Development and Climate Change in the Mekong Region Case Studies edited by Chayanis Kri�asudthacheewa Hap Navy Bui Duc Tinh Saykham Voladet Contents i Development and Climate Change in the Mekong Region ii Development and Climate Change in the Mekong Region Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) SEI is an international non-profit research and policy organization that tackles environment and development challenges. SEI connects science and decision- making to develop solutions for a sustainable future for all. SEI’s approach is highly collaborative: stakeholder involvement is at the heart of our efforts to build capacity, strengthen institutions and equip partners for the long-term. SEI promotes debate and shares knowledge by convening decision-makers, academics and practitioners, and engaging with policy processes, development action and business practice throughout the world. The Asia Centre of SEI, based in Bangkok, focuses on gender and social equity, climate adaptation, reducing disaster risk, water insecurity and integrated water resources management, urbanization, and renewable energy. SEI is an affiliate of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. SUMERNET Launched in 2005, the Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET) brings together a network of research partners working on sustainable development in the countries of the Mekong Region: Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The network aims to bridge science and policy in the Mekong Region and pursues an evolving agenda in response to environmental issues that arise in the region. In the present phase of its program (2019–27), SUMERNET 4 All, the network is focusing on reducing water insecurity for all, in particular for the poor, marginalized and socially vulnerable groups of women and men in the Mekong Region. The network aims to produce evidence- based research on regionally relevant water issues and engage with policymakers, local communities and vulnerable groups across the region. SUMERNET 4 All research comes under these three themes: (1) water access, rights and allocation in times of water insecurity; (2) governance and management of water-related disaster risks; (3) transboundary interactions with water systems. Contents iii Development and Climate Change in the Mekong Region Case Studies Edited by Chayanis Krittasudthacheewa Hap Navy Bui Duc Tinh Saykham Voladet SIRD Strategic Information and Research Development Centre Petaling Jaya, Malaysia iv Development and Climate Change in the Mekong Region First published in 2019 by Strategic Information and Research Development Centre No. 2, Jalan Bukit 11/2, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. Email: [email protected] / Website: www.gerakbudaya.com and Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Asia Centre 10th Floor, Kasem Uttayanin Building, 254 Chulalongkorn University, Henri Dunant Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330 Thailand. Email: [email protected] / Website: www.sei.org This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or non-profit purposes, without special permission from the copyright holder(s) provided acknowledgment of the source is made. No use of this publication may be made for resale or other commercial purpose, without the written permission of the copyright holder(s). Copyright © 2019 Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET) Supported by Disclaimer This book is an output from projects funded by the Swedish Government through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) through the Lower Mekong Public Policy Initiative (LMPPI), and the Asia- Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN), and delivered through the Sustainable Mekong Research Network (SUMERNET) program for the benefit of developing countries. However, the views expressed and information contained in it are not necessarily those of, or endorsed by, the Swedish government, SIDA, USAID, LMPPI, APN or the entities managing the delivery of SUMERNET, which can accept no responsibility or liability for such views, completeness or accuracy of the information or for any reliance placed on them. Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia / Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Development and Climate Change in the Mekong Region : Case Studies / Edited by: Chayanis Krittasudthaheewa, Hap Navy, Bui Duc Tinh, Saykham Voladet. ISBN 978-967-2165-63-7 1. Climatic changes–Mekong River–Case Studies. 2. Mekong River Delta (Vietnam and Cambodia)–Environmental aspects—Case Studies. I. Chayanis Krittasudthaheewa. II. Hap Navy. III. Bui Duc Tinh. IV. Saykham Voladet. 338.1095978 Cover image credits Front Cover: (Top) Roengchai Kongmuang, (Bottom) Rajesh Daniel Back cover: Rajesh Daniel Cover design and layout: Janice Cheong Printed by Vinlin Press Sdn Bhd 2, Jalan Meranti Permai 1, Jalan Puchong, 47100 Puchong, Selangor, Malaysia. Contents v Contents List of Illustrations vii Abbreviations xv Acknowledgments xix Preface by Chu Thai Hoanh xxi 1. Introduction: Addressing development and climate challenges 1 in the Mekong Region Chayanis Krittasudthacheewa, Hap Navy, Bui Duc Tinh and Saykham Voladet 2. Knowledge coproduction for recovering wetlands, 9 agro-ecological farming, and livelihoods in the Mekong Region Carl Middleton, Kanokwan Manorom, Nguyen Van Kien, Outhai Soukkhy and Albert Salamanca 3. Small (palustrine) wetlands in the Central Indochina 35 Dry Forest Ecosystem and their conservation impact Jeb Barzen, Tran Triet, Duong Van Ni, Nguyen Hoai Bao, Sok Pheak, Soth Vithun, Shaara Ainsley and Sinsamout Ouboundisane 4. The impact of the East-West Economic Corridor on the 67 livelihoods of forest-dependent communities in Vietnam Bui Duc Tinh and Pham Xuan Hung 5. Development of national REDD+ strategy in Cambodia, 91 Myanmar and Thailand Pheakkdey Nguon, Chandarith Neak, Tin Min Maung, Phyu Phyu Han, Surin Onprom, Timothy Boyle and Joel Scriven 6. Rural households and climate change adaptation: 115 Lessons from Cambodia and the Philippines Maria Ana T. Quimbo, Dulce D. Elazegui, Naret Heng, Samantha Geraldine G. De los Santos and Sothun Nop vi Development and Climate Change in the Mekong Region 7. The benefits of using rice straw-derived solid fuel to reduce 143 open burning emissions in the Mekong Region Nguyen Thi Kim Oanh, Didin A. Permadi, P. Abdul Salam, Nguyen Nhat Ha Chi, Pham Khac Lieu, Duong Van Hieu, Prapat Pongkiatkul, Ketwalee Kositkanawuth, Kok Sothea, Chea Eliyan, Philip Hopke and Chu Thai Hoanh 8. Linking disaster recovery approaches and loss and damage 169 systems in the Mekong Region Michael Boyland, Frank Thomalla, Louis Lebel, Danny Marks, Ham Kimkong, Sinh Bach Tan and Agus Nugroho 9. Climate change and water scarcity in Champhone district, 189 Savannakhet province, Lao PDR Saykham Voladet and Chansathit Chaleusinh 10. Assessment of hydrology for agricultural development based 215 on climate change impacts in Prek Thnot River Basin, Cambodia Khem Sothea, Suy Sovann, Hun Sothy, Pory Sakhon and Uk Samseiha 11. Chindwin River Basin: Water scarcity amidst plenty 233 Thanapon Piman, Jayaram Pudashine, Chusit Apirumanekul, Chayanis Krittasudthacheewa and Somsanith Mounphoxay 12. Application of Robust Decision Support (RDS) for water 261 scarcity management in Northeast Thailand Chusit Apirumanekul, Manish Shrestha, Yanyong Inmoung, Ratchapat Ratanavaraha and Jutamas Kaewsuk 13. Addressing urban water scarcity in Can Tho City amidst 287 climate uncertainty and urbanization Nguyen Hieu Trung, Nguyen Hong Duc, Nguyen Thanh Loc, Dinh Diep Anh Tuan, Lam Van Thinh and Kim Lavane 14. Synthesis: Robust strategies for uncertain climate futures 323 Louis Lebel, Rajesh Daniel and Chayanis Krittasudthacheewaa Appendix 329 About the contributors 337 Index 341 List of Illustrations vii List of Illustrations Figures 2.1 “Grand Tour” participants’ booklet 18 2.2 Diversity of fish, crustaceans, and amphibians recorded by 23 farmers at the stakeholders’ workshop in Cho Moi district, June 2015 3.1 Comparison of wetland locations in the Lower Mekong 38–39 Basin between a) wetlands sampled in a regional study for organo-chlorines and b) a map of wetland extent 3.2 Study areas in Cambodia (Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary, 41 KPWS) and Vietnam (Yok Don National Park, YDNP) 3.3 Palustrine wetlands from US military maps and plotted 43 locations of ground survey areas for Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary, Cambodia 3.4 Common laterite and biological laterite analysis of wetland 46 soils 3.5 Cross-section of a basin profile, describing typical soil layers 47 in relation to wetland formation and function, in the Central Indochina Dry Forest Ecosystem 3.6 Bomb craters from the Vietnam War located in paddies of 49 southern Lao PDR 3.7 Palustrine wetlands within Kulen Promtep Wildlife 50–51 Sanctuary, Cambodia, mapped by the US military, surveyed on the ground, or both 3.8 Palustrine wetlands located within Yok Don National Park, 52 Vietnam, mapped by the US military, surveyed on the ground, or both 3.9 Typical palustrine wetland basin in the deciduous 53 Dipterocarp forest 3.10 Frequency of household uses for resources gathered from 58 palustrine wetlands in Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary 3.11 Palustrine wetlands mapped by the US military (late 1950s– 63 1970) in northern Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam 4.1 Sustainable livelihood framework 70 viii Development and Climate Change in the Mekong Region 4.2 East-West Economic Corridor and study site showing key 73 cities 4.3 Household access to