Suthep Kritsanavarin Protecting Mekong s Critical Ecosystems & Biodiversity from Hydropower Development Ame Trandem
The Mekong - Lifeblood of the Region
The Mekong s Endgame? The Mekong Mainstream Dams Mekong River Commission Established in 1995; to sustainably manage and protect Mekong River; Eleven Lower Mekong mainstream dams planned in Laos and Cambodia; September 2010, Laos initiates the MRC s prior consultation process (PNPCA) for the Xayaburi Dam. Don Sahong starts prior consultation in 2014. Prior consultation is neither a right to veto the use nor unilateral right to use water by any riparian without taking into account other riparian's rights.
Threat of the Lower Mainstream Dams The MRC s 2010 Strategic Environmental Assessment warns: -Up to 60% of the total Mekong fish catch is at risk; -Nutrient rich sediment loads cut in half by lower Mekong and 3S dams; -Inundation of half of riverbank gardens; -Will affect approximately 40 million people in the Mekong Basin; -Food security of 2 million at serious risk; -Benefit sharing and livelihood replacement highly problematic. The SEA states: Decisions on mainstream dams should be deferred for a period of ten years.the decision to go ahead with the dams must be taken with the knowledge that the loss in biodiversity would be a permanent and irreplaceable global loss which could not be compensated.
CEPF Project Objectives (2014-2016) Strengthen the movement to protect the Mekong River; Keep river free-flowing by stopping most destructive dams from being built; Raise awareness of value of healthy Mekong through effective communications; Promote improved Mekong governance; Promote sustainable energy alternatives in Mekong region.
Progress to Date Xayaburi Dam s prior consultation problems continues to be viewed as setting bad precedent in decision-making; The governments of Cambodia and Vietnam, along with Development Partners, have maintained pressure on Laos; Helping to coordinate information and civil society actions, Laos was forced to agree to undergo prior consultation for Don Sahong Dam with calls for its extension; Supported civil society to raise concerns and challenge the national consultation processes held in region; Thai Supreme Administrative Court accepted a lawsuit against Xayaburi s Power Purchase Agreement.
Some Project Successes 1) Helping to frame the debate over the Mekong dams; 2) Demonstrated problems with regional decision-making (MRC s PNPCA) and the need for reform; 3) Continued opposition to mainstream dams by Cambodia and Vietnam, and now Thailand took stronger position of concern towards Don Sahong; 4) Contested design improvements and further studies underway at project sites-[ more than $200 million allocated for Xayaburi s fish passage alone]; 5) Exploring new areas of redressexterritorial obligations (OECD, human rights commissions, Thai Administrative
Challenges Faced in the Mekong Region Difficulty in shifting debate from project by project focus to cascade impact; Vested interests and general push for industrialization within the region sets us up for an unfair fight from the beginning; Corruption is a key driver, but difficult to expose & tackle; Regional responsibilities by Mekong states take second to sovereign interests; Need more actors working on sustainable energy planning in region; Attempts to silence opposition with increased state repression.
Lessons Learned The Mekong River Commission s mandate and leadership has failed to tackle the challenges of shared water resources- reform is needed; More advocacy efforts directed at the companies and investors are required; Challenging mitigation measures on a technical level isolates wider movement to protect river & is hard for media to follow; Need to identify more ways to put the burden of proof on the developer; More experts, conservation organizations, land sectored NGOs are needed to engage in the debate & work together. Harvesting Kai on the Mekong River near Xayaburi Dam site
Thank you! Suthep Kritsanavarin www.internationalrivers.org Ame@internationalrivers.org Suthep Kritsanavarin