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25 countries endorse river action plan
By: APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
Bangkok Post. Published: 23/05/2009
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/17175/25-countries-endorse-river-action-plan
Twenty-five countries have endorsed the landmark Bangkok Plan of
Action on sustainable management of transboundary freshwater to
safeguard the population from water crises.
The plan, adopted yesterday on the last day of the three-day
ministerial meeting on transboundary freshwater in Bangkok, requires
each participating country to draft an action plan for better
management of international rivers.
There are 263 international rivers in 155 countries, which account for
60% of the freshwater in the world.
The national action plan must be completed before the next meeting, in
Bangkok in 2011.
The Bangkok Plan of Action, which is not legally binding, also calls
for closer cooperation on river basin management.
Siripong Hungspreug, director-general of the Water Resources
Department, said delegates agreed that all activities involving
transboundary water resources, particularly the construction of dams,
must take into consideration ecological and social impacts.
To achieve the sustainable management of transboundary water
resources, local river basin organisations need political, technical
and legal support from UN agencies, such as the United Nations
Environment Programme (Unep), said Mr Siripong.
The action plan's key message is that transboundary freshwater
governance challenges the viability and sustainability of water
ecosystems and people, he said.
Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said in his closing remarks that
transboundary water management is an important agenda item for his
government.
"Despite the difficulties faced in domestic politics or the global
economic crisis, water management will remain a top priority," Mr
Abhisit said.
Improving water management would be part of the government's long-term
economic stimulus package, he said.
A system was needed to better manage water resources, the environment
and socio-economic development in the Mekong river basin, which feeds
about 80 million people in six countries, including Thailand.
The Mekong population is expected to increase to 100 million by 2025.
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