Environmental study of the Lancang-Mekong Development Plan

Solution instantanée

by Vanessa Carriedo, International Centre for Environmental Management

Team members collect specimens for macroinvertebrate assessment

ICEM/Petro Kotzé

The study assessed the potential environmental and social impacts of the proposed Lancang-Mekong Development Plan (LMDP) and Pak Beng Hydropower Project and provided recommendations for improving the planning and management of these developments to effectively mitigate negative impacts. The study was undertaken in four phases (scoping, baseline assessment, impact assessment, and recommendations and management planning) and covered seven thematic areas:

Hydrology and sediments;
Aquatic biodiversity and wetlands;
Fish;
Amphibians and reptiles;
Birds;
Waterways; and
Socio-economics and livelihoods.

By identifying the potential impacts of the proposed developments and setting out mitigation strategies, the study served to inform the deliberations of decision-makers. It may have played a role in bringing about an informal agreement between Thailand and China to halt the plan.

Dernière modification 15 Oct 2020

1484 Vues

Galerie de photos et de vidéos

Contexte

Challenges addressed

Ecosystem loss

Unsustainable harvesting incl. Overfishing

Lack of alternative income opportunities

Lack of public and decision maker’s awareness

Poor governance and participation

Scale of implementation

Multi-national

Ecosystems

Connective infrastructure, networks and corridors

Thème

Protected and conserved areas governance

Protected and conserved areas management planning

Watershed management

Fisheries and aquaculture

Water provision and management

Emplacement

Lancang-Mekong River between Chiang Saen (Golden Triangle), Thailand and Luang Prabang, Lao PDR

Southeast Asia

Impacts

The project provided a foundation for the improved sustainable development and management of the Lancang-Mekong River between the Golden Triangle and Luang Prabang. It helped improve the knowledge base on social and environmental values along this stretch. It identified possible short- and long-term impacts from the proposed developments and outlined a set of mitigation strategies to minimise the negative impacts in order to safeguard biodiversity and local communities’ livelihoods and subsistence.

As a next step following the study and its recommendations, the Mekong River Commission Secretariat will formally notify member countries about the study and linked resource materials so that countries can decide how best to move forward in integrating results in their respective navigation development plans, the environmental and social impact assessment on the LMDP and the associated environmental management plan.

The study was an important part of the scientific evidence base that led to an informal agreement between foreign affairs ministers of Thailand and China to halt the plan in February 2019. However, as there has been no official statement from China or Thailand on the cancellation of the LMDP, it is possible the plan may be pursued at a later date. The study results will continue to provide important information to decision-makers should the plan be resurrected.