Vientiane
(Vientiane Times/ANN) - The Federal
Republic of Germany committed to provide more than 80 billion kip (US$10.5
million) in funding to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) for conservation
initiatives.
The
funding will go towards ensuring the sustainable use of selected wetland sites
in the Lower Mekong Basin, and support plans and strategies to improve long
term wetland management.
The
financial commitment was made after discussions were held between the German
Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Mr Dirk Niebel and the Chief
Executive Officer of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat Mr Hans Guttman
yesterday.
"The
loss of natural wetlands in the Lower Mekong Basin has been widespread due to
many pressures including infrastructure development, the intensification of
agriculture and deforestation," Mr Guttman said.
Wetlands
management has been a core part of MRC's role in the years since it was
established. Studies show that the Mekong River wetlands are critical
ecosystems and maintaining the high biodiversity of the region depends on their
preservation.
Wetlands
are of course home not only to many species of wildlife, but also many
villagers who are dependent on the wetlands as a source of food and income for
their families. For many poor families, it is the riches of the wetlands that
helps put food on their tables and money in their pockets.
Locally
available flora and fauna forms the majority of their diet. The wetlands are
their primary source of meat, fruits, vegetables and fodder for livestock, as
well as medicines and construction materials.
However
the high conservation value and unique biodiversity in these areas means there
are many ecotourism ventures which could be established, which would reduce the
villagers' dependence on the wetlands as their sole source of food and building
materials over time.
Mr
Guttman said the financial and technical support which Germany has committed to
provide will strengthen the management of these critical environmental habitats
and enhance the MRC's work in wetland preservation at both the regional and
national levels.
The
funding will enable the MRC to implement various conservation management
programmes from now until 2020. The money forms part of Germany's overall
support for the critical role the MRC plays in addressing key challenges and
opportunities for the Mekong River Basin, and will help overhaul the
organisational structure of the MRC to make it more effective.
"Our
financial commitment yesterday will provide additional support to concerted
efforts in the region to ensure timely protection and sustainable management of
these critical natural assets," Mr Niebel said. Germany's support will
focus on selected priority areas where integrated and transboundary approaches
are required and regional cooperation will be necessary, he added.
Germany
has been a major development partner of the MRC for over 15 years now,
providing financial and technical support to the commission since 1997. Their
current support commitment includes funding towards the Flood Management and
Mitigation Programme, the Climate Change Adaptation Initiative and the
Initiative on Sustainable Hydropower.
Germany signed
a Joint Declaration of Intent and Strategic Framework for Cooperation with the
MRC in February 2011. The framework for cooperation focuses on issues
surrounding organisational transition towards decentralisation of its core
functions, pro-poor oriented sustainable hydropower development and
transboundary climate change adaptation.
The MRC
is the intergovernmental body responsible for cooperation on the sustainable
management of the Mekong Basin, and its members include Cambodia, Laos,
Thailand and Vietnam.
In
dealing with the ongoing challenge of managing a river system on which so many
people depend, the commission looks across all sectors including sustaining
fisheries, identifying opportunities for agriculture, maintaining freedom of
navigation, flood management and preserving important ecosystems.
News Desk
in Vientiane/Vientiane Times
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