The Mekong’s water gives life to the people and ecosystems of the Lower Mekong Basin.

Although the quality of water and related resources in the basin is currently good, experts have particular concerns. Among them is the high nutrient concentration in the Mekong Delta, which can diminish soil quality. Other parts of the Mekong are progressively at risk of environmental degradation as the river is faced with rapid industrialisation and the impacts of climate change.

The Mekong River Commission’s Environment Programme works to support cooperation among MRC Member Countries to secure a balance between economic development, environmental protection and social sustainability within the Mekong region.

In response to the Mekong’s changing environment, the Programme’s aim is to ensure that basin management and development is guided by up to date environmental and social knowledge. The Programme strives for more efficient environmental management cooperation. For example, it has facilitated the implementation of regional Procedures for Water Quality to maintain the river’s water quality.

Linking people with their environment

As the river is their lifeline, millions of people in the basin need to understand the relationship between their everyday lives and the environment they live in. The Environment Programme supports this by communicating water quality results and river water ‘Report Cards’ to national line agencies. To improve regional responses to environmental emergencies, the Programme provides action plans for national governments. The Environment Programme developed awareness and training kits that contain simple terms, maps, graphics about the Mekong River and its people, and other useful materials in local languages

When the Environment Programme conducts a survey or monitoring activity, the communities they work with gain a greater understanding of how their daily activities impact the river’s quality, and in return, their well-being.

Transboundary cooperation in a complex environment

The Mekong flows through six countries on its journey from the source on the Tibetan Plateau to the ocean.

The Environment Programme recognises that the Mekong’s environmental issues are transboundary by nature, and therefore focuses on developing knowledge and scientific data that covers the entire region. Through a regional lens, the Programme aims to promote dialogue between Mekong countries throughout the basin.

In response to the need to approach the Mekong’s environment from a transboundary perspective, the Programme is developing the Guideline for Transboundary Environmental Impact Assessment (TbEIA), which sets a regional standard applicable to national activities.

Knowledge of the Mekong’s environment is only useful if it reaches and is understood by vulnerable communities and authorities, in order to make an impact. The Programme produces a periodic outlook of environmental, social and economic conditions of the Lower Mekong Basin, The State of the Basin Report (2003 and 2010). The report helps Member Countries and stakeholders better understand the state of the Mekong’s transboundary changes.