Mekong River Commission

International scientists seek solutions to increased demands for water

MRC No.18/04
Vientiane, 25 October 2004

 

Scientists from around the world gathered today at a conference held in Vientiane to discuss how they could pool their knowledge and technology to find solutions to the water problems facing the Asian monsoon region.

The Revolutionary Research 2002 Research Group (RR2002) supported by the Japanese Government and the Mekong River Commission hosted the three-day conference entitled Advances in Integrated Mekong River Management.

Hydrology experts from Japan, China, the US, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam attended the conference and presented papers on topics ranging from rainfall figures, the impact of paddy irrigation and soil erosion to salinity intrusion, living with floods and the possible impact of China’s cascade development of the Lancang (Mekong) River mainstream.

According to Dr Olivier Cogels, Chief Executive Officer Mekong River Commission, the rapid development of the communities who live in the Lower Mekong Basin is placing increased demand on the region’s water resources and solutions to these problems need to be developed using data relevant to local conditions and experiences,

“This international conference aims to gather together researchers, engineers and technicians sharing common interests and goals and allowing them to fill in the gaps in each other’s knowledge,” he said. “It provides a very valuable opportunity for MRC to foster greater collaborative interest in research that will contribute to quality river basin management.”

Dr Kuniyoshi Takeuchi, Chairman of the Conference and Leader of the RR2002, emphasised that the Mekong was the most important trans-boundary river in Southeast Asia in the midst of the Asian Monsoon region and, as such, attracted world attention and international collaboration.

“In this conference I wish to demonstrate how hydrological sciences are important and can improve the quality of international collaboration and how the technology developed in the region is important for sustainable human-nature coexistence,” he said

Supporting Organisations for the International Conference of Advances in Integrated Mekong River Management include:
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport of Japan (MLIT)
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF)
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
Lao National Mekong Committee (LNMC)
International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS)
The Asia Pacific Association of Hydrology and Water Resources (APHW)
International Institute for Infrastructure, Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering (IHE)
University of Yamanashi (UY)
Yunnan University (YU)
Public Works Research Institute (PWRI)
National Institute for Rural Engineering (NIRE)
Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI)
Infrastructure Development Institute (IDI)
Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDR (EOJ)

For more information, please contact:
Dr Chayanis Manusthiparom, Operational Hydrologist, TSD,
Mr Susumu Uchiumi, Senior Adviser, Agriculture, Irrigation and Forestry Programme,
Mr Yoichi Iwami, Senior Advisor on river management.
Tel: 856 21 263 263 Ext 3715, 4072, 2104.
Fax: (856-21) 263 264
Email: chayanis@mrcmekong.org

The preceedings for the conference are now available on our online store.

 

 

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