Group 2: SiphandoneLocation: Main Room

1.Mr. Chanyuth Tepa2.Mr. Khamphay Luangath3. Mr. Lonkham Atsanavong4. Mr. Mark Dubois5. Mr. Phaivanh Phiapalath6. Mr. Prachith Noraseng7. Dr. Robyn Johnston8. Mr. Somany Phay

Facilitators:

• 1. Mr. Martin Hollands• 2. Dr. Robert Mather

Siphandone ++

• Mekong River 50 kms either side of Lao / Cambodian border

Siphandone

• Braided river channel, islands, rapids, waterfalls and wetlands (gallery and flooded forest)

Intrinsic values• Species

– Biodiversity of aquatic and animal species– Endangered fish species – giant catfish, giant rays, Probarbis– Dolphins

• Habitats– Wetlands – flooded forest, gallery forest– Sand banks, sandy islands– Fish habitats – rapids, deep pools, feeding habitats, breeding

habitats– Dolphin habitat– Waterbird habitat – Mekong wagtail and others

• Migration paths• Variety of ethnic groups with - social and cultural values

Use values• Fish for food• Role in mitigating natural disaster• Livelihood and economic values• Tourism / ecotourism – dolphins, landscapes,

waterfalls• Agricultural values • Ecosystem services– Provisioning – flood protection / water management– Nutrient recycling

• Spiritual cultural values.• NTFPs – traditional medicines

Development pressures and trend (non – CC)

• Population increase, urbanisation, migration• Tourism development• Hydropower• Rural electrification• Infrastructure (roads etc)• Economic development – integrated markets, higher demand for resources

– Impacts on equality?• Decentralised governance – increased participation, changes in legal framework –

eg fisheries law bans certain gear including li traps• Technological change – new ways of doing things• Agricultural change (irrigation, plantations, chemical use, livestock replacing fish)• Land use change (conversion of natural systems; forest cover change)• Mining

– Copper / gold upstream – Savannakhet– Bauxite on Bolavens Plateau (which catchments?)

• Increase in conservation zones – Ramsar sites, World heritage sites, national parks

Values under threat

• Dolphins• Fish and fish migration• Waterbirds• Deep pools• Medicinal plants• Flooded forests / gallery forest• Hydrological change

Values under threat - example

Dolphins • tourism (positive through awareness; negative through stress)• hydrodam – division of population into two sub-groups;

decline of fish population• flow changes – deep pools• water pollution - bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals –

pesticides / mining wastes• inbreeding depression• conservation policy and institutions

Impacts of CC on values

• Wetlands and water birds• Fish and fish migration• Forests and wildlife

Impacts of CC – exampleFish and fish migration

• Change in magnitude, pattern, variability• To increase affect breeding, reproduction,

feeding – magnitude of impacts not well known

• Fluctuation / variability – may affect more sensitive species

• Change in species distribution – new species viable in the area

Integrated planning• Should be led by provincial government• Work through existing national climate change office –

link to provincial level is through provincial environment office – encourage use of Siphandone as pilot area

• MRC Climate Change initiative and BDP sub-area studies

• Direct engagement with provincial / district governments

• Existing programs– ADB NRMPE (production efficiency)– agrobiodiversity initiatives (TABI, UNDP/FAO)

Priority actions

• Payment for environmental services• Infrastructure and development projects need

to pay for loss of food and biodiversity (appropriate substitution and offsets)

• Agricultural production central to adaptation – increase agricultural productivity to reduce pressure on natural systems

Priority actions

Knowledge and information • Information centre for Siphandone• Studies on fish migration, interaction between CC

and other values• Knowledge network (linking local and scientific

info)• Capacity building• Traditional spiritual and cultural values and

knowledge

Priority actions

Monitoring and evaluation• Participatory identification of monitoring

indicators eg “Tai Bann” / Salaphoum• Participatory learning and action

LEADS TO• Knowledge based local economy

LEADS TO• Community adaptation to local climate impacts

Priority actions

Legislation and regulation• Designate for World Heritage and/or Ramsar• Fisheries law• Strengthen EIA and SEA capacity and

implementation• Clear demarkation of dolphin conservation

zone and fish protected areas• Fisheries co-management regulations