The Role of Ubon Ratchathani University on Natural Resources Management : A Case of Pak Mun Dam

Asst. Professor. Dr. Praneet NgamsnaeAsst. Professor. Dr. Praneet Ngamsnae

Faculty of Agriculture, Ubon Ratchathani UniversityFaculty of Agriculture, Ubon Ratchathani University

Presentation for International Training Course on “ Integrated Water Resources Presentation for International Training Course on “ Integrated Water Resources Management for the Mekong”, Organized by Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen University.Management for the Mekong”, Organized by Mekong Institute, Khon Kaen University.

At Ubon Ratchathani University Conference Hall At Ubon Ratchathani University Conference Hall January 7, 2011.January 7, 2011.

Overview of Presentation Overview of Presentation

1. Background of the Pak Mun Dam

2. Facts 3. Roles of Ubon Ratchathani University as an academic

organization on this water resource development project

4 . Pak Mun Dam after 2004

5. Lessons learnt from Pak Mun Dam

6. Challenges of the Pak Mun Dam

Pak Mun Dam during closed period

Pak Mun Dam during opening period

Trap fisheries at the Pak Mun Dam during the opening period

Pak Mun Dam

Kaeng Saphu

Source: EGAT (2005)

Location map of Pak Mun Project

1. Background1. Background

• Initiated by “National Energy Authority” (NEA) in 1970

• Transferred to “Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand” (E GAT) to continue further study in 1979

• The Government approved to implement the project on 15 May 1990: Needed 670 MW electric power in Northeast region

• C ompleted in November 1994 as planed as multi-purpose run off river dam

• Adding fish ladder after having lots of critics on fisher resources

2. Pak Mun Dam: Facts2. Pak Mun Dam: Facts

• Expectation– Cost: $135m– Mitigation cost: $11m– Dry season HEP: 136 MW– Irrigation: 29,500 ha– Displaced families: 241

hhs – Reservoir fisheries:

100kg/ha/yr– Natural fisheries: fish

ladder, first for a Mekong dam (added later)

• Real situation– Cost: $233m

– Mitigation cost : $32m

– Dry season HEP: 40 MW– Irrigation: None– Displaced families: 1700

hhs– Reservoir fisheries:

10kg/ha/yr- Wild fishes : 169 of 265

species upstream of dam disappearedSource: WCD (2000)

Livelihoods

Main livelihoods of the people settled at the lower Mun river

Fishing as main income source

and other river resources and river bank gardening

rainfed area: rice cultivation

Roles of Assembly of the Poor (AoP)and Platforms of political negotiation

Serious counter between the police and the poor in front of the government house

Walk rally along the road in BKK and symbolize with green flags and other mottos to inform the public and draw media and public attention

Demand of AoP: Dam’s Gate opening

Demand of AoP: Dam’s Gate opening

“ Water current velocity” is the key factor for the effectiveness of Fis h Ladder

1 – 1.5 m./sec. is the optimum velocity for fishes passing through the fish ladder

3.3.Roles of Ubon Ratchathani University as an academic organization on this water resource development project

UBU MissionUBU Mission1.To produce graduates with well1.To produce graduates with well--balanced knowledge, morals and wisdom balanced knowledge, morals and wisdom 2.2. To promote and expand the university research To promote and expand the university research3.To provide academic services to the community through the university 3.To provide academic services to the community through the university community outreach programs  community outreach programs  4.4. To preserve and promote the arts, culture and heritage To preserve and promote the arts, culture and heritage

1, University centers, Information centers : MRSI, MSSCR2. Organizes Conferences, Symposiums etc.3. Research projects

Approaches to Restoration of the Ecology, Approaches to Restoration of the Ecology, Livelihood and Communities receiving Impacts Livelihood and Communities receiving Impacts from Construction of Pak Mun Damfrom Construction of Pak Mun Dam

By Ubon Ratchathani UniversityJune 2001- July 2002Granted by Thai Government

Research Project:

(1).Rationale - Govt. granted Ubon Ratchatahni University to assess the impact of the dam in 2001

- Opening the dam’s gates 1 year for studying,

- To present recommendations and issues to consider in decision-making for the Thai government

(2). Problem defining  2.1 Type of research: Interdisciplinary: Social, Applied and Scientific Research Integration of :

Quantitative, Qualitative, Explanatory, Descriptive, Predictive and Diagnosis research

2.2 Aims/Objectives: To answer the questions

To solve the conflict/controversy : - Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand

(EGAT) - Assembly of the Poor (AoP), - Stakeholders (both the pro and con dam’s groups)

(3). Procedure Design

3.1 Define the questions of the research, 4 main questions:

◊ What is the status and role of the dam in electricity generation ?

◊ What are the actual and potential irrigation benefits of the dam?

◊ On and ecological, agricultural, and fisheries basis, how does the dam affect community economic and social relation?

◊ What options might exist to manage the dam?

Work Tasks : Work Tasks : Corresponding to the Government’s TOR 1. Impacts on Ecosystem & Fisheries Resources :

Faculty of Agriculture UBU

2. Impacts on Irrigation and Agriculture :Faculty of Agriculture UBU

3. Impacts on Electricity Generation & Energy Security : Faculty of Engineering UBU

4. Impacts Community Economic & Social Relations: Faculty of Liberal Arts UBU

5. Alternatives to Consider in Managing Pak Mun DamUBU Teams

3.2 Conceptual Framework

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3

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3 types of Resources : 1. River-based Resources

2. Land – based Resources

3. Forest- based Resources

Example: River-based Resources

Hypotheses:1.“All 3 types of resources spatial and temporally vary corresponding to seasons and the dam’s gates opening periods”

2.These variations influences the social, community economics, livelihood and health of the people.

3.It is therefore necessary to rank and prioritize the severity of these variables (factors), then analyze the causal chain and set up the strategic action plans.

3.3 Study sites/ Impacted communities

Sampling Stations of Sub Project 1) Impacts on Ecosystem & Fisheries Resources

Sampling Stations of Sub Project 2) Impacts on Irrigation and Agriculture

Data collecting and field work

Study areas of sub project 3)Impacts Community Economic & Social Relations

(4). The pathway of research findings(4). The pathway of research findings application application (4). The pathway of research findings(4). The pathway of research findings application application

(5) Summary of the project overview (5) Summary of the project overview (5) Summary of the project overview (5) Summary of the project overview

Survey of Income Change (Household/year)

Fisheries On-farmOff-farm

Income

Source: Ubon Ratchathani University (2002)

(6) Highlight of UBU findings: Livelihoods and impacts

(7) The 4 alternatives proposed for the Government

● Alternative1. Closing the sluice gates so as to use the dam for year-round electricity generation

● Alternative2. Opening the sluice gates during the rainy season for five months, (July-November)

● Alternative3. Opening the sluice gates from April-November, a total of 8 months

● Alternative4. Opening the sluice gates year-round

4. Pak Mun Dam after 2004

Formal leaders of the villagers protested in front of the dam, demanding EGAT to close the dam’s gates (May 2005), sent petition to Ubon’s governor

4.1Politics of Knowledge on flow management

• Govt granted Ubon U. to assess the impact of the dam (10.2 million B) in 2001-2003– Opening the dam’s gates 1 year for studying

• EGAT granted Office of Science and Technology to do the research on development of quality of live in 2003

• Assembly of the Poor conducted Tai Baan Research on Pak Mun dam in 2003

4.2 Cabinet resolution on Pak Mun dam

• 2004: dam must be opened 4 months a year (May-August)

• Win-win solution

• F ish species from the Mekong river migrate, breed and spawn in the Mun River

4.3 Cabinet resolution in 2007• T he government overode the decision made about Pak Mun Dam in 2004 by t

he ousted Thaksin Shinawatra government

• issuing a resolution to keep the dam’s sluice gates closed, as suggested by t he Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC)’

• - This decision was based on a ‘’trade off’’ with the majority, those in favour of the closure (presenting to the government by ISOC 20,000 villagers’ name lis ted who support to close the dam’s gates).

• But many of these villagers are less dependent

4.4 Multi stakeholder committee and dam management after 2007

Early 2008 : Interim Government established the Committee o n Pak Mun dam, chaired by the governor

The committee structure comprises of six main groups which are:

1) A ffected villagers (both the pro and con dam’s groups);2) A cademics;3) L ine agencies at provincial level;4) L ocal administrative organization;5) EGAT (Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand) and6 ) NGOs.

4.4.1Roles of this committee

• 4 steering committees and their mandates and responsibiliti es to work

– a steering committee for water management and allocati on for agriculture;

– a steering committee for managing the dam (closing and opening the dam’s gates),

– a steering committee for quality of life, development and resilience

– a steering committee for public relations.

4.4.2 How this committee works?

• This commission was authorized to propose policy recomme ndations and implementing plans about the dam to the gove

rnment and EGAT

• Participatory approach

• Monthly meeting or so

• Conducting a survey on quality of life development programmes in September 2008 for Mitigation plan

5.Lessons learntfrom Pak Mun Dam

Pak Mun Dam is both justified and criticized on the grounds of efficiency, equity and sustainability

The Dam is the biggest single human impact on the Munvriver system at the mouth of the river

This case demonstrates that we cannot impose a simple technical fantasy on the complex landscape.

The social impacts of the dams are geographically dispersed.

The environmental impacts of this dam are both on-site and catchment-wide.

6.Challenges of the Pak Mun Dam 1) How Pak Mun Dam serve as a significant lesson for the proposed dam.

2) How to disseminate information on the dam locally.

3) How to establish baseline data regarding the riparian people’s food security and their social, economic and cultural uses of the river.

4) How local and regional civil society groups should be involved.

Pak Mun Dam during closed period

Thank youThank youfor your for your

attentionattention