climate

The climate of Thailand is tropical and is mainly affected by the monsoons, resulting from the seasonal differences in temperature between the land mass and the oceanic body, alternately blow southwesternly and northeasternly over Thailand. However, the climatic condition of the country varies from region to region with an average annual rainfall from 1,100 millimeters to 4,000 millimeters . The major high rainfall zones are Peninsula Thailand and the southeast coast, which has an average annual rainfall of more than 2,000 millimeters to 4,000 millimeters in some areas. The low rainfall zone is found in the rain shadow in the central part of the northeast region where the average annual rainfall is about 1,100 millimeters. The rainy season with almost 80% of the total rainfall occurs in the period from May through October, resulting from southwest monsoon, with the exception of the southeast coast and east coast of Peninsula Thailand,the rainy season lasts through December. However the rainy season has been irrigular in the last 4 years.The northeast monsoon from November to February bring cool air to the northern and Northeastern region.The mean monthly temperature ranges from 20 oC to 32 oC

1.2 Watershed Problems / Degradation

The main cause of watershed problems or watershed degradation is the depletation of forest for the extraction of forest and the conversion of forest lands to agricultural lands incorperation with land use abuse. In the early 1900s, the forest has been depleted by the extraction of timber for national economic development. Another depletion of forest has also caused by conversion of forest lands to agricultural lands to provide subsistence food for rapidly increasing population as well as agronomic expansion for commercial crops. The other depletion of forest lands is for country development, such as road construction, water resources and others infrastructures development.

The watershed depletation has resulted on surface runoff, soil erosion and sedimentation in the rainy season. In conversion, it has effected to drought in dry season resulting on defficiency in water consumption, agricultural and industrial production etc. The flooded and drought have been increasing both in term of hazard and frequency.

The main cause of watershed degradation can be categoried as fallow.

1) Conversion of Forest lands to Agricultural lands

Over the last 3 decades, forest cover in Thailand has dramatically decreased from about 53% in 1961 to approximately 25 % in 1998 (Table 2). The depletion of forest areas has mainly been caused by conversion of forest lands to agricultural lands to provide subsistence food for the rapidly increasing population, as well as rapid agronomic expansion for commercial crops.

Most of Thai population have been converted forest lands in the low valleys and flat plain for paddy fields, and agronomic crops such as kenaf,cassava, maize and sugar cane in the flat or undulating areas. However, some of them have been encroached forest areas into the mountainous lands due to the areas in the lowlands are limitted effecting from rapidly increasing population.

3


In the upland, hilltribes have been settled in the mountainous areas particularly in the most important watersheds in northern region where the four main rivers, the Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan originate. The hilltribes have been practiced shifting cultivation (slash and burn practice) for their livelihood. It is a main cause of forest depletion on the mountainous areas. The hilltribes which living in the mountainous areas in Thailand are Karen, Hmong, Lahu, Lisu, Yao, Akha, H’tin Lua, khamu, and etc.

The population living in the highland mountainous areas in 1997 are almost a million people in 187,150 households of 4,841 grouping villages (glum ban) within 20 provinces mainly in the northern region. The distribution of the population and villages are shown in Table 3.

In the past, the cultivated lands in the upper watershed areas were mainly cultivated for subsistence food. However, in the last few decades, the cultivated lands have been converted to commercial crops which are rapidly caused forest destruction. The agricultural practices particularly the rapid expansion for commercial crops on the sloping watershed areas are major cause of watershed degradation. These are not caused only surplus runoff, soil erosion and sedimentation but also water contamination from insecticides and fertilizer applied to those crops.

2) Forest Fire

Forest fire is an important caused of watershed degradation in Thailand. Forest fire is caused by human activities mainly in form of slash and burn for agricultural purpose, collecting forest products, hunting and other causes. Forest fire is mainly occurrence in Dry Dipterocarp forest, Mixed Deciduous forest, Dry Evergreen forest, Pine forest, and abundant shifting cultivated areas. Forest fire is normally occured from January to May while the weather is getting warm and the forest areas is getting dry.

Forest fire is not only damage forest trees but also damage ground covers and surface soil. These will decrease water infiltration capacity, therefore resulting to surplus surface runoff and soil erosion. If the situation is going on year after year, the forest structure will be changed into the drier zone.

3) Logging Operation

In early 1900s forest policy emphasized on the extraction of timber for economic development. Nalampoon (1995) stated that; “Before the 1950’s , Thailand had a thick forest cover of heterogeneous types. Timbers, particulary teak were the most important export commodity after rice. The timber harvesting done by most logging operation in the past, surpassed the sustainable level and caused deterioration to over logged forest.”

Access roads for logging operation are also caused soil erosion and sedimentation. At the same time, local landless people penetrated deeper into the forests by using access roads and encroached forests for agricultural practices, and finally settledown in the forest areas. Due to the depletion of forest by logging operation incorporate with a hazard flood in southern Thailand in Nokhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani provinces in late November 1988 which destroyed and buried 55,851 houses and 373 people (Sawintara and Thongmee, 1991). Logging operations both under the concession and illegal logging were blamed as an important cause of the hazard flood. Therefore, the government decided to ban logging over the country since January 1989.

4) Other Activities

Other activities cause watershed degradation are road construction, mining , over grazing, pesticides and fertilizer, and etc.

Road construction : Road construction particularly on the upper watershed sloping land is one of the major cause of soil erosion and sedimentation. Road construction on sloping land without well manage and unsuitable plan, soil from over cut will cause big

4


problem on sedimentation and water quality in the down streams. Land slide and/or soil erosion along the road sites have to be carefully prevented.

Mining : Mining is an important watershed degradation particularly in the upper watershed. Mining is cause soil erosion and sedimentation in down streams. Salvage water from mining process will cause water quanlities in down stream areas. Another important issue is a great effort to rehabilitate the areas after mining .

Over grazing : Over grazing is another cause of watershed degradation. In the mountainous areas, particularly in northern region where hilltribes are living. Most of the households raise animals such as cattle, horses, and ete. within the forest areas or swidden areas. In some places where over grazing occurrence, ground cover will be reduced at the same time, animals tramp will cause soil compaction. Water infiltration will be reduced which effecting surplus surface runoff and soil ersoion. Animals residual will also be contaminated water quality in the down streams.

Pesticides and Fertilizer Application : In the last few decades, the agricultural practices in the mountainous areas have been converted from subsistence food to commercial crops. Agricultural practices become more intensive incoporate with limitation of lands. Pesticides and fertilizer have been intensively applied for the commercial crops. Parlicularly for vegetable with rapidly expanded. Careless and over application of pesticides and fertilizerlead to water contamination causing big problems to water consumers down streams.

1.3 Evolution of Watershed Management

1. Watershed Rehabilitation Stage :

Watershed Management programme in Thailand has been initiated since 1953 by setting up watershed rehabilitation field stations under the Royal Forest Department (RFD) which was focuses on headwatersheds rehabilitation by reforestation on abandoned shifting cultivated areas in the North. An approach used for watershed management at that time was just to regreen the head watershed areas by reforestation assuming that only the forest can produce optimal yield and distribution of water(Tangtham, 1987). This was the first effort in watershed management in Thailand.

In 1964, the Royal Thai Government (RTG) realized that it faced many problems resulting from watershed degradation in the upper watersheds areas. Hence, an interinstiutional watershed management programme was initiated. The Cabinet agreed to set up the Committee on Watershed Conservation and Development. Unfortunately, due to little support and inadequate cooperation among the concerned agencies, this committee did not function very well and disappeared in a few years (Thangtham, 1987). However, Land Development Department (LDD) set up Soil and Water Conservation and Management Division, and RFD established Watershed Research Sub-Division in 1965 (and eventually become a Watershed Management Division in 1975). Since then, foresters, agriculturists, soil and water conservationists, became part of watershed management teams. Watershed management and related activities such as soil and water conservation and agro-forestry etc. have been introduced. However, the main activity in watershed management still remained on reforestation of denuded watersheds and some soil and water conservation practices.

2. Integrated Watershed Management Stage :

Since 1970, the RFD realized that, without taking the watershed inhabitants into

consideration for rehabilitation works, it would be impossible to stop deforestation and land ues conflicts. The socio-economic development plan including permanent agricultural system have been introduced for replacing shifting cultivation practices on the mountainous watersheds. Therefore, in 1972 the RFD established the “Mae Sa Integrated Watershed and Forest Land-Use Project” with the assistance from FAO/UNDP. The main goal was to find out the best form of land use for rehabilitation of upland watershed areas in the

northern

5


region. The project carried out watershed management, forest grazing and range management, horticulture, forest management, forest fire control, road construction, conservation farming, and extension etc. in order to replace the shifting cultivation practices and providing better living conditions to the watershed inhabitants. The project offered scholarships for staff training abroad in watershed management and related subjects. The project ended in 1981 and was completelytaken over by RFD. The project provided considerable on the job training and demonstrations on watershed management and related subject matters.

In October 1979, a Committee on Watershed Classification was officially set up. A major objective of watershed classification project is to formulate land use plans for the conservation of natural resources , and in particular water resources with a view to their sustainable use (Sriratana Tabucanon, 1998). Watershed classification is the macro Land-use planning for the sustainable development of water resources ( Tangtham, 1996).

In 1980s an integrated watershed management approach, for people’s participation and cooperation among concerned agencies, integrated watershed management concepts were introduced in watershed management programmes. There have been various watershed management project in cooperation with many international agencies, applying participatory approaches e.g. in the Mae Cheam Watershed Development Project (1980-1987) assisted by USAID in the north, and Integrated Development of the Phu Wiang Watershed Project (1984-1989) supported by FAO/UNDP in the north-east. The main objectives of these mentioned projects are to improve living condition and improved land use patterns for environmental conservation through participatory integrated rural watershed development.

3) Participatory Watershed Management Stage :

The Sam Mun Highland Development project (SM-HDP) received financial assistance from the United Nation Drug Control Program (UNDCP) . The project focused on improving the quality of life of the people in the project area and on reducing opium growing areas as well as opium addiction. The project was implemented between 1987-1994 and was divided into 2 phases. The SM-HDP was emphasized on people participation in forest and natural resources management, awareness on understanding of forest protection and conservation through participatory land use planning, 3-D model techniques, and self- sufficiency agicultures. In addition, the project also provided basic informations appropriate technology and knowledge to local people through formal and informal discussion, meeting, training, and study tour. The programme has been extended to Accelerated Watershed Rehabilitation Programme, and Watershed Management Units under Watershed Management Division , RFD.

The Thai-German Highland Development Program (TG-HDP) was implemented during 1981-1998. Based on the achievement of the programme, the TG-HDP found that inter village networking were an effective way to improve community based land use planning and local watershed management.

The Upper Nan Watershed Management Project has been carried out since 1996. The DANCED funded project is planned to continue until year 2003. Village revolving funds are being used for more sustainable land use and generating off-farm income. The strengthening of the village watershed networks has been shown to assist in improving community forest fire management. In 1999 an important activity of the project is improved natural resource management through the sub-district administrations (TAO).


Figure 1 : 25 Major Watershed of Thailand

7


Table 1 Area and Water Volume of Major Watershed in Thailand

No

. Region

River Basin

Total area (km 2)

Upper Watershed area (km 2)

Average Annual Water Volume (km 3)

01 N SALAWEEN 17,920 14,873 8,156

02 N MEKONG 57,422 10,514 15,800

03 N KOK 7,895 4,452 5,119

04 N-E CHI 49,477 6,531 8,035

05 N-E MUN 69,700 2,300 21,767

06 N PING 33,898 17,762 8,116

07 N WANG 10,791 39 1,429

08 N YOM 23,616 7,557 1,430

09 N NAN 34,330 13,354 9,581

10 C CHO PRAYA 20,125 403 4,925

11 C SAKAE KRANG 5,191 841 519

12 C PA SAK 16,292 3,486 2,708

13 C THA CHIN 13,682 944 2,815

14 W MAE KLONG 30,837 16,405 12,943

15 E PRACHINBURI 10,481 1,362 4,502

16 E BANG PARONG 7,978 631 4,900

17 E TONELESAP 4,150 228 1,193

18 E EASTERN COAST 13,830 2,060 25,960

19 W PETCHABURI 5,603 2,740 1,410

20 W WESTERN COAST 6,745 803 1,013

21 S S-E COAST 26,353 5,007 35,614

22 S TAPEE 12,225 2,543 17,380

23 S SONGKLA LAKE 8,495 2,013 7,301

24 S PATTANI 3,858 826 3,024

25 S S-W COAST 21,172 10,057 9,918

TOTAL 512,066 127,731 215,558

Source : Sriratana Tabucanon M. 1998

8


Table 2 Remaining Forest area in Thailand

Year of total area sq.km .Of forest area % of total area

1961 273,628 53.33

1973 221,207 43.11

1976 198,417 38.67

1978 175,224 34.15

1982 156,600 30.52

1985 150,866 29.4

1988 143,807 28.03

1989 143,417 27.95

1990 141,110 27.5

1991 136,698 26.64

1993 135,521 26.02

1995 131,485 25.62

1998 129,722 25.28

Source : RFD Annual Reports

Table 3 Highland Community within 20 Provinces of T hailand in 1997

Tribe Village Households Population

Karen 2,130 70,892 353,574

Kmong 266 15,704 126,300

Yao 195 9,501 48,357

Akha 276 9,740 56,616

Musur 446 15,388 85,845

Lisu 161 5,652 33,365

Lua 71 3,322 17,637

H’tin 151 7,058 38,823

Khamu 47 2,516 13,674

Malabri 3 24 125

Palong 4 290 1,626

Tongchu 4 53 257

Chinese 71 3,456 21,579

Thai Yai 72 4,547 20,068

Thai Lue 17 1,344 6,472

Low land Thai 879 36,031 157,718

Others 48 1,632 9,086

Total 4,841 187,150 991,122

Source : Public Welfare Department, 1997

9


2. Policy on Forestry and Land Use Planning relevan t to Watershed Management

2.1 National Policy

National Economic and Social Development Plan (NESDP) is a national framework for policy and planning. There are also provided guidance for natural resources and environment management which are related to watershed management.

The first six NESDP (1961 – 1991) focused on stimulation economic growth. The 7th NESDP (1992 - 1996) introduced the concept of sustainable development and natural resource management.

Northern watershed Management project (1996) stated that "the primary focus of the first seven plans focus on economic development which proved highly successful with an impressive average annual growth rate of about seven percent. However, economic growth was unbalanced, with income disparity levels continually widening which created new social stresses and weakened traditional cultural values. The growth was fuelled, largely by resource exploitation rather than investment, particularly in regard to the Country ’s resource base and environment which is now seriously degraded as a result.

The 8th NESDP (1997 – 2001) focus not only on the factors that could constrain growth, but also stresses the need to improve household and regional income distribution and manage natural resources in a sustain manner. The plan is emphasized on "human development " as the key concept of development. Its ideas emphasize on an increase in efficient natural resource management through an appropriate system including strengthening the capability of people and their communities to deal with problems, to protect and rehabilitate natural resources through a participatory approach (Liwgasemsan, 1996).

In order to have effective administration and management of National Resource and Environment; the programs should be management of water resource by watershed area, support the existing land use relevant to land capability and watershed classification. In its implementation strategy the 8th Plan emphasized on an integrated approach which all agencies are urged to cooperate in the design, implementation and evaluation of programmes together with full stakeholder participation (Northern Watershed Management project, 1996)

Gilmore (1999) expressed that the 8th NESDP had emphasized on three categories. The most important thing is the focus on the protection of remaining natural forests. The second emphasis given in the plan is the rehabilitation of forest and promotion of reforestation. The third emphasis is on people participation in the process of forest management in various forms.

Sukawong (1999) concluded that:

- the 1st – 2nd NESDP encouraged the exploitation of forest resources in order to bring foreign currency.

- the 4th NESDP realized the loss of forests, therefore, their conservation was initiated and their destruction banned until the 6th NESDP.

- during the 7th NESDP, forest cover continued to reduced by about 1 million rai (160,000 ha.) per year.

- the 8th NESDP encouraged the people to participate in the process, initiated community organizations, strengthened the community, campaigned for the understanding of government officials towards the community roles and promoted people’s participation.

- the 9th NESDP states more clearly that provinces will be aimed at local

planning.

The current 9th NESDP (2002 – 2006) aims at poverty alleviation and raise standard of living of the major population in order to sustain development and happiness of Thai people under the “sufficient economy philosophy ”. The plan is emphasized on human development (as stated on the 8th plan), strengthening communities, administrative and management natural resource and environment including development of science and technology in appropriate with Thai society. The target on natural resource is to conserve and rehabilitate Protected Forest area not less than 30% of the total country’s area and

10


mangrove forest not less than 1.25 million rai; promote economic forest plantation 5% and private forest 5% of the total country’s area. The strategic plan related to watershed management and natured resources are

1) decentralize the responsibility to local administrative organization.

2) restructuring rural and city development by encouraging economic at grass root with effecting economic growth and poverty reduction; strengthening communities, development group productions and area productions in order to make efficiency economic bases under the area approach participatory management.

3) restructuring mechanism and process of administration and management of natural resource and environment effectively by participation of local communities and the whole stakeholder in the society for sustainable used.

4) poverty reduction by making opportunity for poor people accessing the government services and be able to equally use of natural resources.

2.2 Forest Policy

Early forest policy (1900s) was emphasized on the extraction of timber for national economic development. Though forest policy was included in the First Five - Year NDP in 1962, but the implementation was not emphasized. The only significant policy statement in forestry was the establishment of the minimum permanent area to be kept under forest cover. The target in the Plan was 50 percent of the land area to be under forest cover, with a provision that, as population reached 30 million, the figure should be reduced to 40 percent (FAO, 1993). Due to over logging operation incorporate with encroachment for agricultural lands (particularly during the cash - crop boom in 1960s) have effected the rapid depletion of natural resources causing many of the serious environmental problems.

In order to unity the forest policy, the RFD established a committee to draft a national Forest Policy in 1982. The committee was mainly a government body consisting of various ministers, advisers and government secretaries. There was only one representative from the private sector the President of the Forest Industry Association of Thailand. The aim was to coordinate and consolidate the efforts of all concerned toward protection and utilization of the national forest resource.

The committee had the following terms of reference (FAO, 1993) :

- Assigning no less than 40 percent of the area of the country as forest area: 15 percent for Protected Forest area with appropriate measures under the National Park Act, Wildlife Protection and conservation Act and the cabinet resolutions on forest conservation; and 25 percent for Economic Forest area with measures under the Forest Reservation Act and Forest Act and any other laws or cabinet resolutions concerning economic forest development;

- Developing a guideline and target for long-term forest management, forestdevelopment and forest resource conservation according to the proposed National Forestry Policy;

- Specifying measures for the conservation of forest environment, soil, water, rare flora and fauna and measures for prevention of natural calamity from flood and landslide and assigning the responsibility to various agencies for implementation;

- Supervising and expediting the operation of law - enforcement officials to

deal with offenders and specifying procedures to follow in prosecution; - Providing recommendations to the cabinet on policy and measures on

forest management, forest development and forest resource conservation

11


such a increasing the use of modern technology to increase farm productivity, reduce farm area expansion, and provide a clear forest boundary to prevent forest encroachment, etc;

- Improving the forest administration system;

- Assigning all lands with slope of more than 35 percent as forest land and

no land deed or title for such land may be issued under the Land Codes;

- Specifying policy and measures to promote private tree farming; and

- Undertaking any other activities assigned by the cabinet.

The specific terms of reference limited the scope for deliberations of the committee. The policy formulation process was detailed, with extensive readings and public hearings for academics, the public, politicians, and village leaders. Cabinet approved the policy in 1985.

The original ratio of protected to productive forest of 15 percent to 25 percent has already been changed to 20 percent in 1990 and back again by Ministerial decree. At the same time, the Seventh NESDP (1992 – 1996) was submitted for approval where a ratio was specified as 25 to 15 percent. The Cabinet approved the Plan. Also logging has been banned from all forests, so production forest is effectively zero. (FAO, 1993)

2.3 Policy and Prospective Plan for Enhancement and Conservation of National E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y , ( 1 9 9 7 - 2 0 1 6 )

This section is summarized from Office of Environmental Policy and Planning, 1999. Preparation of the Policy and Prospective Plan for Enhancement and conservation of National Environment Quality Act of 1992, as stipulated in Section 13(1): The National Environment Board has the authority and obligation to propose the Cabinet for agreement, to be used as guidelines and a framework for administration and promotion and conservation of the nation's environmental quality. The document has been considered finally by the National Environment Board, and on 26 November 1996, the Cabinet passed a resolution accepting the Policy and Prospective Plan for Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality, 1997-2016.

2.3.1 The Policy and Prospective for Plan Environment and Conservation of National Environment Quality for the period 1997 - 2016, consists of six main policy as areas on Natural Resources, Pollution Prevention and Eradication, Natural and Cultural Environments,

Community Environment, Environmental Education and promotion, Environmental Technology.

2.3.2 The vision for managing environmental quality includes:

(1) Natural resources are the resource base for sustainable development. Utilization of these resources for economic development purposes is based on conservation and social justice.

(2) Administration and management of environmental quality overall are decentralized to be effective, with power being transferred from central offices to local institutions. Thus, all government agencies, the private sector, NGOs and local level institutions can participate in formulation of policy and planning, and a monitoring program.

(3) People have awareness and are willing to work together to protect, and rehabilitate environmental quality.

2.3.3 The objectives for managing environmental quality includes:

(1) Protect and rehabilitate environmental quality for enhancement of quality o f l i f e a n d b e t t e r h e a l t h o f h u m a n b e i n g s.

(2) Conserve natural resources to be the resource base for sustainable development, by rehabilitating degraded natural resources for future development, by p r e s e r v i n g a n d s u s t a i n a b l e u s i n g n o n - r e n e w a b l e r e s o u r c e s .

12


(3) Boost institutional capacities to administrate and manage environmental quality, in addition to decentralizing power to provincial and local authorities.

2.3.4 The Policy and prospective Plan for Enhancement and Conservation of National Environment Quality for the period 1997 - 2016 on Natural Resources are:

(1) Increase efficiency in the use of natural resources; coordinate any utilization of natural resources and reduce conflicts; and, accelerate rehabilitation of degraded natural resources to be the basic inputs for sustainable development.

(2) Enhance administration and management of natural resources by systematic decentralization of power and authority from central offices to regional offices, in addition to strengthening relationships among government agencies, the private sector, NGOs, and local people.

(3) Support the application of resource economics for effective

management of natural resources and establishment of social justice.

(4) Amend the legal and regulatory framework enabling support for more effective administration and management of natural resources, and recognition of rights and responsibilities of local people to demonstrate ownership of resources.

(5) Support the study, research, and establishment of a standardized database net work for natural resource.

(6) Increase conservation awareness of senior government officers, politicians at all levels, the private sector, and the general public, in order to integrate concepts for natural resources development and conservation, ensuring their movement in the same direction.

2.3.5 The goal to protect remaining natural resources, and rehabilitate degraded resources as the resource base for sustainable development over the long-term includes:

(1) Soil and Land Use

- Effectively use land resources for various activities on their capacity and conforming to environmental conditions, taking into consideration the impact on the country as a whole.

- Conserve, rehabilitate and improve degraded soil and land as the resource base for sustainable development, by accelerating rehabilitation of abandoned areas and solving the problem of soil erosion, that covers 59.5% and 41.7% of the countries area, respectively.

- Conserve areas containing unique ecosystems and geology based on

the natural balance.

(2) Forest Resources

- Protect 50% of the country as forest cover; of this at least 30% is designated as conservation forest, and the remaining 20% is designated as economic forest.

- Utilize forest resources based on maintaining balanced ecosystems and environmental quality.

- Conserve biodiversity sustainability.

(3) Water Resources

Develop, conserve and rehabilitate surface and ground water

resources in all basins, to ensure sufficient quantity and good quality on a long-term basis.

(4) Coastal Resources

- Preserve at least 1 million rai (160,000 hectare) of mangrove forest. - Conserve and rehabilitate all types of coastal resources in order to maintain the natural balance of this ecosystem.

13


2.3.6 Policy on Forest Resource Management

(1) Increase forest cover to 50% of the country. At least 30% is to be designated as conservation forest, and 20% as economic forest, to ensure that demands of economic and social development are met, and to maintain the environmental balance.

(2) Utilization of forests must be in accordance with natural resource conservation practices.

(3) Protect remaining natural forest areas from encroachment. (4) Reduce conflict over utilization of forest resources and other resource in

forest areas. 2.4 Watershed Classification

In order to protect natural resources, land areas have been allocated for various uses such as areas to be permanently protected forests as watershed cover, commercial forests, and areas open for utilization all resources or conversion to agronomic uses. The watershed classification has been recognized in Thailand for many years. Several methods had been proposed but had not been widely accepted by the government resources management agencies. Finally, a Watershed Classification Project was established by the Cabinet under the National Environment Board. A new committee was formed for the Watershed Classification Project in October 1979. The National Economic and Social Development Board provided funds to Kasetsart University through the National Environment Board for conducting the project. The National Environment Board retained a technical panel of experts (the Watershed Classification Committee : WCC) for advice of technical aspects of the project. While the project was mainly funded by the Government of Thailand, technical assistance and support had been provided by the Government of Sweden through the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)

A major objective of watershed classification is to formulate land use plans for the conservation of natural resources, and in particular water resources with a view to their sustainable use (Sriratana Tabucanon, 1998). In addition, watershed classification is the macro Land-use planning for the sustainable development of water resources (Tangtham, 1996).

Watershed classification initiated by the WCC is defined as the identification of inherent capacity of landscape unit to be managed and produced, either plants or animals. The terms “WSC” used by the WCC is synonymous with land use planning for watershed areas. It is an effort to make man’s uses of land as compatible as possible with the features of the environment and to mitigate on-site and off-site effect of use. All WCC members were asked to propose the parameters which are thought to be meaningful in characterizing watershed classes and must be available or can be made available in short period. Also constraints required for mapping large area of country (40 million ha) with limited time and computer system (PC) were informed to WCC members. It was agreed that parameters used in deriving prediction models must be stable in space and time and equally good data and must be numerically scaled to establish a mathematical relationship with WSC and for efficient production of WSC maps. Five variables were selected from more than 20 parameters initially proposed by concerned agencies. They are SLOPE, ELEVATION, LANDFORM, GEOLOGY and SOIL. Values for the five variables were read either from 1:50,000 topographic maps, or soil and geologic maps for each of 1x1 sq.km grid. A multi- variable analysis was employed to develop the mathematical relationships of variables with assigned WSC values for each region and/or basin. Detailed information on prediction equation derivation, field test and mapping procedures was described by Tangtham (1992).

The watershed classification and its land-use practices resolution have been implemented since 1985 for the Ping-Wang watershed in the northern region and

implementation in all of the watershed regions of the country in 1995. The watershed classification and recommended land-use are shown in Table 4.

14


According to the watershed classification promulgation under cabinet resolution, there are about 58 million rai (9.3 million ha.) or 17.86 percent of the country area was classified as WSC1, about 26.7 million rai (4.28 million ha.) or 8.3 percent was classified as WSC 2. Therefore, about 26 percent of the country area was classified as head watershed areas. The rest of about 235.79 million rai (37.7 million ha.) or about 73.7 percent was classified as WSC 3-5.

After Cabinet approval, all government agencies concerned must follow the resolutions whereby measures and recommendations of land utilization applicable to each watershed class.

According to the cabinet resolution, watershed class 1 is protected or conservation forest which must be strictly permanent forest as head water sources. All land use are prohibited. Those communities located in the watershed class 1A must be relocated. Immediate reforestation program must be undertaken by RTG on the abandon shifting area. However the LANDSAT imagery survey in 1993 found that, over 2.76 million rai (0.44 million ha.) on the WSC I have been encroached (Thong mee, 1999). Highland Community Development and Narcotics Control Master plan No.2 (1997 - 2001) illustrated that the population living in the highland mountainous areas in 1995 are over 853,000 people in 154,821 households of 4,297 grouping village (glum ban) within 20 provinces mainly in the northern region (the population who are settle on watershed class 1, have not yet classified). The population have been increased up to 991,122 people in 1997 (data from Public welfare Department).

Table 4 Watershed Classification and Recommended La nd use, Thailand

WS CLASS CHARACTERISTICS AND MAJORLAND USE RECOMMENDED

WATERSHEDS APPROVED BY WSC 1A Protection forest and headwater source area at

higher elevations and steep slopes.

Primary headwater areas should remain under permanent forest cover.

PING-WANG : 28 May 1985

YOM - NAN : 21 October 1986

MUN - CHI : 12 July 1988

SOUTHERN: 07 November 1989 EASTERN: 19 November 1991 WESTERN-CENTRAL-PASAK NORTHERN AND NORTHEASTERN BORDER : 21 February 1995

WSC 1 B Similar to WSC 1A but some areas cleared for agricultural use or occupied by villages.

Primary headwater areas require special SWC measures, replanted to forest or maintained in permanent agro-forestry. WSC 2 Protection and/or commercial forest at higher elevations with steep slopes.

Landforms less erosive than WSC 1A or WSC 1 B. Secondary headwater areas may by use for grazing or certain crops with SWC measures.

WSC 3 Unplands with steep slopes and less erosive landforms. Areas may be used for commercial forests, mining, grazing, fruit trees or certain agricultural crops with SWC measures.

WSC 4 Gently slopping lands suitable for row crops, fruit trees and grazing with moderate need for SWC measures.

WSC 5 Gentle to flat areas used for paddy fields of other agricultural used with few restrictions.

Source : Office of the National Environment Board (n.d.) and OEPP (1996a)

15


3. Laws and Regulations Relevant to Watershed Manag ement

Wongbandit (1976) concluded that "no law in Thailand is issues to specifically deal with the management of watershed resources as an integrated whole, but each law in general usually addresses each specific kind of resource and at the same time the law give some power to the officials concerned to create some conditions or requirements necessary for the protections and management of resources under their responsibility. However there are many levels of legal framework relevant to watershed management. These include Thai Constitution, 1997, laws as well as cabinet resolutions. 3.1 Thai constitution, 1997

According to Thai Constitution, 1997, the local people and organization should be involved in managing their natural resources. The constitution has further enshrine people’s participation in forest management (Pragtong, 2000 sited from Poffenberger, 1999). Under the Constitution, local governments at the sub-district level, Tambon Coucils and Tambon Administration organization (TAO) have an important role in natural resource administration within their jurisdiction (Pragtong, 2000). TAO has clear responsibilities, as specified by the TAO Law in Clause 67, in which the TAO shall protect, maintain and preserve natural resources and environment within its responsible areas (Sukawong; 1999). There are some sections under the Constitution which are relevant to Watershed management as well as decentralization. These are:

Section 46 Person so assembling as to be a traditional community shall have the right to conserve or restore their customs, local knowledge, arts or good culture of their community and of the nation and participate in the management, maintenance, preservation and exploitation of natural resources and the environment in a balanced fashion and persistently as provided by law.

Section 56 The right of a person to give to the State and communities participation in the preservation and exploitation of natural resources and biological diversity and in the protection, promotion and preservation of the quality of the environment for usual and consistent survival in the environment which is not hazardous to his or her health and sanitary condition, welfare of quality of life, shall be protected, as provided by law.

Section 78 The State shall decentralize of power to localities for the purpose of independence and self-determination of local affairs, develop local economics, public utilities and facilities systems and information infrastructure in the locality thoroughly and equally throughout the country as well as develop into a large – sized local government organization a province ready for such purpose, having regard to the will of the people in that province.

Section 79 The State shall promote an encourage public participation in the preservation, maintenance and balanced exploitation of natural resources and biological diversity and in the promotion, maintenance and protection of the quality of the environment in accordance with the persistent development principle as well as the control and elimination of pollution affecting public health, sanitary conditions, welfare and quality of life.

Section 89 For the purpose of the implementation of this Chapter, the State shall establish the National Economic and Social Council to be charged with the duty to give advice and recommendations to the Council of Ministers on economic and social problems.

Section 290 For the purpose of promoting and maintaining the quality of the environment, a local government organization has powers and duties as provided by law.

The law under paragraph one shall at least contain the following matters as its

substance :

(1) the management, preservation and exploitation of the natural resources and environment in the area of the locality;

(2) the participation in the preservation of natural resources and

environment outside the area of the locality only in the case where the living of the inhabitants in the area may be affected;

16


(3) the participation in considering the initiation of any project of activity outside the area of the locality which may affect the quality of the environment, health or sanitary conditions of the inhabitant in the area.

3.2 Laws concerning forest and wildlife

(1) The Protection and reservation of Forest Act, B.E. 2481 (A.D. 1938) which amended in 1953 and 1954. The Protection and Reservation of the Forest Acts was revise and become the National Forest Reserve Act, B.E. 2507 (A.D. 1964)

(2) The National Park Act, B.E. 2504 (A.D. 1961)

(3) The Conservation and Protection of Wildlife Act,B.E. 2535 (A.D. 1992)

The National Forest Reserve Act, 1964, the National Park Act, 1961, and the Conservation and Protection of wildlife act, 1992, are primarily intended to protect forest and wildlife, which authorize the government to designate certain areas as forest reserves, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries respectively. Entry into such areas is controlled by the government officials but in practice only the national parks and wildlife sanctuaries are under the strict control of the government.

3.3 Laws concerning land and soil

Agricultural Land Consolidation Act, 1974, and Agricultural Land Reform Act, 1975. These acts prohibit the use of land for purposes other than agriculture, the scope of their application is quite limited and they do not go far enough to specify what part of land should be used for what kind of agriculture or crops. Nor do they require landowners to carry out soil conservation. In fact the issue of soil conservation is addressed by the Land Development Act, 1983, but the Land Development Committee and its Secretariat established by the Act have no power to force landowners to comply with good practice of soil conservation. What has been mentioned seems to imply that land use control and soil conservation are not easily carried out by relying only on the powers of the official concerned under such acts (Wongbandit, 1996).

3.4 Laws concerning water resources

Laws concerning water resources will be discussed only on water in watercourse which are summarized from Wongbandit, 1996 as fallow:

1) Water in watercourses in general Water in watercourses in general is free to all persons in Thailand due to the

perception that running water was difficult to own, water was indispensable for maintaining life and water in Thailand was still abundant when the Section 1304 of the Civil and Commercial code states was promulgated. However, a kind of limitation or water use is imposed upon riparian landowners as Section 1355 of the Civil and Commercial Code states that "a riparian landowner has no right to withdraw water in the amount exceeding his reasonable need to the prejudice of other land abutting the same water way". So, all persons seem to have almost unlimited right to use water in watercourses in general, which is not good for the development, management and conservation of water resources and country as a whole since it is impossible to identify the scope of water right of each person.

However, there recently have some conflict on water user group between people on the upper watershed and downstream areas; for example in cases of Chom-Tong district, Chiang-Mai Province and in Pua district, Nan Province.

2) Water in watercourse in irrigated areas

The use of water in watercourses in areas irrigated by government projects, especially those under the responsibility of the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) is regulated

17


by the Royal Irrigation Act, 1942. In regulating water use, RID usually develops an irrigation system for conveying water to a particular area which is called an “irrigated area”. Watercourses, either natural or man-made, used for an irrigation purpose also are designated by the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives as “irrigation canals”. Once a watercourse is designated as an irrigation canal, the official concerned may according to Section 35 of the Act prohibit anyone from withdrawing or using water from the watercourse if such withdrawal or use would cause injury to another person. The gate of irrigation canal according to Section 25 can be closed or opened only by the official concerned. This indicates that the use of water in irrigation canals is actually under the control of RID.

3.5 Laws concerning environmental protection

Wongbandit (1996) stated that "the issues of environmental protection in Thailand is addressed by a large number of laws but the one considered as a framework legislation is the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act, 1992 (ECNEQA). This Act addresses several interesting issues such as the creation of National Environmental Board, Pollution Control Committee and Environmental Fund, issuance of environmental quality standards, requirement of environmental impact assessment report for some projects, designation of pollution control areas and environmentally protected areas, imposition of strict liability upon the owners or possessors of pollution sources, and promotion measures for environmental protection".

Section 7 in order to encourage people participated on Environment protection and conservation, NGO as non-profit group or non-political party, can register to be a protected and preserved organization by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment according to the rules and regulations of the ministry.

Section 8 Legalized NGO as section 7, may get support or assistance from the state as follows:

1.) Provision of volunteers working the government officials regarding to this bill or relation, environment protection and promotion Law

2) Public relation, dissemination of information and knowledge to the people in order to create public awareness about environment conservation.

3) Support the local community to implement the project on environment conservation.

4) Research on environment conservation and propose to the government or concerned agencies.

5) Law assistance to the people endangered by discharge of dissemination of pollution and also being as representative of the suffered to claim for compensation and damage in the court.

3.6 Cabinet Resolutions concerning natural resource s related to watershed management.

1) Cabinet Resolution concerning Watershed Classification

The detail of watershed classification have already mentioned in section 2.4. However, it have to be mentioned here that, according to the cabinet resolution, watershed class 1 is protected or conservation forest which must be strictly kept permanently as head water sources. All land use are prohibited. Those communities located in the watershed

class 1A must be relocated. Immediate reforestation program must be undertaken by RTG

on the abandon shifting area.

2) Cabinet Resolution on 30 June 1998

Cabinet resolution on 30 June 1998 states that those who are living and farming in areas of strict protection, National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, and watershed class 1A and 1 B:

18


- Communities settled before the date of establishment as a protected area shall be allowed to remain.

- Exceptions are those communities settled in ecologically sensitive zones and these community settled, which, when possible shall be resettled. An ecologically sensitive zone or critical area is an area which located surrounded or close to good forest cover or abundant biodiversities. It such these areas are disturbed there will be ecologically fragile or on the areas with susceptible to soil erosion, etc.

- To ensure that the implementation will be fair and ecologically appropriate the designation of sensitive areas in each site will be done with the full involvement of all local communities concerned, in conjunction with academics and forestry officials.

Procedures for 30 June 1998 resolution on forest protection areas

1) Confirmation the government policy on forest protection areas, not to allocate the forest lands to the office of Agricultural Land Reform.

2) Surving and registering the occupied forest areas. 3) RFD and agencies concerned have to proof the occupied lands

by using aerial photographs taken before the declaration of forest reserve areas together with the other evidences.

4) The farmers cultivate the lands before the declaration, RFD should provide basic needs for the people and survey the farmland boundary. In the critical areas, RFD should find the other suitable areas for the farmers provided with infrastructures, on-farm and off-farm agriculture and land issuance. RFD will reforest those destroyed areas.

5) If the farmers cultivate the lands after the declaration, RFD should carry on the following activities:

- Removing farmers from protected areas and planting trees for watershed rehabilitation. Before starting the relocation, RFD has to provide arable lands, public works, on-farm and off-farm agriculture and land legislation for the farmers.

- If RFD can not move farmers immediately, the occupied forest lands must be controlled and the land allocation programs and basic needs should be provided.

6) Sustainable agriculture has to be implemented on the occupied areas to minimize the impacts on natural resources and environment.

7) Basic needs for self reliance are supported by the highland development agencies such as RFD, LDD, Agricultural Extension Department, Public Welfare Department, Highland Community Development and Narcotics Control Program, etc.

19


4. Organizations Relevant to Watershed Management

Northern Watershed Management Project (1996) summarized that " 38 Government departments are active in watershed management related activities, not one has sole responsibility for watershed management. As a consequence, activities tend to be somewhat uncoordinated and disjoined. The four main Government programs which fund activities include the National Rural Development Program, the regular programs of Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) line agencies, the Highland Community Development and Narcotics Control Program and the Government's first attempt at bottom-up planning whereas MOAC activities tend to be more centrally oriented. The Departments of Forest, Land Development, Irrigation, Livestock Development, Agricultural Extension and the Agricultural Land Reform Office are the main MOAC agencies active in watershed management. Whilst their plans are funded along agency lines, they often cooperate jointly in development projects with varying degrees of success. In spite of the majority of activities being funded under MOAC agency programs, the responsibility for National Watershed Policy Development lies with the Ministry of Science Technology and the Environment.

In planing and implementing any project / program. all government agencies have to comply with policies issued by several coordinating committees responsible for natural resources utilization, developments, management and conservation. Such coordinating bodies includes, among other things, the National Economic and social Development Board (NESDB), National Environment Board (NEB), National Water Resources Council (UWRC), National Forestry Policy Board, Committee for Solving National Security Problems Concerning Hill Tribe Population and Narcotic Plants, and Local and Regional Prosperity Distribution Committee (Wongbandit, 1996).

Though, many government departments and coordinating bodies are responsible for planing implementing in natural resources utilization, development, management and conservation for watershed management. However, the RFD plays an important role on implementing watershed management particularly on the head watershed areas, due to most of those areas are under forest reserves, National Parks and Wildlife sanctuaries which are the main responsibility of RFD.

In addition, under the Tambon Administration Act 1992 and the new Thai Constitution 1997, Tambon Administration Organization (TAO) will play a greater vole in forest management and involved in managing natural resources with in their boundaries.

Main organizations relevant to watershed management are as fellow:

4.1 Office of Environmental Policy and Planning

The Office of Environmental Policy and Planning (OEPP) was established after the government passed a new Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act 1992 as a unit of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MOSTE). The OEPP has the responsibility for establishing environmental policies and plans of the country in accordance with the Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act of 1992.

The OEPP is divided into 8 division and 12 regional offices. The detail of responsibility, roles and implementation, and organization of OEPP are in Annex 1 However, watershed management issue is the domain of Natural Resources and Environment Management Division. The division is responsible for :

- coordinating the management of natural resources to ensure the integration of the Environmental Quality Management Plan into the National Economic and Social Development plan;

- coordinating the designation of environmental Protected Areas and issuing ministerial Regulations prescribing any necessary protection measures;

20


- formulating specific plans related to natural resource management such as

conservation of biodiversity, watershed classification, coastal and marine

resources, water and mineral resources and energy, land and use.

Under the OEPP, a Watershed Resources Sub-Division of the National Resources and Environment Management Division has responsibility for coordinating on natural resources and environment management policy in the watershed areas particularly on the watershed class 1 and class 2.

Although, the OEPP has responsibility for watershed policy not an implementing agency. The OEPP is coordinating and monitoring three pilot watershed management project in different regions of the county, including Mae Taeng in the north, Nam Churn in the northeast, and Khlong Yan in the south. These pilot projects are aimed at coordinating the activities of various line agencies involved in watershed management in an integrated manner. On of the major lessons learned from these projects if that funding through the central line agencies makes the integration of activities at the field level very difficult (Northern Watershed Management Project 1996).

4.2 Royal Forest Department

The Royal Forest Department (RFD) was Founded by the King Rama the Fifth on 18 September 1896. The RFD was initially under the Ministry of Interior for 25 year, then it was transfered two to there ministries before it eventually become a unit of the Ministry of Agriculture (Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives) in 1935. The RFD has responsibility for all forest related activities including management, protection, conservation and rehabilitation, law enforcement, services and reseach.

The RFD is now organized into five Offices seven Administrative Divisions, 21 Regional Forest Offices, 75 Provincial Forest Office and District Forest Officers. The organization Chart is illustrated on Figure 2. The most important Office under RFD in regard to watershed management is Office of Natural Resources Conservation (ONRC). The main divisions related to watershed management under ONRC and National Park Divisions, Wildlife Conservation Division and Watershed Management Division. Watershed Research Sub-Division under the Office of Forest Research play an important role or research activities related to watershed management.

National Park Division : National Parks have represent special conservation areas controlled by specific laws and regulations which vary from governing forest reserve. Establishment of National Parks have been carried out under the legal framework of the National Park Act of 1964 for gazetting park areas and boundaries including the provisions for their management and use. Under the Act, the entry of visitors to the parks is encouraged and appropriate forms of eco-tourism are promoted along with the use of parks for educational purposes or scientific research. The law also allows any activities necessary for park maintenance, development and protection of natural resource. Under the law, a number of activities are specifically excluded including land ownership, clearing and burning, cattle raising and the removal of any flora and fauna.

Till 1998, National Park Division has gazettied a total of 19 National Parks covering a total areas of 11,041.99 sq.km. rai (11.04 million ha.).

Wildlife Conservation Division : wildlife Sanctuaries and Non-hunting Areas are under the responsibility of Wildlife Conservation Division. Those areas are also represent the conservation or protected areas which are strictly reserve forest which are good for watershed protection. The Wildlife Sanctuaries are governed by the Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act of 1960 and amended in 1992. The Act contains similar provisions of national parks with some additional restrictions as to their use. Till 1998, the RFD has Set up a total of 8 sanctuaries cover a total areas of 4,324.6 sq.km. rai (432,400 ha.).

Watershed Management Division : Watershed Management Division (WMD) is directly concern to watershed management implementation activities. The WMD is

21


responsible for conserving the area under forest cover in the country’s watershed areas with particularly on the head watershed areas and for attending to provide sufficient needs of communities which utilize this resource for farming and livelihood activities. However, some of watershed areas have overlab with National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries. The objectives of the WMD are as follows:

- To manage watershed areas with pay attention to head watershed areas to provide sufficient and continuous supply of good water quality water through out the year.

- To prevent/alleviation soil erosion within the watershed areas and sedimentation to downstream areas.

- To improve the socio-economic status of the villagers living in the watershed areas through the efficient use of natural resources based on sound soil and water conservation principles.

Watershed management was initiated by the RFD in 1953. Since then, the RFD has played an important role on watershed management implementation, with particularly on head watershed areas. In 1965, the RFD was set up a Watershed Research Section under the Silvicuture Division, and eventually become a Watershed Management Division in 1975.

At the present, the WMD is under the Office of Natural Resources Conservation of the RFD. The WMD has divided its organization into six sub-divisions, and has established 19 Watershed Management Centers with 189 Watershed Management Units through out the country which concentrate in the northern region. The organization chart is shown in Figure 3. Further more, the WMD has been working in collaboration with other related organization such as Royal Project, Queen initiated Project etc. There are 274 officers which mainly Forest Officers graduated from Forestry School in Phrae Province and Kasetsart University, with 200 Permanent employee, and many of temporary employment.

The main activities have been carried out by WMD are as fallow:

1) Reforestation Program :

Reforestation have been carried out on the denuded areas by shifting cultivation from 1965 to 1996 cover an area of about 1.3 million rai (0.2 million ha.). The reforestation for watershed rehabilitation are mainly in the northern region 960,145 rai (153,632 ha.) particularly on The Ping Watershed about 577,730 rai (92,439 ha.).

Reforestation for watershed rehabililation in each region are as follows.

- Northern region 963,495 rai

- Central including 114,377 rai

West and East region

- Northeast region 231,583 rai

- Sounthern region 15,940 rai

Total 1,325,395rai

Since 1996, the watershed management has a policy on watershed rehabilitation through natural regeneration incorporate with enrichment planting. The main activities are fire prevention, area protection from encroachment, planting local tree specis 25 trees per rai and tending of planting trees. Total areas of 377,740 rai (60,438.4 ha.) was carried out from 1996 to 2001.

22

2) Vetiver grass for soil and water conservation :

Vetiver grass has been introduced for soil and water conservation since 1993. Vetiver grass has been enconraged to plant on highland agriculture, roads site, on eroded soils and dam site. About 40 million vetiver grasses were introduced for those purposes between 1993 and 2001.

3) Check dam :


Check dam is another activity for watershed rehabilitation. Series of check dams have been constructed to retain water flow in the stream, trap sedimentation, increase moisture, and enhancing vegetative growth. Integrated check dam or temporary check dam is constructed from local matherial such as stone, wooden branches, sack of sand or soil etc. It should be constructed on the upper part of the stream. Where the streams are wide and deep, semi-permanent check dam and permarent check dam should be introduced. These dams are also be able to collect water for consumption and small scale agricultural purpose.

Till 2001 amount of 42,366 integrated check dams, 1,009 semi-permanent check dams, and 600 permanent check dams have been constructed.

4) Community arrangement/ development :

As mentioned earlier, there are about a million people in 4,841 villages (glum ban) living in the head watershed areas, which are difficulty to move them out of those areas at the circumstant. They should stay in harmony with natural resources, make them stay co-exit in the forest areas with less impact. Therefore participatory approach has been introduced to cope those problems. In order to encourage local people participated on watershed activities, 3 tools consist of a) participatory land use planning (PLP) , b) Watershed network organization, and c) people forum have been employed by forest officers, community coordination officers and local communities.

a) Participatory Land Use Planning (PLP) : Participatory Land Use Planning by using 3-D model has been developed as a method of negotiation competing claims to resources and helping upland villagers to develop sustainable land management, especially through community forestry schemes. Through such negotiation, agencies and villages have agined access to knowledge and better mutual understanding so that conflict can be resolved. PLP has achieved a good degree of success and life in upland communities made more secure.

b) Watershed Network Organization : On the Watershed land , there are many tribal groups living for a long time and praticing different types of agricultural systems. Each village has specific problem concerned with forest and natural resources and had established a village committee. By using 3-D model for land use planning, each village issues regulation for their own and selects a representative to be watershed network committee. The roles of the watershed committee are:

1) To consider the problems and solution in the watershed,

2) To develop and issue regulation on forest and natural resources utilization,

3) To enforce the watershed regulations by punishment,

4) To coordinate with the government and concerned agencies. 5) To collaborate with the project staff and lacal communities.

c) People Forum : Strenghtening local people on dicision making about watershed management, the people forum will be held at community center or any available appropriate places, aiming to provide a chance for villagers to exchange their experiences

and to resolve conflicts among local communities. Informations and documentations concerned with the government policy, forestry plan, marketing and agricultural technologies will be provided by the RFD in order to create common undershtandings among local people and to resolve conflict with the government offcials.

Till the year 2001, the watershed management units have

carried out community development through participatory approach in 1284 villages.

Watershed Research Sub-Division : Watershed Research Sub-Division of Forester Environment Research and Development Division is an Unit under the Forest Research Office. The main responsibilities of the Watershed Research Sub-Division are research and monitoring activates cover the field of Forest Hydrology, Climatology, Ecology and Environment, Soil erosion and sedimentation and Secio-enonomice aspect. Up to date

23


there are 16 field watershed research stations have been established scattering in all main river basin through out the country.

Upper Nan Watershed Management Project : Upper Nan Watershed Management Project is a collaboration project between Royal Forest Department, Watershed Management Division and DANCED. The project area is on upper nan (right bank), Nan Province. The mandate of the project are:

- Development Objective : Sustainable management of the natural

resource

in the upper right catchment of the Nan River is greatly improved by year 2010 through enhanced capabilities of local communities and government agencies.

- Immediate Objectives : A sustainable organizational framework and financial basis for continued forest protection and soil and water conservation efforts beyond the project period established in project villages and at the local government agencies. The area and quality of forest cover in the project area is increased considerably by the year 2003 through land use planning, improved cultivation practices and better fire control. Holistic land use systems aimed at sustainable and environmentally sound production and improved quality of life development by the involved parties and applied by a majority of land users.

The implementation capacity consists of

1) Royal Forest Department Staff

* Project Coordinator, Watershed Management Division, Bangkok

* Project Director, Center 12, Nan

* Deputy Project Director * RFD Watershed Management Unit Chiefs (6)

2) Local Hire Staff

* 6 Specialist staff * 15 Community Coordinators

* 8 drivers

3) RAMBOLL Consulting Company, Denmark

* Project Director, RAMBOLL

* Project Coordinator * CDE Consultant

4.3 Land Development Department

Land Development Department was established on 23 May 1963 under Ministry of National Development, which was later abolished. Some years after their establishment, the government agencies were restructured, and as from 29 September 1972 Land Development Department was transferred to be under Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Land Development Department is responsible for soil survey and classification, soil analysis, land use planning, conduct experiments and carry various assorts of land development, assist farmers in soil and water conservation practices and soil improvement, seed production for cover crops and soil improvement materials, transfer technology from its research of soil development and soil science for multiple purpose use.

Other duties and responsibilities which stand in an Act of Land Legislation are...

1) To conduct soil survey and produce soil resource maps, including survey to obtain census of the land data concerning land

economics.

2) To conduct landuse planning for the sustainable of land resources. 3) To conduct research and experiments in relation to soil, land

improvement, soil and water conservation, watershed conservation,

and other relevant issues pertaining to land development and

farmer’s requirements.

24


4) To disseminate land development technologies to relevant government personnel, farmers, and interest people.

4.4 Hilltribe Welfare Division, Department of Publi c Welfare

The Hilltribe Welfare Division (HWD) of the Public Welfare Department comes under the jurisdiction of Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. The HWD has been working in the highland areas with highland people for more than 30 years. Its policy, as stated in its 7th Development plan, is “to assist hilltribe people in their development process to become self-sufficient and qualified Thai citizens through a participatory development process and a permanent settlement strategy.” The HWD’s policy focuses on three key areas (Northern Watershed Management Project, 1996 Quoted from Hilltribe Wellborn Division 1995) :

1) Political and Administrative : To provide village stability and sedentary land-use in accordance with the law; encouraging hilltribe people to become part of Thai society from neighboring countries.

2) Economic and social Development : To provide equal access to government services; improving living conditions and standards and promote self reliance in hilltribe people, provide job and occupation and reduce the number of addicts.

3) Natural Resources Management and Conservation : To enhance permanent settlement in accordance with natural resources conservation; introduce appreciate conservation forming practices; and maintain the balance of nature and the environment.

The HWD has responsibility for the welfare and development of Thailand’s hilltribe people. The type and extent of services provided by the HWD varies according to the level of integration of each hilltribe community into the government system.

Because of security issues in many of the remote boder areas occupied by hilltribe people, their migratory life-styles, and the production and use of narcotic crops by some groups, a number of HWD’s programmes are coordinated by a National Security Council committee and are implement under the National Security Programme, often in conjunction with the Thai military. In addition, the communities within Watershed Class 1A or other protected areas, has prompted a survey of highland villages currently conducted by LDD.

Office of the

Secretary

Finance

Division

Personnel

Division

Permission

Division

Legal Affairs

Division

Planning

Division

25


Figure 2 : Organizational chart of Royal Forest Dep artment

Royal Forest Department

Inspectors

Central Administration Local Administration

Internal Audit Unit

Forest Protection

Office

Forest Research

Office

Reforestation Office

Information Office

Natural Resources

Conservation Office

Provincial Forest

offices

District Forest

Offices

T

r

a

i

n

i

n

g

D

i

v

i

s

i

o

n

Regio

nal

Forest

Office

s

26


Figure 3 : Organization chart of Watershed Manageme nt Division

WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

DIVISION

Administration Sub – Division

Survey & Planning Sub – Div.

Watershed Development and

Promotion Sub – Division

Special Projects

Implementing units


Sub – Division Ping & Salawin


Sub – Division II Wang – Yom -


Sub – Division III NE, E, C, S


Center 1 – 19


Unit 1 – 189

27


5. Watershed Area in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) i n Thailand

5.1 Mekong River Basin

The Mekong River is one of the largest rivers in the world rises in the Tibetan Plateau at an elevation of 5,000 m. and flow in a generally southeast direction through southern China, northeast Myarmar, north and northeast Thailand, Laos PDR and Combodia before discharging to the South China Sea in southern Vietnam. The Mekong River Basin cover an area of 795,000 sq.km with a total length of 4,800 km, and a mean annual runoff of 475,000 Mm.3 (Mekong River Commission, and Office of Environmental Policy and planning, 1999).

5.2 The Tributary Basins in LMB within Thailand

The main tributaries of the Mekong River Basin within Thailand consist of the Kok River Basin and tributaries of the Mekong River Basin in the north (Mekong N); while tributaries in the northeast consist of the Mun and Chi River Basins, and tributaries of the Mekong River Basin in the northeast (Mekong NE). The total catchment area within Thailand is about 184,495 sq.km (or about 23.2% of the 795,000 sq.km of the entire Mekong River Basin).

5.2.1 Kok River Basin

The Kok River Basin is a sub-basin of the Mekong River located in the northern region of Thailand and eastern Myanma. It has total catchment area of 10,560 sq.km; with a catchment area of 7,895 sq.km in Thailand.

According to watershed classification, there are 56 percent are classified as head watershed (watershed class 1 and 2), with the remaining of 44 percent belong to watershed class (WSC) 3 to 5 (Table 5). The figures show that most of the areas are on the head watershed which would be mountainous sloping land. This is a general topographic of northern Thailand with about 75% comprising of highland. In addition, there are 4 percent of the total area or about 315.8 sq.km were classified as WSC 1 B. In the other word, forest areas on the WSC 1 have been converted into agricultural land or inhabitant, which might cause watershed degradation.

Corresponding to the decline in forest area, agricultural land has been expanding at a rate of around 2.5 percent annually. Around 20 percent of the arable land in the uplands is dominated by slash and burn cultivation where a variety of crops is grown MRC/OEPP (1999).

The sedimentation of the Kok River Basin was comparatively high with 116 ton/sq.km, while the sedimentation of the Mekong (N), Mekong (NE), Chi and Mun Basins were 77, 42, 29 and 27 ton/sq.km respectively (Table 5). Therefore, Kok river Basin is one of the most critical watershed area in the LMB.

In accordance with national hydrology committee, Kok Basin is divided into 4 sub-catchments namely Nam Mae Fang, Nam Mae Lao, Nam Mae Suai and Lower Nam Mae Kok cover area of 1,948 sq.km, 2,635 sq.km, 539 sq.km, 2,773 sq.km respectively. These four sub watershed should be more investigation.

5.2.2 Chi River Basin

Chi river basin is one of the tributary of the Mekong river basin in the northeast region of Thailand covering an area of 49,477 sq.km. The forest cover constitutes about 14 percent of the total basin in 1988 (Tangtham, 1992). Ongsomwang (1999) studied forest cover in 1995 was 13.8 percent of the total basin. The head watershed area accounts to 13.3 percent of the total basin which 10 percent belong to WSC 1A, others 0.7 percent in WSC 1 B and 2.6 percent in WSC 2. The lower part of the basin cover an area of 86.7 percent of the total basin mainly are in WSC 4 and WSC 5, with only 3 percent of the total

basin belong to WSC 3 (Table 5). In the other word, there are about 87 percent of the total

28


basin are located on plat to undulating suitable to agricultural and other uses. About 13 percent of the total basin is mountainous sloping land with should be kept for head

watershed areas. According to the Lower Mekong Basin Forest and Land Cover 1997 map of the Forest Cover Monitoring Project showed that most of the forest cover in Chi basin belong to the head watershed of Lam Nam Choen (code 04.13), Nam Prom (code 04.12), Upper part of Nam Phong (code 04.09), and Upper part of Nam Chi (code 04.02) watersheds. Name of sub-basins, code, and areas of each sub-basin are illustrated in table 11. The sedimentation in Chi basin was 29 ton/sq.km with comparatively low due to most of the watershed area (87 percent) are in the plat to undulating lands. However, the 4 sub-basins mentioned earlier which are the most important head watershed of the Chi basin should be taken into consideration and should be more investigated.

Total population in the Chi basin in 1992 was 5,531,116 people in 1,147,967 household with population density of 112 person per sq.km. About 80 percent of the population earn their living on agricultural practices, with mainly paddy field. Upland crops are mainly cassava; the others are sugarcane, maize, beans etc. (ONESDB, 1994b).

5.2.3 Mun River Basin

Mun river basin is the largest river basin in Thailand covering an area of 69,701 sq.km in northeast region of Thailand. The mean annual rainfall varies from 1,000 mm. to 2,000 mm. over the watershed. The head watershed area accounts to only 3.4 percent of the total basin area. These areas are belong to WSC class 1A 2.0 percent WSC

1 B 0.5 percent another 0.9 percent WSC 2 (Table 5). The remainder an area of 96.6 percent covers the lower part of the basin, which most of the areas (94.6 percent) are under WSC 4 and WSC 5. Most of the watershed areas are plat to slightly undulating. The remainder small portions of the watershed are mountainous area on Phanomdongrak Range in Nakornratchasima and along border line between Burirum, Surin,Sisaket and Ubonratchathani provinces and Combodia. In accordance with national hydrology Committee the Mun basin is divided into 32 sub-basins (Table 7). The forest cover constitutes about 10 percent of the total basin in 1988 (Tangtham, 1992). About 6,000 sq.km of forest area has been converted to other uses in the last 15 years period (1981 – 1995 / 1996) in the study area (Eiumnoh et al; 1996). The majority of forest land conversion is for agricultural purposes due to increasing population and food demand. The 10 percent or about 6,900 sq.km of the remaining forest cover at the present are mainly on the Phanomdongrak range. Though, forest cover in the Mun river basin is less than the other river basins comparing with the Mekong, Kok and Chi. However, the sedimentation was only 27 ton/sq.km comparing with 77,42,116 and 29 ton/sq.km of the Mekong (N), Mekong (NE), Kok and Chi basins respectively. The low sedimentation on the Mun basin due to most of the watershed area (96 percent) are in the WSC 3 – 5 with mainly plat to undulating lands.

5.2.4 Mekong River Basin

Mekong river basin (code No 02) in Thailand has been divided into there main unconnected sub-basins. They are namely Mae Chan and Mae Ing sub-basin in the north and Sakon-Loei sub-basin in the northeast with total area of 57,422 sq.km (ONESDB, 1994c). In accordance with national hydrology committee; the Mekong river basin (code No 02) has divided into 38 sub-basins as shown in Table 8. Mekong (N) or sub-basins in the north cover area of 9,920 sq.km or 17.3 percent of the Mekong river basin (code No.02) in Thailand. The remainder Mekong (NE) or sub-basins in the northeast cover an area of 47,502 sq.km or 82.3 percent of the Mekong river basin (code No.02) in Thailand.

29


1) Mekong (N)

Topographical features of the Mekong river basin in the northern part is characterized by mountainous topography, which consists of a series of parallel and longitudinal folded mountains. The folding in this part has resulted in small, long and narrow river valleys divided by steeply rising uplands with a considerable variation in elevation. A series of small tributaries drain into Ing river, the main tributary of Mekong basin in this region which flows down northwards into the Mekong at Pak Ing. Some other small tributaries such as Mae Chan, Nam ma etc. flow down eastward directly into the Mekong river (ONESDB, 1994c).

According to watershed classification, the head watershed of Mekong (N) consists of 35.8 percent of the total basin with 18.2 percent belong to WSC 1A, 4.6 percent in WSC 1 B and 13 percent in WSC 2 ; while the lower part of the basin (WSC 3 – 5) covers an area of 64.2 percent (table 5). These figures have come along with the topographical features as summaries by ONESDB (1994c). In addition, there are 4.6 percent or about 456 sq.km belong to WSC 1 B. In other words, forest area on the head watershed was replaced by shifting cultivation or inhabitant. The forest cover in Mekong (N) was 37 percent in 1988 (Table 5). The most important sub watersheds should be investigated are Upper Part of Nam Mae Ing, Middle Part of Nam Mae Ing, Mae Nam Pung, and Mae Lao.

The problems in these sub-watershed include the forest areas on the head watershed have been replaced for shifting cultivation by ethnic minority groups. It results on soil erosion, sedimentation on down-stream areas, and also socio-economic problem of the watershed inhabitant.

2) Mekong (NE)

The general topographic feature of the Mekong river basin in the northeastern region is mainly plat to undulating with is separated from Mun-Chi river basins by the Phu Phan mountain range extending from Loei to Nakhon Phanom provinces forming the part of the Mekong river basin which is bordered by hill to the west and south and by the Mekong river to the north and east. It is an area of low relief sloping to the east draining a number of tributaries in to the Mekong river. The main tributaries in the northeast region are Mae Nam Loei, Huai Nam Som, Nam Mong, Huai Luang, Mae Nam Songkhram, Huai Nam Un, Huai Nam Kam, Huai Bangi, etc. and some small tributaries flow down eastward directly to the Mekong.

In the Mekong (NE) basin, head watershed covers area only 15.9 percent with 8.5 percent belong to WSC 1A , 2.2 percent in WSC 1 B, and 4.4 percent in WSC 2; while the lower part of the basin cover an area of 84.1 percent which mainly are in the WSC 4 and WSC 5 of 22.8 percent and 54.8 percent respectively. It shows that most of the areas are in the plat to undulating low lands with small portion of mountainous sloping land on the Loei sub-basin in Loei province and head watershed of Huai Nam Kam and Huai Bang Sai sub-basins in Sakon Nakhon and Mukdahan provinces. The forest cover in Mekong (NE) basin was 20 percent in 1988 (Table 5). The existing forest cover are mainly on the mountainous areas.

30


Table 5 Watershed areas and classification and esti mated sedimentation

.

Code and main watershed

Total area

(km2)

Watershed classes (percent) Forest cover in 1988

Sedimen

-tation (t/km 2)

1A 1B 2 3 4 5

02 Mekong 57,422 22.9

Mekong N 9,920 18 5 13 14 12 38 37 77

Mekong NE 47,502 9 3 5 7 23 55 20 42

03 Kok 7,895 36 4 16 12 11 20 38 116

04 Chi 49,477 10 0.7 3 3 24 60 14 29

05 Mun 69,701 2 0.5 0.9 2 20 75 10 27

Total 184,495

Source : Modify from Tangtham (1992)

Table 6 Chi basin (04)

CODE SUB-BASIN NAME Area (SQ.KM)

0401 Mae Nam Chi (main river) 49,476.50

0402 Upper Part of Lam Nam Chi 2,488.92

0403 Lam Saphung 758.49

0404 Lam Krachuan 886.54

0405 Lam Khan Chu 1,634.82

0406 Second Part of Lam Nam Chi 3,807.64

0407 Huai Sam Mo 729.04

0408 Third Part of Lam Nam Chi 3,244.48

0409 Upper Part of Lam Nam Phong 4,424.34

0410 Huai Phuai 915.77

0411 Lam Phaniang 1,912.14

0412 Nam Phrom 2,320.40

0413 Lam Nam Choen 2,921.70

0414 Lower Part of Lam Nam Phong 2,385.72

0415 Huai Sai Bat 741.01

0416 Fourth Part of Lam Nam Chi 5,409.90

0417 Upper Part of Lam Pao 3,281.89

0418 Lam Phan Chart 657.25

0419 Lower Part of Lam Pao 4,263.79

0420 Lam Nam Yang 4,144.78

0421 Lower Part of Lam Nam Chi 2,547.88

Source : National Hydrology Committee, 1993

31


Table 7 Mun basin (05)


0501 Mae Nam Mun (main river) 69,700.44

0502 Upper Part of Lam Nam Mun 2,997.46

0503 Lam Sae 1,173.62

0504 Lam Phraphlong 2,210.93

0505 Lam Takhong 3,517.68

0506 Lam Choengkrai 2,622.41

0507 Lam Chakkarat 1,613.87

0508 Lam Nang Rong 1,325.76

0509 Lam Pathai 622.92

0510 Lam Plai Mat 3,990.89

0511 Second Part of Lam Nam Mun 4,189.18

0512 Huai Aek 1,083.20

0513 Lam Sa Thaet 2,589.16

0514 Lam Phang Su 1,231.44

0515 Huai Ta Khong 1,151.58

0516 Lam Chi 4,590.59

0517 Lam Phlapphla 1,112.51

0518 Lam Tao 846.56

0519 Lam Sieo Noi 697.94

0520 Lam Sieo Yai 2,790.16

0521 Huai Thap Than 3,571.44

0522 Third Part of Lam Nam Mun 2,780.24

0523 Huai Samran 3,502.21

0524 Huai Tha 1,572.27

0525 Huai Khayung 1,774.58

0526 Huai Phong 787.70

0527 Lam Sa Bai 2,969.37

0528 Lam Sa 3,518.37

0529 Lam Dom Yai 4,846.24

0530 Lower Part of Lam Nam Mun 1,013.01

0531 Huai Tung Lung 843.38

0532 Lam Dom Noi 2,163.77

Source : National Hydrology Committee, 1993

32


Table 8 Mekong basin (02)


0201 Mae Nam Khong (main river) 57,422.07

0202 Upper Part of Mae Nam Khong 766.48

0203 Nam Mae Chan 1,847.57

0204 Upper Part of Mae Nam Ing 1,087.52

0205 Middle Part of Mae Nam Ing 1,759.29

0206 Mae Nam Phung 1,049.25

0207 Mae Lao 1,176.87

0208 Lower Part of Mae Nam Ing 2,769.09

0209 Second Part of Mae Nam Khong

507.92

0210 Third Part of Mae Nam Khong 674.10

0211 Nam Man 622.30

0212 Nam San 876.41

0213 Fourth Part of Mae Nam Khong

807.70

0214 Huai Nam Puan 658.17

0215 Lower Part of Mae Nam Loei 2,902.04

0216 Fifth Part of Mae Nam Khong 1,822.75

0217 Huai Nam Som 1,056.28

0218 Nam Mong 2,717.83

0219 Sixth Part of Mae Nam Khong 540.39

0220 Nam Suai 1,309.75

0221 Huai Luang 3,424.63

0222 Huai Dan 680.85

0223 Seventh Part of Mae Nam Khong

2,407.18

0224 Upper Part of Mae Nam Songkhram

3,308.16

0225 Lower Part of Mae Nam Songkhram

3,029.90

0226 Huai Khong 629.82

0227 Huai Hi 714.72

0228 Huai Nam Yam 1,733.29

0229 Huai Nam Un 3,468.61

0230 Huai Thuai 787.56

0231 Eight Part of Mae Nam Khong 1,185.65

0232 Nam Phung 970.97

0233 Huai Nam Kam 2,537.15

0234 Nineth Part of Mae Nam Khong

643.79

0235 Huai Bang Sai 1,365.72

0236 Huai Muk 551.58

0237 Huai Bang I 1,589.79

0238 Lower Part of Mae Nam Khong 3,387.08

Source : National Hydrology Committee , 1993

33


REFERENCES

Eiumnoh, A. Francis X.J. Canisins, Baimoung, S. Kesawapitak, P. Noomhorm, A. and Rajendra P. Shrestha, 1996. NOAA-AUHRR data for detecting land use change and its impact : A case of Mun macro-watershed of northeastern region,

Thailand. Proceedings of the FORTROP’96 :Tropical Forestry in the 21st Century 25-28 November, 1996. Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.

FAO, 1993. Forestry Policies of Selected Countries in Asia Pacific, FAO Forestry Paper 115 pp. 154-207.

Gilmore, D. 1999. Rehabilitation of Degraded Forest Ecosystem in Thailand. Workshop Proceedings Rehabilitation of Degraded Forest Ecosystems in the Lower Mekong Basin Assessment of Rehabilitation Policy and Practice in Thailand 24 – 25 November, 1999. Chiang mai, Thailand.

Liwgasemsan, W.1996. Economic Development and Natural Resource planning Approach: Thailand’s Experience. In the Group Training Course on Community Forestry Development Techniques, January 13-February 25, 1996, Bangkok, Thailand. Pp 94-102.

Mekong River Commission and Office of Environmental Policy and Planning (MRC/OEPP), 1999. Pilot Study for Water Resource and Environment Management, Interim Progress Report.

Nalampoon, Anan, 1998. Watershed Research Subdivision of Forest Environment Research and Development Division, Royal Forest Department, Bangkok, Thailand.

National Hydrology Committee, 1993. Standard Report on Hydrological Data (Surface Water).

National Research Council of Thailand, Bangkok (in Thai).

Northern Watershed Management Project, 1996. Would Bank Funded Project Design and Feasibility study, Draft final report. Volume 1.

Office of Environment Policy and Planning (OEPP), 1997. Policy and Prospective Plan for Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality, 1997-2016. Ministry of Science Technology and Environment. Bangkok, Thailand. 92 p.

ONESDB, 1994b. Study of Potential Development of Chi Basin. Final Report. ONESDB, Prime Minister’s Office, Bangkok, Thailand. (in thai)

ONESDB, 1994c. Study of Potential Development of Mun Basin. Final Report. ONESDB, Prime Minister’s Office, Bangkok, Thailand. (in Thai)

Ongsomwang, S. 1999. Application of GIS in Forestry. Forest Resources Assessment Division, Forest Research Office, RFD, Bangkok, Thailand. (in Thai)

Sawintara, S. and Thongmee, U. 1991. Investment Priority for Watershed Management in National Periodic Plans in Thailand. Proceeding of the Policy Workshop “Investement Priority for Watershed Management in National Periodic Plans” Beijing Chaina. 11-14 June, 1991. (RAS/86/107-GCP/RAS/129/NET) p 122-144.

Sriratana Tabucanon, M. 1998. An Overview of Watershed Management in Thailand. Paper presented at the Regional Environmental Workshop on “Poverty Reduction and Environmental Management in Remote Greater Mekong Subregion Watershed” August 4-5, 1998. Science Technology and Environment Organization, Vientianc, Laos PDR.

Sukawong, S. 1999. Emerging Policy and Institutional Settings for Forest Rehabilitation in Thailand. Workshop Proceedings Rehabilitation of Degraded Forest Ecosystems

34


in The Lower Mekong Basin Assessment of Rehabilitation Policy and Practice in Thailand 24 – 25 November, 1999. Chiang mai, Thailand.

Tangtham, N. 1987. “Watershed Monitoring and Research Programme for Phu Wiang” Integrated Development of the Phu Wiang Watershed, Thailand. (FO: DP/THA/84/002,Field Document 2). 122 p.

Tangtham, N. 1992. Thai Forestry Master Plan : Watershed Management. Unpubl. Report submitted to Thai Forestry Sector Master Plan Committee. Royal Forest Department, Bangkok.

Tangtham, N. 1996. Watershed Classification : The Macro Land-use Planning for the Sustainalble Development of Water Resources in International Seminar Workshop on “Advances in Water Resources Management and Wastewater Treatment Technologies” 22-25 July 1996, on the occasion of 6th Anniversary Suranaree of the Technology. 16.p

Thongmee, U. 1999. Watershed Management in Thailand (Draft). Watershed Management Division, RFD, Bangkok, Thailand.

Wongbundit, A. 1996. Legal and administrative aspects of watershed resources management in Thailand. Proceedings of the FORTROP’96 : Tropical Forestry in the 21st Century 25-28 November 1996. Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900, Thailand.

1

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin. Country Report Vietnam

INFORMATION ON CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT IN VIETNAM

Nguyen Tu Siem 1) & Phung Tuu Boi 2)

1. GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT IN VIETNAM

1.1. Main features of Vietnam's territory

Vietnam covers a total area of around 330 000 sq.km with a total population of 78 m. habitants. Three quarters of the country are covered by mountains and uplands, the remaining parts belong to plains of two major river basins: Red River (RR) in the North and Mekong River (MR) in the South. Vietnam’s territory can be divided into 7 ecological zones, i.e.: Mountains and Midlands of the North; Red River Delta; Central Coast; Central Highland; South Central Coast; Eastern Midland and Mekong Delta.

The topography of the uplands is complicated and dissected with a dense network of rivers. Most of big rivers are short and steep and pour directly to the sea, forming a great number of catchments and watersheds, which are commonly narrow and scattered.

About 80% of the total population (50.6 m. habitants) reside in the rural area. The average population density is 192 person/sq.km; however, majority of people crowd in the plains while in the highlands the population density is quite low (50-150 persons per sq.km). The annual growth rate is around 2% with much higher rate among the highlanders (up to 3% and higher). The mountain and highland areas is livelihood of about 20 m. habitants belonging to 50 ethnic minorities of the total 54 ethnic groups of the country. In the mountain region of the North there are 37 minority groups accounting for 58.2% of the area population.

Three main landforms can be found popular in the catchment areas: forested land, bare land and narrow wetland valleys along the water lines. Natural forest cover was reduced from 43% in 1943 to 29% in 1983 and 31 % by 2000.

1.2. Catchments

The most critical catchments and watersheds of the country are located in three zones: the Mountains and Midlands of the North; Central Coast and Central Highland. Land in these areas is slope and cultivable land is extremely rare, especially in the steep and rocky limestone mountains. For example, in Song Da catchment of the North, approximately 70% area have slope more than 35o. Soils are generally shallow and poor, except certain plateaus derived from basaltic parent rocks of the Central Highland. Lack of cultivable land is common for every catchments in Vietnam. Three above-mentioned zones account for 80% of total territory, but the area suitable for cultivation presents only about 45% of national agricultural land. As flatland is rare (589,000 ha or 6.35% of unused land), the potential for agricultural land expansion is very limited.

1) & 2) National Consultants, Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development. 2, Ngoc Ha, Hanoi Tel: 8447 336 966 Fax: 8447 337 860 E-mail: [email protected]

2


2 CATCHMENT-RELEVANT NATIONAL POLICIES

There are at least four laws guiding the catchment management, viz.: -Land Law (LL, 1993/1998) -Law on Forest Protection & Development (FL, 1991) -Law on Water resource Use and Management (WL, 2000) -Law on Agricultural Cooperatives (1997) A series of policies most important for land, water and forest protection, development and sustainable management have been promulgated (see Annexes).

Previously, in the centrally-planned economy, agriculture and forestry were based on state farms and cooperatives, thus the role of farm households were not properly recognized. Since 1988, farm household has been considered an independent and self-directed economic unit that has the right to use land, perform its own production and business and enjoy its results.

Since 1988, especially after the Land Law of 1993, land has been allocated to farmers on a long-term stable basis. Tax on land use has been reduced and fixed for long-term. The State has adopted a benign policy on rural credit for farm households. A new mechanism of agro-products distribution was adopted allowing free circulation of supplies and products at the best price for farmers. The State used a national reserve fund as an instrument to regulate demand-supply relations in the market and a pricing stabilization fund to subsidize some essential agro-products and input materials in favor to farmers.

2.1. Policies on Land Use Planning

Of the total area of 33 million ha, about 55% (18 million ha) is now under “productive” use, of which 40% (7.35 million ha) is under agriculture.

Current land use of Vietnam

Agriculture land: 10.156 m.ha

Forestry land: 13.504 m.ha

Other lands 9.558 m.ha

Total 33.218 m.ha

The cultivated acreage in rainfed areas can be listed as follows: North mountain and midland area: 1.3 m.ha

Western highland area: 0.6 m ha

East south area: 0.9 m ha

North central coast area: 0.7 m ha

South central coast area: 0.5 m ha

Total: 4.0 m ha

Land Law (LL, 1993, revised 1998)

The terms of the LL the most relevant to catchment management can be briefed as follows: • Land ownership is people’s ownership. • Land is under State management. • Land is allocated to organizations, households and individuals (“owners”) to use for long-

term (20 years for short term crops and 50 years for long term crops). This term will be automatically extended if the user doesn’t violate the regulations.

• Maximal area to be allocated for each household is limited in accordance to land resource availability of each locality.

3


• General limitation of forestry land to be allocated to each household is 30 ha. • Five rights on land use include: transfer, exchange, inherit, lease and use as collateral.

These rights are recorded in Land Use Certificate (LUC) given to users

• Land and forest of less protective importance and scattered protection areas are allocated to households and individuals for protection, reforestation and management.

• Land and forest of large block having important protection function are allocated to the Management Boards of Watershed Forest Protection Zones. Forest State Enterprises (SFEs) are also allocated certain areas of this type of land.

• The Management Boards and SFEs must re-allocate forest and forestry land to their worker households or individual workers to protect, tending, regenerating and new planting forest. This allocation is practiced in form of long term contracts (up to 50 years).

2.2. Forestry

The promulgation of Forest Protection and Development Law (FL) has been promulgated in 1991. After that the Government has issued about 150 under-law documents to form a legal framework for forest management.

These policies state that: • State unanimously manages forest and forestry land

• Tree forest categories are defined

• Forest and forest land is allocated to organizations and individuals (“owners”) to protect, develop and use for long term in accordance with the State projection and plans.

• Each forest watershed zone has a management board

• Benefit sharing from forest production is defined.

In accordance with the general land use projection, there are about 16 m. ha of forestry land which include protection forest; special-use forest and production forest. Protection forest amounts 6 m. ha (or 37.5%) of which:

Watershed forest: 5,715,000 ha (95.2%)

Windbreak forest: 130,000 ha

Coastal forest and Mangroves: 155,000 ha

(Source: Forestry Development Strategy 2001-2010; Draft of Sep. 2001)

Forest categories

Based on main use purposes, since 1986 present forest areas are divided into 3 categories (FIPI):

Total

of which:

9 302 200 100%

special-use 898 300 9%

protection 487 700 37%

production 4 925 200 54%

Protection forests

Watershed forest is regrouped into the category of protection forests. There are 41 zones of protection forest of which 4 are of national importance and placed under the the central management: Da River, Thach Nham, Tri An and Dau Tieng. Each zone has Forest Management Board. The remaining are managed by the SFEs or provincial Department for Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD).

Watersheds of 4 these projects are located in 12 provinces. Forest cover is poor

(Song Da 9.8%; Thach Nham 10.4%; Tri An 14%; Dau Tieng 8%). From 1991-94 about USD 4.0 m. has been invested for forestation. About

4


20 000 ha forest have been planted increasing forest cover in these 4 catchments by 4-6%. Most important watershed is Song Da (Son La, Lai Chau, Hoa Binh, Lao Cai and Yen Bai) requires an establishment of 0.8 M ha of forest. 1991-94: about 30 M VND. Da basin has a total natural land area oof 2,568,000 ha of which 0.8 m ha is protection forests.

Special-use forests:

Special-use encompass natural reservations, national parks and cultural and historical forests. Each special-use forest zone has a Management Body and a Forest Team. In 1999 there were 103 special-use forests (including 10 national parks) on an area of 952,882 ha.

Production forest:

There are 413 state forest enterprises (SFE) which have two types: exploitation and establishment of forest. Most of them are now under the provincial management. At present, only 105 SFEs are still allowed to continue logging about 300 000 m3 of sawn timber per year.

Changes in Forest Cover:

Between 1943 and 1990 there was a steady and rapid decline in natural forest coverage from 43% (14.3 M ha) to 27.8% (9.175 M ha). Evergreen forest is being reduced the fastest. After that, the forest cover has been gradually increasing reaching 31 % in 2000.

Forest benefit sharing:

In general, policies on benefit sharing is not clear and systematical. There are different regulations for forest benefit sharing depending on different forest categories.

For natural protection forest: forest owners are allowed to collect undesirable trees; non- timber products; thinning products. Thinning ought to be less than 20% to ensure a cover of minimum 80%. For planted protection forest invested by the Government, owners are allowed to exploit supportive species; thinning products (no more than 20% to ensure a canopy of >0.6); selective logging of standard timber (less than 20%). Total logging must be less than 1 ha in important protection areas and less than 0.5 ha in very important protection areas. Annual logging area must not excess 10% of total mature forest. For protection forest planted with the owners’ capital, the owners can exploit maximum 10% of planted area. Total or selective logging can be applied, but the logged area must be < 2 ha in important protection areas and < 1 ha in extremely important protection areas. For production forest planted in the barren land with the owners’ capital, the owners benefit 100% forest products.

2.3. Agriculture

Vietnam is predominantly an agricultural economy, based of paddy rice production. The sector accounts for 28.7% of the country's GDP, employs about 62% of the national labor force, accounts for 16.5% of state investments and originates 35% of total exports.

Agriculture provides livelihood for some 23.4 million laborers. Of these, 70.8% (16.3 million) are engaged in crop production; 14.4 % (3.32 million) in full time livestock rising. Agriculture employs about 3 million laborers, absorbing a greater proportion of the labor force than necessary (i.e. farm sizes are too small to provide full employment even at peak seasons). In per capita terms, Vietnam's cultivated land resource base is among the lowest in the world. The cultivated area per capita averages slightly over 0.1 ha and cropping intensities

5


(sow area divided by cultivated area) exceeds 140%. Approximately one-third of the cultivated area receives irrigation (mainly for rice).

Crop cultivation accounts for about three-quarters of the gross value of agricultural products. Food grain amounted to 33 m. tons in 2000 of which paddy rice was 30 m tons. Rice continues to dominate Vietnam’s agrarian economy. Rice production increased from 27.7. million tons in 1997 to 28.4 million tons in 1998 and more than 30 million tons at present. Rice exports expanded to 3.5 million tons in 1997 and 4.6 million tons in 1999, making Vietnam the second largest world exporter of rice after Thailand. As in the past, the bulk of rice production came from the Red River and Mekong Delta, which account for most of Vietnam’s exportable surplus. Production of other commercial crops such as coffee, rubber, sugar-cane were more heavily affected by market availability. Coffee area expanded rapidly from 120 000 ha in 1990 to 300 000 ha in 1998. The 1997-98 harvest resulted in 391 000 tons of coffee beans for export and generated a revenue of USD 594 million, however, the 1998-99 crop was as much as one fourth lower as the coffee price was sharply decreased.

Although the rural economy benefited considerably from the early liberation which shifted production away from dominated collectives to private households and granted more secure land tenure arrangement, state intervention continues in a number of areas. There is a need to continue on the path of reform (e.g. to further liberalize agricultural trade, diversify from rice to other commodities, ...), provide rural infrastructure and credit and support agro-processing and rural industrialization.

2.4. Decentralization and devolution (local governm ent)

The decentralization and devolution is taking place intensively, reflecting in the following aspects:

- Local authorities decide their development and financial plans by themselves;

- Provincial and district authorities are more empowered in land use planning and land allocation.

- District People Committees are assigned to allocate land instead of Provincial Land Administration; - Quota on export and import has been moved; - State enterprises/farms are under equitation and private companies are in full position in their business; - Local authorities are assigned to establish relation and cooperation with

foreign agencies; including with the border localities of neighboring countries;

2.5. Poverty alleviation

Since the implementation of a market economy, the rich-poor polarization has increased in certain places. In that context, the State has carried out a policy of hunger eradication and poverty alleviation and wealth formation for everyone. This policy is considered the most important at the national level. A number of decisive policies, solutions and activities have been implemented for poor regions and poor households to reduce their problems. The policy is based on the community’s participation in helping the poor gain access to land, capital and training for better livelihood performance.

The State has also budgeted a considerable sum to help the poor regions and poor people, especially those in the mountainous and remote areas, including the ethnic minorities who receive top priorities. An employment-generating fund was set up to create more jobs for farmers in their native villages and to move people to new settlement areas if the old places became unacceptable. A number of projects have been conducted to ensure farmers with food, clean water, education, health care, transport and information.

6


2.6. Ethnic minority issues

Vietnam has 54 ethnic groups of which Kinh ethnic group is majority. Of the total population of 76 m persons the ethnic minority groups account for only 10% of the total population and mostly live in the mountainous regions. The population density in the rural area is 194 persons per sq.km. However, it differs from locality to locality. In the RRD delta the density is 839-1,092 person/sq.km. In the Western Highland and the northern mountainous regions, there are only 100 persons/sq.km. In these sparsely populated areas the local rural population shares high ratio, due to the fact that most of them are ethnic minorities. On commercial development for Mountain Areas, subsidize price and transport cost were provided.

For remote areas (Zone II & III), loan interest is reduced by 15 and 30%, respectively. 2.7. Investment through main Target Programs:

• Program 327 (1993-98):

To invest in average USD 30 m. per year for implementing 427 projects on protection and establishment of forests in the catchment areas. The Project Management Board had a supportive role to assist farmers households who were main actor in implementation. A set of policies had been issued: allocate land to households and organizations; subsidize forest protection and plantation of protection forest; disburse loan with no interest for home gardens establishment; livestock, crop and forestry extension; loan and subsidy for commune road; etc. During 6 years the Project has invested USD 200 m. and protected 1.6 m. ha natural forests, regenerated 0.7 m. ha, and newly planted 0.64 m. ha.

• 5 M ha reforestation: (1998-2010)

- Invest about USD 315 m for reforestation of 5 million ha to increase cover to 40%;

- Protect existing forest; - Plant 2 m. ha protection and special use forests (including regeneration of 1 m. ha and new plantation of 1 m. ha);

- Plant 3 m. ha production forest (including 1 m. ha industrial crops).

• Program 133: Hunger Eradication and Poverty Alleviation (started in 1998)

- Fund for job generation; - Credit with no/low interest (Bank for the Poor); - Subsidies for crop, livestock and aqua-culture extension; - Partly subsidies for health care, education, etc. -

• Program 135: Socio-economic Development Program for particularly difficult communes in the remote areas (started in 1998). The most difficult communes selected to involve to the Program accounted 1,715 in 1998; 1, 870 in 2000 and 2,200 in 2001. Each commune received about USD 2,700 per year. The fund is used mainly to improve the infrastructure.

• Resettlement Projects: Started from 1968.

- Up to now about 500 projects has been conducted. In 26 provinces, it has resettled 1.9 M persons with 800 sq.m land for food production (compared 300 sq.m in 1968).

7


- The Projects has supported 132 000 households of 0.8 m persons stabilizing in new sites.

- Up to 2000 there still has 280 000 households of 1.5 M persons nomad and shifting life.

• Project of supporting extremely difficult ethnic minorities: Started from 1992.

• Drug control Program: Focus on 524 communes growing poppy (1992). • Program of joint-commune centers: Establish 500 centers for groups of remote

communes (hospital, school, market, post office, etc.).

3. ORGANIZATIONS AND INSTITUTIONS RELEVANT TO CATCH MENT MANAGEMENT

3.1 Legislative level

Ethnic Council of the National Assembly: Monitoring of implementing the laws including those relating the ethnic issues. Periodically this Council organizes its monitoring missions. The last mission took place in 1998 Monitoring implementation of Laws. Forest Law has a number of terms not fit to market economy and innovation policies. Now the Law is being revised by the MARD. 3.2 Executive level (see Annexes):

Government organizations:

1. Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) • Forest Protection Department • Forest Development Department • Department for Water and Irrigation Constructions

• Five million ha of Reforestation Project • Forest Inventory and Projection Institute (FIPI) • Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV) • National Institute for Agriculture Planning and Projection (NIAPP) • Institute for Water Planning and Projection (IWPP)

2. Committee for Ethnic Minority and Mountain Areas (CEMMA):

3. Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MOSTE)

4. Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI)

5. Ministry of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA)

6. General Department for Land Administration

7. General Department for Meteology and Hydrology

8. Mekong Committee (VNMC)

9. People’s Committees of the provinces

8


3.3 Research and education (see Annexes)

1. Forest Inventory and Planning Institute (FIPI) 2. Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV)

3. Institute for Water Resources Research (IWRR) 4. Institute for Water Projection and Planning (IWPP)

5. National Institute for Agricultural Projection and Planning (NIAPP) 6. Southern Institute for Water Resources Research (SIWRR) 7. Forestry College (FC)

3.4 Donors/NGOs (see Annexes)

1. Danida - Water Sector Program Support (WSPS, MARD) 2. HELVETAS - Social Forestry Development Support (MARD) 3. FAO-BELGIUM - Participatory Watershed Management in Hoanh Bo district 4. GTZ- Social Forestry Project (MARD). 5. I UCN

6. CRES

7. WWF

8. CIDSE 9. CARE

9


4. OUTLINES OF THE SELECTED WATERSHEDS IN VIETNAM

Four watersheds are proposely selected and their main features are list below:

Table 1. Main features of the selected watersheds

Watershed

s

Se Bang Hien Sesan Serepok Nam Rom*

Location :

Province

District

16o20-16 o40N 106o30-107 o0E Quang Tri

Huong Hoa, Khe Sanh, Lao Bao

13 o45-15 o14 N

107 o10-108 o24 E Kon Tum- & Gia Lai

8 districts + Pleiku city

11 o53-13 o55 N

107 o,30-108 o45 E Gia Lai , Dac Lac, Lam Dong

18 districts + Pleiku city

20 o 50-21o35 N 102o50-103o10 E Lai Chau

Dien Bien

Area ( km 2 ) 818 11 450 17 300 1 699

Landscape

Altitude Slope

Mountains and hills

250m - 600m > 20o

Mountains, hills, high plateaus

800 - 2 598m 10 - > 25o

Mountains, hills, high plateaus 700 - 2 400m

10 - > 25o

Mountains, hills

400 - 1 500m 20 - > 25o

River Poko, Dakbla, Sa Thay

Krong No Krong Ana Ia Drang

Nam Khau Hu, Nam Phan, Nam Luong,...

Mekong Ban Kong Don (Laos)

Stung Treng (Cambodia)

Stung Treng (Cambodia)

Luang Prabang (Laos)

Forest ( ha ) 29 116 730 000 1 110 597 27 221

Agric. Land (ha )

10 702 143 294 367 241 13 309

Population (person)

45 948 453 000 1 608 527 121 724

Living

standard and mode

Very poor Shifting cultivation

Very poor Shifting cultivation Migrated from North

Very poor Shifting cultivation

Migrated from

North

Very poor Shifting

cultivation Migrated Ethnic

minorities

Pa Co, Van Kieu, Kinh

Jarai, Bana, Sedang, Gie Trieng, Kinh, Brau,

Jarai, Bana, Sedang, Gie Trieng, Kinh

Thai , H’mong, Kho Mu, Laotien, Kinh

Road No

Airport

No 14; No 9 No 14; No 24; No 40; No 661 Airport

No 14; No 26; No 27

Airport

No 279; No 42; No 12

Airport Calamity Draught &

Flooding

Draught & Flooding

Draught & Flooding

Draught & Flooding

Others Reservoir Reservoir Yaly; Sesan 3, Sesan 4,... Protected area: Chu mom Ray

Reservoir National park: Yordon

Reservoir

Note: Vietnamese name Nam Rom is Nam Ou in Lao language.

Two provinces with potential watershed sites, namely Lai Chau and Quang Tri, have following features:

(Source : Govement Decree No 286TTg ).

10


Lai Chau province: Total area : 1,691,923 ha. DARD has 14 technical staff. Dien Bien forest enterprise has 22 technical staff managing 4,664 ha .

Quang Tri province has a total area of 465,134 ha.

Table 2. Land use and population of Dien Bien distr ict, Lai Chau province

Communes Population No. of House-

holds

Land area in hectare

Total Thai H'Mong Kho Mu Kinh Total Forest land

Natural Forest

Plantation Forest

Bare

forest land

Muong Pon 3307 2161 765 369 12 562 12340 2557 2447 110 9283

Na Thau 8043 6385 1249 0 325 1242 12572 3166 2748 418 9466

Than Nua 7757 4813 816 291 1314 1435 8536 997 652 346 7538

Muong Phang 7205 5016 794 1227 162 1163 7868 1598 1212 386 6210

Thanh Minh 0

Thanh Luong 7260 3159 7 43 3761 1810 2767 530 304 227 2237

Thanh Xuong 0

Thanh Hung 5209 2155 3021 1149 1401 367 359 9 1039

ThanhChan 4264 2313 2 6 1663 924 1636 459 459 1177

Thang An 5821 3552 91 2192 1203 1021 812 48 764 209

Than Yen 6762 3248 2 3136 1465 1465 803 181 151 30 621

Pu Nhi

Muong Thanh 5532 1488 87 3646 116 97 97 20

Pa Them 872 18 143 156 8670 1785 1785 6825

Noong Luong 4939 2906 2276 1000 1899 187 152 35 1212

Nong Het 7248 2848 8 4377 1557 591 351 1 350 240

Na U 1107 14 1076 15 176 6268 1427 1427 4841

Sam Mun 9184 5227 3876 1881 2848 1009 439 569 1837

Nua Ngam 4706 2176 659 694 447 848 6715 3138 3104 34 3577

Muong Nha 5602 2351 2260 371 23 858 16953 8649 8649

Muong Loi 2995 530 229 1148 5 482 19924 2444 2444 17480

(New) Dien Bien District

163967 57001 8035 4607 33047 20626 101478 26075 19965 3822 75404

Source Personnel communication from the GTZ project.

11


Table 3. Land use and population of Huong Hoa distr ict, Quang Tri province

Commune Population Land use (ha) No of household

Total habitants

Of which Kinh people*

Total area Agric.land Forest.land Unused land**

Huong Lap 287 1 970 15 22 057 571 8 131 13 313

Huong Phung 766 2 861 1 236 12 479 8 922 10 311

Huong Tan 426 2 358 997 2 462 715 19 1 676

Huc 432 2 538 162 6 488 619 393 5 450

Ta Tang 374 2 169 26 6 092 428 599 5 047

Thuan 385 1 975 269 2 108 275 20 1 790

Thabh 407 2 162 23 2 215 540 171 1 472

Huong Loc 311 1 621 81 4 979 291 582 4 090

• Xinh 262 1 440 28 1 615 337 144 1 116

• Tuc 290 1 563 32 1 223 421 42 713

• Doi 231 1 241 21 2 984 346 278 2 343

Xy 239 1 229 16 2 118 368 125 1 609

Khe Sanh 1 835 9 088 7 908 1 326 590 232 275

Lao Bao 1372 7 302 6 396 1 700 312 184 957

Tan Thanh 454 2 357 1 986 4 574 474 730 3 325

Tan Long 543 2 836 2 625 1 974 720 173 1 040

Tan Lap 609 3 084 2 413 1 927 798 61 986

Tan Len 646 3 281 2 999 1 294 637 36 573

Total 9 869 51 075 27 233 79 622 8 450 12 844 56 093

Note: * Remaining is Van Kieu and Pa Co ethnic groups. **Remaining is water surface, road and housing quarter.

12


5. INSTITUTIONAL AND POLICY ISSUES MOST RELEVANT TO CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT

5.1. Relevant policies, decrees and laws

Table 2. Prioritized Policies & Organizations

Policies Guiding Relevant Within framework

Land Law Land tenure

Land allocation Land use rights

Law on Forest Protection & Development

Forest

classification Forest/land alloca-tion & contract

Law on Water Resources Use and Management

Water resources protection, use & management

Law on Agricultural Cooperatives

Principles & rules of coop. Establishment

5M ha Reforestation Program (5MR),

(1998-2010)

Formation of forest management system Investment for Forestry Development

Land use planning

Water Sector Support Program

Building capacity on water delivery & management Building provincial capacity on basin management

Clean water provision Decree No 525 TTg (1993) on Mountain Area Development

Policies for socio-economic develop’t of mountain areas

Decision No 02 CP on Land Allocation

Guidelines for forest land allocation

Decision No 245 Responsibilities of authorities on forest/land mangn’t

Decision No 163 on Forest land

allocation

Recognition of community forest

Decision No 170 CP on private sector

Policy on promotion of private sector

Decision No 264 CP on credit for forest planting

Guidelines for special credit for forest

planting

13


Policies Guiding Relevant Within framework

Decision No 135 CP on Difficult Communes

Classification of

difficult communes Support 2,200 remote communes

Decree No 09 LCTTN

Organization & operation of Disaster

Control activities

Decision 08 CP on Management of 3 forest categories

Regulations on managing special-use, protection and production forests

5.2. Comments on Policies and Implementation of Pre vious Projects

Principal changes of the policies to adapt to market economy. • Ecological protection is now considered the most important function; • A strategic shift from state forestry towards people’s forestry; • A renovation in roles of state forest enterprises with two separate functions: public service

and business;

• A conceptual change: single plantation towards plantation combined with natural rehabilitation;

• A transfer of less important protection forest into a category where the production purposes dominate;

• Transition from direct intervention by State to indirect intervention through incentives;

• Decentralization strengthening local authorities.

Projects shortcomings: A number of shortcomings have been found both in design and implementation of the Projects, i.e.: • Too large subsidies while direct investment to households was low; • Cost-effective principle was not followed; • Top-down approach was dominant; • Benefit sharing was mot clear; • Technical guidelines were not appropriate; and so on.

Learning from the previous programs: • Experience show that if the State covers the entire cost, sustainability will not be secured as

the fund is not available and the long-term benefits are not seen by local people.

• Local population in the watershed should be in the center of the watershed management cause. It needs to promote them to engage to land use planning, forest management,

• Management activities should go parallel with improving the local livelihood.

Problems to be addressed. • Identification of forest categories, and demarcation on the field is not completed; • A significant area of forest and barren land is neither classified and identified on the field nor

allocated to users by the competent authorities.

• A precondition for establishing local projects is to review and revise the overall land use

plan in order to identify the forest land and classify it into 3 categories (special-use, protection and production).

14


• Before, the sustainability standard for forest owners simply included: no reduction in forest area; and stability of the logged volume. But in fact over the second half of the last century forest area steadly shrunken and degraded; up to 60% of natural forest became poor with volume reducing to under 100 m3/ha.

• How to certify sustainability in managing three forest categories is quite new

• Criteria and Indicators (C&I) for sustainable forest management have not been developed.

6. POTENTIAL PARTNERS/ORGANIZATIONS

Table 3. Potential partners

No Organizations Priority*

1 Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) 1

2 • Forest Protection Department (FPD) 1

3 • Forest Development Department FDD) 1 4 • Five million ha of Reforestation Project (5MR) 1

5 • Forest Inventory and Planning Institute (FIPI) 1

6 • Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV) 2

7

8

• National Institute for Agriculture Planning and Projection (NIAPP) 2

9 • Institute for Water Planning and Projection (IWPP) 1

10

• Mekong Committee (VNMC)

1

11 • National Water Resources Council (NWRC) 2

12 • Committee for Ethnic Minority and Mountain Areas (CEMMA): 3

13 • Ministry of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA) 3

14 • Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment (MOSTE) 2

15 • General Department for Land Administration (GDLA) 3

16 • General Department for Meteodology and Hydrology (GDMH) 2

• Provincial Authorities of Lai Chau and Quang Tri *Notes: (1): essential (2): wanted (3): observed.

7. CONCLUDING REMARKS:

• The catchment area in Vietnam, and selected watersheds in particular, are vital important in terms of socio-economic and environmental development as well as natural resources protection. They are livelihood of all ethnic minorities - the most prioritized target groups of a number development projects of Vietnam at present and in future. • Major constraints for catchment development include, inter-alias, remoteness; poor infrastructure; degraded forest, water and land resources; threatened bio-diversity.

• Emerging issues include poor-rich polarization; food insecurity; low local investment capacity; low level of knowledge; traditional gender imbalance. • A set of policies have been issued creating sound legislative background for development. State and local people are determined to work together pursuing a sustainable development and in fact have made a considerable step in catchment development (land tenure, reforestation, poverty alleviation, food security, water supply, etc.). However, the policies are still fragment with a numerous elements of a top-down approach. Development activities are widely subsidy- based, weak in cost-effectiveness and linkage and in certain cases low local participation.. • In catchment management, the following issues should be taken into account: - decentralization and devolution is uncompleted;

15


- responsibility sharing is not clear between central and local levels; - uncertainty of benefit sharing between the State and forest owners; - land allocation should be speeded up;

- human resources and farmers’ participation should be improved.

Hanoi, 17 February 2002

16


Reference (main literature used)

1. Government Gazetta, 1998: Land Law (LL, 1993/1998)

2. Government Gazetta, 1991: Law on Forest Protection & Development (FL, 1991)

3. Government Gazetta, 2000: Law on Water resource Use and Management (WL, 2000)

4. Government Gazetta, 1997: Law on Agricultural Cooperatives (1997)

5. DFD/MARD, 1998: Proceedings of the National Seminar on sustainable forest management and forest certification

6. Asian Forest Network/FIPI, 1998: Stewards of Vietnam’s Upland Forest

7. Birdlife International/FIPI, 1999: Expanding the Protected Areas Network in Vietnam for 21th Century.

8. FAO/FIPI, 1996: Case study: People based Watershed Sustainable Management

9. Ministry of Forestry, 1991: Vietnam Forestry Sector Review-Tropical Forestry Action Program

10. CEMMA, 1995: Selected policies on Ethnic Minorities and Mountain Areas

11. UNDP, 1999: Country Economic Review, Vietnam

12. MARD, 2001: Collection of legislative and decisions on water resources

13. Helvetas, 1999: Social Forestry

14. FIPI, 1999: Bao cao ket qua de tai xay dung lam phan phong ho (Final report on Protection forest)

15. FARM, 1997: Vietnam National Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture in Rainfed Areas

16. MARD, 2001: Forestry Development Strategy 2001-2010; Draft of Sep. 2001

17. MARD, 2001: Forestry Development Strategy 2001-2010; (Draft of Sep. 2001)

18. MARD, 2001: National Five Million Hectare Reforestation Program (1998-2010).

19. MARD, 2001: National Coordination for Water Resources Management

20. Wold Bank, 2002: Report on Vietnam’s Development for 2001

21. MARD, 2001: Vietnam’s Forestry (A overview)

22. JICA/FSIV, 2001: Assessment of productivity of forest lands in Vietnam

23. CEMMA, 2000: Handbook for Ethnic Minorities and Mountain Areas

24. MARD/IRRI, 1998: Eco-regional Approach for Natural Resources Management in the Red River Basin, Vietnam

25. IIED, 1998: Sustainable livelihoods in the uplands of Vietnam: Land allocation and beyond

26. Oxfam-England and Oxfam-Hongkong, 2001: Rice for the poors and market liberation in Vietnam.

17


Annexes

Annex 1. List of Organisations/Institutions relevan t to catchment management in Vietnam

Name Contacts Mandate Implementation capacity

1 Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (MARD)

2, Ngoc Ha, Hanoi Dr Le Van Minh, Director, ICD

Tel: 8448 437520. Fax: 8447 330752

-Rural development; -Agriculture, forestry and irrigation; -Manage WSM projects

No

2 MARD- Department Forest Protection (DFP)

2, Ngoc Ha, Hanoi Dr Nguyen Ba Thu, Director Tel: 8447 335680. Fax: 8448 252695

-Protection and inspection of forests;

-Inspection and protection of wildlives;

-DFP local branches take part in accordance with their function

3 MARD- Department Forest Development (DFD)

2, Ngoc Ha, Hanoi Dr Nguyen Hong Quan, Deputy Director

Tel: 8448 438 803. Fax: 8448 438793 E-mail: [email protected]

-Planning of forest development; -Manage protection and production forests; -Technical guidelines for exploitation and wood processing

-DFD and its local branches take part in implementation

4 MARD-

Department for Water & Irrigation Constructions Management

2, Ngoc Ha, Hanoi Director: Pham Xuan Su

Tel: 8447 335708 . Fax: 8447 335702 E-mail; [email protected]

-Planning water resources; -Water use management; -Management of irrigation construction

This department its local branches take part in implementation

5 MARD-Five Million

ha Reforestation Project Board

A9 Building, No 2, Ngoc Ha, Hanoi.Dr Nguyen Ngoc Binh, Director of DFD

Tel: 8448 438801. Fax: 8448 438793

E-mail: [email protected]

-Assist Steering Committee (SC) and MARD in afforestation

planning; -Assist SC & MARD in distributing plans and funds; -Direct, guide and supervise the implementation of 5m ha of forests; -Reviewing and reporting.

-Provide guidelines and cooperate in implementing reforestation in the grass-root level.

18



6 Committee for Ethnic Minorities and Mountain Areas (CEMMA)

80, Phan Dinh Phung street, Hanoi Mr Trinh Cong Khanh, D’ty Director Tel: 8448 437615.

Fax: 8448 230235

-Standing agency of the Government

-Assist in taking care of the minority and mountain issues; -Preparation of policies relevant mountain areas and ethnic minorities; -Implement main projects on ethnic minority and mountain area development.

-Provide policy guidelines on the issues relevant to ethnic

minorities and mountain areas; -Assist in the poverty

alleviation policies.

7 General

Department for Land

Administration (GDLA)

73 Nguyen Chi Thanh street, Hanoi. Mr Do Duc Doi Dep’t for Land Registration

Tel: 8448 343921

Fax:: 8448 352191

-Compile land law and under-law; -Manage land use planning; -Land inventory & registration; -Land certification; -Cadastral measurement.

-Provide policies and guidelines on land use plan; -Its branches co-operate in land mapping and allocation

8 Vietnam’s Mekong

Committee

(VNMC)

23, Hang Tre, Hanoi Dr Nguyen Hong Toan Tel: 8448 255 596. Fax: 8448 256 929 E-mail:

-Governmental agency with MARD as standing body; -Cooperate sustainable development, utilization, conservation and management of Mekong basin in Vietnam.

-Co-ordinate all activities on the project design and implementation; -International cooperation

9 MOSTE-

Department of Environment Management

67, Nguyen Du, Hanoi D’ty Director Truong Manh Tien Tel: 8448 223196. Fax: 8448 223189


-Manage natural resources; -Supervise environment; -Technical guidelines on environment protection;

-Provide guidelines regarding the environmental issues; -Advise on natural resources management; -Environment impact evaluation

10 Management Board of Forest Projects

1A, Nguyen Cong Tru, Hanoi Director: Doan Diem

Tel: 8449 712 542

Fax: 8449 712 542


-Manage and implement projects of reforestation.

-Provide experience in implementing reforestation projects

19



11 Department of Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD) of Lai Chau province

101, Muong Thanh, Lai Chau Tel: 023 826 184

Fax: 023 826 008

Director: Nguyen Van Cat

-In charge of agriculture, forestry and water use in the province; -Implementation projects on rural development; -State management on the

relevant issues.

-Implementation planning; -Project management; -Partly involve in implementation; -Integrating the existing projects in the locality

12 Department of

Agriculture & Rural Development (DARD) of Quang Tri province

256, Le Duan, Dong Ha

Tel; 053 852 573 Fax:053 855 013 D’ty Director: Truong Khanh

-In charge of agriculture, forestry

and water use in the province; -Implementation projects on rural development; -State management on the

relevant issues.

-Implementation planning; -Project management; -Partly involve in implementation; -Integrating the existing projects in the locality

13 National Water Resources Council Chairman: Vice Prime-minister Nguyen Cong Tan. Standing member: Minister Le Huy Ngo

2, Ngoc Ha, Hanoi Secetary Dr Pham Xuan Su Tel: 8447 335708 .

Fax: 8447 335702

E-mail; [email protected]

-Strategy & policy on national WRM; -Planning for inter-basin

diversions; -Projecting water use and flood control; -Involve in international water sources management and settling disputes; -Resolution of any conflicts relating water resources.

-Guiding function

20


Annex 2. Donors and NGOs relevant to catchment mana gement in Vietnam

Name of NGOs Contact Mandate/Activity Implementation capacity

1 DANIDA Project

“Water Sector Program Support”

MARD. 2, Ngoc Ha street, Hanoi Mr Las Skov Andersen

Tel: 8447 337 696 Fax: 8447 337 697 E-mail: [email protected]

-Support water sector program; -Assist in capacity building and implementing national program; -Rural and urban water supply and sanitation.

Cooperator

2 GTZ - Social Forestry

Development Project

1A, Nguyen Cong Tru, Hanoi Ms Elke Forster Tel: 8448 214768

Fax: 8448 214765


-Social forestry development; -Participatory planning;

-Land use; -Poverty alleviation;

Cooperator

3 IUCN 13A, Tran Hung Dao street, Hanoi Dr Nguyen Minh Thong

Tel: 8449 330012 Fax: 8448 258794


-Advise on strategic issues of natural resources;

-Develop projects on natural resources management.

Cooperator

4 CRES 19 Le Thanh Tong street, Hanoi Dr Truong Quang Hoc, Director Tel: 844 825 3506. Fax: 8448 262932 E-.mail: [email protected]

-Research on natural resources conservation; -Study and consultation on environmental protection; -Education and training staff in the

relevant areas.

Cooperator

5 WWF 53, Tran Phu street, Hanoi Mr Hoang Thanh & Mike Baltzer Tel: 8447 338387. Fax: 844 733 8388 E-mal: [email protected]

-Survey and inventory of wildlives; -Planning wildlife protection and development; -Execute the projects on wildlife

Cooperator

6 CIDSE Road No 4, Quarter A-5 , Thanh Cong, Dong Da, Hanoi. Mr Laroche Marc

Tel 8448 359939. Fax: 8448 359928 E-mail: [email protected]

-Small scale projects on rural development;

-Poverty alleviation;

Cooperator

21


Name of NGOs Contact Mandate/Activity Implementation capacity

7 CARE Floor 11, Fortuna Tower, No 6B, Lang Ha street, Ba Dinh, Hanoi.

Mr Doolan Brian

Tel: 8448 314155. Fax: 8448 314160 E-mal: [email protected]

-Small scale projects on rural development;


Cooperator

8 HELVETAS Lathanh Hotel, Doi Can street, Hanoi. Ms Sylvaine Rieg


-Social Forestry Development Project; -Natural Resources in Ba Be watershed -Poverty alleviation.

Cooperator

9 FAO-BELGIUM FAO Quarter, Room 202- B1, Van Phuc village, Hanoi. Mr Kumar Upadhuyay


-Participatory Watershed Management Project;


Cooperator

22


Annex 3. Research & Education institutions relevant to catchment management in Vietnam


1 Forest Inventory & Planning Institute (FIPI)

Thanh Tri, Hanoi D’ty Director: Dr Nguyen Huy Phon Tel. 8448 615511

Fax: 8448 612 881


Survey of natural resources; Prepare development plan

Monitor forest resources

Research on forest inventory & planning

Cooperator -Forest inventory

-Forest classification -Mapping, GIS

2 Forest Science Institute of Vietnam (FSIV)

Tu Liem, Hanoi Tel: 8448 389 031

Fax: 8448 389 722

E-mail: [email protected] Director: Prof. Do Dinh Sam

Research on sylvi-culture, forest economy, forest management Consultation on forest investment Post-graduate education on forestry

Cooperator

3 Institute of Water Resources Planning (IWPP)

Hoan Kiem, Hanoi Tel: 8448 254 091

Fax: 8448 252 807

E-mail: [email protected] Dr Dr To Trung Nghia

-Inventory of water sources

-Planning water use

-Water resources management methods

Cooperator

4 National Institute for Agricultural Planning and Projection (NIAPP)

61, Hang Chuoi, Hanoi Tel: 8449 716 408

Fax: 8448 214 163

E-mail: [email protected] Director: Vu Nang Dung

-Land survey

-Land use planning -Land projection

Cooperator

5 Vietnam Institute for Water Resources Research (IWRR)

171, Tay Son, Hanoi Tel: 8448 522 086

Fax: 8445 632 827

Director: Nguyen Tuan Anh

-Studies on water resources management methods; -Method of water supplies; -Water sanitation

Cooperator

6 Southern Institute of Water Resource Research

Quan5, Ho Chi Minh City Tel: 8488 352 320

Fax: 8488 355 028

E-mail: [email protected] Director: Dr Le Sam

Special for the South

-Studies on water resources management methods; -Method of water supplies; -Water sanitation

Cooperator

23



7 Forestry College Xuan Mai, Ha Tay, Vietnam Tel: 034 840 233

Fax: 034 840 540

Rector: Nguyen Dinh Tu

-Education of forest technicians at university level

Cooperator -Training in social forestry

8 Water Management

University

299, Tay Son, Hanoi Tel: 8448 522 201

Fax: 8448 633 351

Rector: Le Kim Truyen

-Education of water management at university level

Cooperator

9 Northwest University Dien Bien Phu town Lai Chau province

Recently established (2000) -Education for minority students

Cooperator In training

Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin · an integrated and participatory approach to...

Documents

Transcript of Watershed Management in the Lower Mekong Basin · an integrated and participatory approach to...