ADB, Australia help manage Mekong resources

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Australia are providing a US$1 million (8.7 billion kip) grant to help Laos develop the tools needed to manage its vast water and environmental resources flowing from the Mekong River.

According to the Australian Embassy to Laos , the Mekong River traverses six of Southeast Asia 's richest and poorest countries, with the Lao PDR being the source of about 38 percent of the annual flow of the 11 th longest river in the world. The vast biodiversity of the 4,880km-long river makes it one of the world's richest, with more than 1,200 species of fish.

ADB's Southeast Asia Department senior water resources management specialist Ian W. Makin said the Mekong River 's water resources contributed to the economy through irrigation for agriculture and would sustain growing hydropower revenues.

“The unique environmental aspects also support tourism in the region. This project with help develop the skills and experience needed to manage those resources,” he said.

ADB and the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) will each extend a US$500,000 grant, and the Lao PDR will contribute US$50,000 to complete the funding requirement for the project. The project will assist Laos ' Water Resources and Environment Administration (WREA) in designing programmes to improve management of the nation's vast water resources, and update national water resources policies for 2008-2010 and beyond.

Australian Ambassador to Laos , Dr Michele Forster, said the collaboration with ADB to support the newly established WREA would help provide leadership in the management of the water resources in Laos and the Mekong basin.

“ Australia has been actively involved in assisting development planning and environmental protection in the Mekong Basin for the past decade,” Dr Forster said. “Development potential exists for several sectors, including agriculture, fisheries, and hydropower, but careful planning must include consideration of the potential negative impacts of exploiting the river's resources.”

Laos will become better placed to develop water-related projects in an environmentally friendly way, and become an informed and equal partner in the Mekong River Commission, which groups together the countries surrounding the Mekong River to address cross-border water issues. Other countries that share the Mekong are Cambodia , Thailand , Vietnam , China , and Myanmar.

By VIENTIANE TIMES
(Latest Update May 08, 2008)