Integrated Water Resource Management An Exercise in Back Casting for the Mekong River BasinPresenters Trang (Thu) NguyenShaun Horne

AgendaIntroduction to Concepts• Transboundary Water Resources • Integrated Water Resource Management

– Case Study California• Back Casting

– Systems Thinking• Workshop Overview

– Integrated Water Resource Management Planning Exercise

– Group Presentations and Discussion

263 transboundary lakes and rivers globally 145 nations have transboundary watersheds 13 basins worldwide that are by over 5 riparian nations

Transboundary Resources:A transboundary (shared) resource is one where two or more countries actually share ownership, stewardship or exploitation of a natural resource ('asset’). A shared resource is one in which the activities of one country upon the resource can directly increase or decrease the quantity, quality or availability of the same resource in another country.

http://www.mrcmekong.org/RAK/html/1.11.2_description_transboundary.html

Transboundary Impacts:

There are many cases of environmental impacts which originate in one country, but which are also felt in another country.

For example, water extraction upstream has an impact on water availability downstream.

http://www.mrcmekong.org/RAK/html/1.11.2_description_transboundary.html

Integrated Water Resource Management “promotes the co-ordinated development and management of water, land and related resources, in order to maximize the resultant economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems”. (The Global Water Partnership)

Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) On A Basin Level Sustainable management of water resource requires systemic, integrated decision making that recognizes several interdependences:

1. Decisions on land use affect water and decisions on water use affect the environment and land.

2. Decisions on our economic and social future affect hydrology and ecosystems in which humans live.

3. Decisions at the international, national, and local levels are interrelated.

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001319/131933e.pdf

California’s Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP)

State of California policy (SB1672) • encourages local land- and water-use planning entities to work collaboratively

within a region• establish common water resource management goals and objectives• develop a regional planning framework that integrates land, water, and habitat

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Case Study: Mokelumne River Project

Back Casting Approach

• Let’s have some fun: Watch this video (0:24-2:44)

Back Casting Approach as a Tool for Sustainable Management

Example:Back Casting vs Fore Casting

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• Systems Thinking-Different Scales– California-State/County– Mekong Basin-Countries

Define System

Back Casting as a Tool

1. Define criteria for IWRM

2. Describe present situation in relation to the desired IWRM

3. Envision and assess

potential vision

4. Construct a development path

Oskar Englund, Chalmers University of Technology

Workshop OverviewGoals• Learn basic principles of IWRM and stakeholder

negotiations • Learn to use back casting as an approach to

sustainable planning

ObjectivesUsing a back casting approach:• Develop IWRM for the Mekong Basin

• Define necessary steps to achieve IWRM

Workshop Format

• Divide into groups

• 12 members/group

• Decide on stakeholder roles

• Give your group a cool name!

• Groups present their solutions

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Scenario• Boundaries: Mekong Basin• Background Info Provided on Map and Template • Develop a vision for 2025• Stakeholder Roles and their Main Concerns

– 2 People: Agricultural Community: water supply for their activities, especially rice production

– 2 People: Fishing Community: aquatic biodiversity and quantity of fish– 2 People: Environmental Activist: ecosystem conservation– 2 People: Development Commission: socioeconomic issues– 2 People: Industry Representatives: water supply – 2 People: Hydropower Development Firm: power production, demand, and

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Step 1: Define Criteria for Integrated and Sustainable Water Resource Management

– Consider• sustainability principles• Stakeholder issues

– Outline 4 criteria for IWRM– Example: Criteria for a sustainable management of

marine resources for Öckerö municipality in Sweden

Fish stocks are not overfished Marine biodiversity is conserved Ecosystem services are

maintained The people of Öckerö have a

good quality of life

A living maritime culture exists There are enough work opportunities

in the municipality Marine resources are managed

effectively The economy is resilient

Step 2: Present State Analysis

Compare the present state of the Mekong Basin with the criteria for IWRM defined in Step 1 Goals:• Understand why the present state is

unsustainable/undesirable • What the biggest challenges to reaching our

IWRM goals

Step 3: Sustainable/Desirable Future SolutionWhat does IWRM look like in the Mekong Basin?

• What do you, as a specific stakeholder, envision IWRM to be?

• Compare your ideas with criteria from step 1 to develop a vision

• Does each idea meet all criteria?• Note ideas not consistent with criteria

– Who has them– What do these stakeholders represent

• Craft a mission statement for your IWRM

Step 4: Development Path

Your strategic planning timeline :

Workshop Synthesis

1. Mission Statement of IWRM2. Implementation Path

Strategic Implementation Plan of an IWRMfor the Mekong Basin

Summary – What to bring home?Transboundary Water ResourcesIntegrated Water Resource

Management (IWRM) On A Basin Level

Back Casting Approach as a Tool for Sustainable Management

Back Casting Approach for your project development?

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

Mekong River DolphinsSource: http://imgkid.com/mekong-river-dolphin.shtml