Watershed, biodiversity preservation the key for Nam Theun 2

The Nam Theun 2 Power Company and the French Institute of Research and Development (IRD) have agreed to establish a framework for cooperation, dialogue and exchange of information on preserving biodiversity.
The two parties have also agreed to promote research activities, education and training, and to dedicate their efforts to “One Health” and climate topics through the establishment of the International Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CIREN).

Mr Marc-Antoine Rupp, Mrs Valerie Verdier and other officials at the signing ceremony.

The two sides recently signed an agreement for this cooperation at Nam Theun 2 hydropower project in Khammuan province. The pact was signed by Nam Theun 2’s CEO, Mr Marc-Antoine Rupp, and the President and CEO of IRD, Mrs Valerie Verdier, and the signing ceremony was attended by Ambassador of France to Laos, Mrs Siv Leng Chhuor, and other officials.
“For Nam Theun 2, this agreement represents another step in our action for sustainability. As a hydro project, water is our key resource and without water, we cannot fulfill our mission to generate electricity. That is why the protection of our ecosystem has always been part of our DNA,” Mr Rupp said.
“Recent years have seen the first signs of the climate change, with significant dry periods, especially this year.”
Rupp said the changing trends require the full commitment of everyone to conserve the watershed, stop illegal deforestation, promote more sustainable livelihoods, and to get the Nakai Nam Theun National Park registered in the IUCN Green List.
The IRD representative in Laos, Dr Eric Deharo, told Vientiane Times that the institute has sent researchers to countries around the world to work with them on strengthening capacity building.
“This agreement is about establishing the centre for environmental research and education. For us, it’s very important to focus on what we call ‘One Health’ or human health, animal health and environmental health,” he said.
According to the Nam Theun 2 Power Company, One Health is a collaborative, multi-sectorial and transdisciplinary approach to human, animal and environmental health that involves studies at the local, national and global levels.
Its aim is to understand the mechanisms of emerging or re-emerging diseases, in order to prevent them. CIREN will focus on phenomena involved in climate change, such as greenhouse gases.
“Nakai Nam Theun National Park is a big source of biodiversity,” Dr Deharo said, adding that Laos has greater biodiversity than Costa Rica in Central America.
“Many people visit Costa Rica just to see its biodiversity, notably animals, birds and flowers, but nobody knows about Laos’ biodiversity,” he said.
“Our aim is to increase capacity building for young students to study the biodiversity of Laos and preserve it for the next generation. The first step is to set up a biodiversity lab here and allow students from all over Laos to come to Nam Theun 2, the hotspot for biodiversity in Laos.”

.

By Somsack Pongkhao
 (Latest Update November 16, 2022)