The WWF Living Mekong Programme's solutions
Saving the Mekong
The WWF Living Mekong Programme aims to marry successful biodiversity conservation with sustainable development, particularly using the tools and approaches of Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM).The programme follows a 2-tiered approach, with WWF country offices acting as the on-the-ground implementation arm and the Living Mekong Core Team coordinating these efforts as well as working on basin level issues such as regional policy advocacy and strategic planning.
An Integrated Approach
In such an important region where freshwater and terrestrial systems are so intrinsically linked, both biologically and socially, there are numerous opportunities to integrate activities.The catchment area of the Mekong River spans the Lower Mekong Dry Forests Ecoregion and the Greater Annamites Ecoregion, which are also focal areas for long term conservation and sustainable development efforts of WWF and its conservation partners.
As such, the WWF Living Mekong Programme actively seeks to identify and foster biological and social links to enhance its effectiveness and efficiency, and to benefit the region as a whole.
WWF explicitly recognizes that it is only one of multiple actors involved in the Mekong River Basin and has established strategic partnerships with a wide range of key partners. The range of partnerships needed reflect the scale of the challenge as well as the promise for successful and sustainable development across 6 countries.
Working Across the Basin
The WWF Living Mekong Programme has developed a strong working relationship with the Mekong River Commission (MRC), which represents Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. However, a large portion of the Mekong catchment lies in China 's Yunnan province and the special territory of Tibet. This portion is significant not only for its size, but also because it constitutes the headwaters of the Mekong Basin and therefore any activities can have a significant impact on the entire downstream basin.
In addition to the 4 Lower Mekong countries, the WWF Living Mekong Programme is now actively working in China to raise awareness on conservation issues and support links between China and the MRC to attain socially, economically and environmentally sound solutions for the whole basin.
Actions for a Living Mekong
Through these actions, the WWF Living Mekong Programme works to blend scientific knowledge with socio-economic understanding, aiming towards better harmony between the Mekong Basin's millions of people and the very nature they depend on.1) Sustainable River Basin Management
Policies and mechanisms that significantly reduce major and large scale threats, particularly infrastructure, to sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity and social equity of the entire Mekong basin are formulated and used effectively in decision-making processes.
2) Conserving Freshwater Ecosystems, Processes and Habitats
Effective protection, management and, where necessary, restoration measures are established for critical Mekong species, habitats and ecosystem processes.
3) Sustainable Resource Management
Local people in targeted priority areas sustainably manage and use Mekong basin aquatic natural resources to their benefit, thus contributing to local livelihood security, national economies and regional development.
4) Awareness Raising and Capacity Building
Local, national and regional stakeholders have the capacity (awareness, understanding and skills) to plan and implement long-term biodiversity conservation and sustainable use activities for the Mekong basin. Particular mechanisms are promoted, developed, and established in order to enable effective civil society involvement in, and influence on, decision-making processes.
5) Energy
All possible/viable options, strategies and alternatives for energy sector development in the Mekong basin are considered, with suitable approaches selected and promoted for support based on sound economic, social and environmental principles.
