Water, Land and Ecosystems - Laos

Global groundwater: source, scarcity, sustainability, security, and solutions

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 12:41:38 +0000

TypeBook

Languageen

Authors

Mukherjee, A.
Scanlon, Bridget R.
Aureli, A.
Langan, Simon J.
Guo, H.
McKenzie, A. A.

Citation

Mukherjee, A.; Scanlon, B. R.; Aureli, A.; Langan, Simon; Guo, H.; McKenzie, A. A. (Eds.) 2021. Global groundwater: source, scarcity, sustainability, security, and solutions. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. 676p.

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Research Themes

Variability, Risks and Competing Uses

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/111566

Environmental risks from pesticide use: the case of commercial banana farming in northern Lao PDR

Anonymous — Wed, 29 Dec 2021 12:41:38 +0000

TypeReport

Languageen

Authors

Wentworth, A.
Pavelic, Paul
Kongmany, S.
Sotoukee, T.
Sengphaxaiyalath, K.
Phomkeona, K.
Deevanhxay, P.
Chounlamany, V.
Manivong, V.

Commercial farming of banana for export has rapidly expanded across northern uplands of Laos since 2008 with the establishment of new plantations by foreign companies. Heavy reliance on agrochemical usage warrants examination of possible environmental and human health risks. This study presents a preliminary assessment of the environmental risks from pesticide usage associated with bananas and other major crops in Oudomxay province. Surface water, groundwater, soil and sediment samples collected from the study area were analyzed for pesticide residues in the laboratory during the wet and dry seasons. Results of the analysis revealed that samples from banana farms had higher concentrations of residues from currently used (CU) pesticides compared with samples from adjacent farms producing maize, rubber, upland rice and gourd. Residues from highly persistent organochlorine (OC) pesticides, such as dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, heptachlor, dieldrin and lindane, which are no longer used in Laos, were also detected. Laboratory results were compared against a low-cost pesticide residue detection method and a simple pesticide risk assessment tool. However, neither approach was comparable to laboratory analysis. The potential environmental risk from pesticides and pesticide breakdown products was found to be substantial. For example, concentrations of some CU compounds exceeded the limits set by the World Health Organization. The report highlights several mitigation measures to reduce the environmental risks from hazardous pesticides: (i) increase efforts to eliminate the import and use of hazardous and persistent pesticides; (ii) promote targeted education programs to implement best practices, including the selection and use of pesticides as per international standards, and Integrated Pest Management techniques; (iii) identify and protect drinking water sources with a high risk of contamination; and (iv) maintain vegetated buffers and sediment traps to detain farm runoff, which will allow CU pesticides to degrade to safe levels before entering watercourses.

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Citation

Wentworth, A.; Pavelic, Paul; Kongmany, S.; Sotoukee, T.; Sengphaxaiyalath, K.; Phomkeona, K.; Deevanhxay, P.; Chounlamany, V.; Manivong, V. 2021. Environmental risks from pesticide use: the case of commercial banana farming in northern Lao PDR. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 66p. (IWMI Research Report 177) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2021.207]

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/115357

Are water markets a viable proposition in the Lower Mekong Basin?

Anonymous — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 11:36:32 +0000

TypeBook Chapter

Languageen

Authors

Reardon-Smith, K.
McCartney, Matthew
Rebelo, Lisa-Maria

Water markets are a potential approach for reallocating and improving the efficiency of water use in river basins in which water resources are under stress as a consequence of demographic and economic pressures. However, establishing water markets is not easy and to be successful a wide range of context specific criteria, relating to the legal and institutional framework as well as political and economic conditions, must be met. We applied the Water Market Readiness Assessment framework proposed by Wheeler et al. (2017) to investigate whether adequate policy and governance arrangements were in place to enable water markets to effectively operate in the countries of the Lower Mekong River Basin. We identify a number of key gaps and conclude that more conventional regulatory approaches, along with integrated basin planning and management, will likely better serve the communities and environments of the region.

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Citation

Reardon-Smith, K.; McCartney, Matthew; Rebelo, Lisa-Maria. 2021. Are water markets a viable proposition in the Lower Mekong Basin? In Wheeler, S. A. (Ed.). Water markets: a global assessment. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. pp.91-111. [doi: https://doi.org/10.4337/9781788976930.00015]

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/115184

(Re)constructing state power and livelihoods through the Laos-China railway project

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 11:37:09 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Suhardiman, Diana
DiCarlo, J.
Keovilignavong, Oulavanh
Rigg, J.
Nicol, Alan

This paper examines the governance and implementation of land compensation for the Laos-China Railway (LCR). It brings to light the central government’s strategy to use compensation rules and procedures as its means to extend its spatial power across the provinces, districts, and villages that are affected by the railway construction. We examine both the manifestations and effects of state power through the formulation and implementation of land compensation procedures. Taking Naxang village in Chomphet district, Luang Prabang province, in Laos as a case, the paper highlights: 1) how centralized compensation rules and procedures serve as a means for the central government to expand its power; 2) how power relations between central-provincial-district governments (re)shaped the actual project implementation especially pertaining to compensation valuation and payment; and 3) implications for smallholder livelihood options and strategies.

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Suhardiman, Diana; DiCarlo, J.; Keovilignavong, Oulavanh; Rigg, J.; Nicol, Alan. 2021. (Re)constructing state power and livelihoods through the Laos-China railway project. Geoforum, 124:79-88. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2021.06.003]

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113944

Aspirations undone: hydropower and the (re) shaping of livelihood pathways in northern Laos

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Apr 2021 11:36:56 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Suhardiman, Diana
Rigg, J.

This paper looks at how local livelihoods and to a certain extent their transitions are embedded in, and in thrall to, power relations at higher levels. Placing the (re)shaping of livelihood pathways within the context of top-down hydropower planning, it shows how the latter predetermines farm households’ current farming strategies and future livelihood pathways. Taking two villages along the Mekong River, both of which are to be impacted by the planned Pak Beng hydropower dam in Pak Beng district, Oudomxay province, the paper illustrates how the pathways that rural livelihoods are taking in northern Laos are being shaped by decisions and processes embedded in national and regional exigencies. We argue that top-down approaches in hydropower planning, as manifested in the current institutional vacuum to formally deal with resettlement and compensation issues at the village level result in village authorities’ and potentially affected villagers’ inability to strategically convey and negotiate their views and concerns. Moreover, we reveal how it is the specter of change which drives livelihood adaptation, not change itself, thus illustrating how the defined compensation rules and procedures (re)shape farm households’ farming strategies and future livelihood pathways even prior to the construction of the hydropower dam.

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Citation

Suhardiman, Diana; Rigg, J. 2021. Aspirations undone: hydropower and the (re) shaping of livelihood pathways in northern Laos. Agriculture and Human Values, 38(4):963-973. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-021-10203-3]

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Research Themes

Variability, Risks and Competing Uses

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113000

Pathways for effective groundwater governance in the least-developed-country context of the Lao PDR

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Pavelic, Paul
Xayviliya, O.
Ongkeo, O.

Instituting effective groundwater governance is highly challenging in a least developed country such as the Lao PDR where groundwater resources need to be developed for a variety of reasons but the levels of understanding, awareness and technical capacity are extremely limited. This paper discusses the current state of knowledge and management of groundwater and suggests some pathways forward. Whilst the level of governance remains very low, there is growing interest in tackling the entrenched technical and non-technical issues and constraints. Various initiatives have recently emerged, resulting in positive institutional change.

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Citation

Pavelic, Paul; Xayviliya, O.; Ongkeo, O. 2014. Pathways for effective groundwater governance in the least-developed-country context of the Lao PDR. Water International, 39(4):469-485. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2014.923971

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Open Access

Research Themes

Variability, Risks and Competing Uses

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/58393

The territorial politics of land use planning in Laos

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Suhardimana, Diana
Keovilignavong, Oulavanh
Kenney-Lazar, M.

This paper examines land use planning processes in Laos, particularly how they are shaped and reshaped by key actors’ interests and strategies across scales and how they are closely interlinked with state logics of territorialization. It critiques dominant perspectives that view land use planning as a tool for bridging policy and institutional divides to generate holistic land governance. Instead, it presents land use planning as a function of power and a contested arena of power struggle, driven primarily by the development targets of sectoral ministries and the interests of powerful local actors. We show how bureaucratic competition and sectoral fragmentation prevail directly within Laos’s National Land Master Plan formulation process. The paper shows how the logics of land governance in Laos are comprised of a disjuncture between national and local land use planning processes and, a disconnect between formal land use planning and actual land use across scales.

Citation

Suhardimana, Diana; Keovilignavong, Oulavanh; Kenney-Lazar, M. 2019. The territorial politics of land use planning in Laos. Land Use Policy, 83: 346-356 (Online first) doi: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2019.02.017

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Research Themes

Variability, Risks and Competing Uses

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/101199

Emergence of Integrated Water Resources Management: measuring implementation in Vietnam

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeReport

Subjects

Ecosystems
Policy
Water Management
Water use

Languageen

Authors

Akkerman, Maarten
Khanh, Ngụy Thị
Witter, Michael
Rutten, Martine

IWRM can be defined as “a process that promotes the coordinated development and management of water, land and related resources in order to maximize economic and social welfare in an equitable manner without compromising the sustainability of vital ecosystems” (GWP, 2012). Recently, the changes in laws and regulations, such as the 2012 revised Law on Water Resources (LWR 2012), have sought to provide a legal framework for internationally recognized practices of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Vietnam (Nguyen, 2012). IWRM is a novel approach for Vietnam. This Research Bulletin evaluates how well water resources plans adhere to the principles of IWRM, to learn and further tailor these principles to the Vietnamese situation.

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Citation

Akkerman, Maarten; Khanh, Nguy Thi; Witter, Michael; Rutten, Martine. 2018. Emergence of Integrated Water Resources Management: measuring implementation in Vietnam. Water Knowledge #6. Vientiane, Lao PDR, CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems.

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Open Access

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/98402

Solutions

WLE focal region brief: WLE greater Mekong

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeBrief

Subjects

Ecosystems
Governance
Water Management
Water use

Languageen

Authors

CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems

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Citation

CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE).2015.WLE focal region brief: WLE greater Mekong.Colombo, Sri Lanka:CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE).2p.

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Open Access

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/68828

Solutions

Regional mapping of groundwater resources in data-scarce regions: the case of Laos

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 22:02:41 +0000

TypeJournal Article

Languageen

Authors

Viossanges, Mathieu
Pavelic, Paul
Rebelo, Lisa-Maria
Lacombe, Guillaume
Sotoukee, Touleelor

This study focuses on Laos, a landlocked nation located in South-East Asia with sub-tropical climate and highly seasonal rainfall distribution. Laos is one of the world’s least developed countries, and currently witnesses an unprecedented level of development that is highly reliant on its natural resources, including groundwater. There is currently very limited data and no nationwide assessment of shallow (<30 m) groundwater resources to support sustainable management. This study provides a first step towards addressing this issue by (i) identifying the major aquifer units of the country; (ii) integrating localized data and regional maps into an assessment of the groundwater potential; and (iii) producing quantitative maps of key hydrogeological indicators. Eight aquifer units have been described and evaluated: (i) Basement aquifers, (ii) Volcanic aquifers, (iii) Schists, (iv) Paleozoic sedimentary, (v) Karsts, (vi) Limestones, (vii) Mesozoic sedimentary and (viii) Alluvial sediments. The Mesozoic sandstones and the Alluvial aquifers are the most extensive and productive hydrogeological systems in the country. The Volcanic and Karstic aquifers, although poorly known, might also have important potential. This assessment, along with the maps of quantitative aquifer indicators, provide a significant improvement in both spatial resolution and accuracy compared to previously available information. It will likely support improved management plans and the identification of areas with higher potential for groundwater development.

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Viossanges, Mathieu; Pavelic, Paul; Rebelo, Lisa-Maria; Lacombe, Guillaume; Sotoukee, Touleelor. 2018. Regional mapping of groundwater resources in data-scarce regions: the case of Laos. Hydrology, 5(1):1-24. doi: 10.3390/hydrology5010001

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Open Access

Research Themes

Variability, Risks and Competing Uses

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https://hdl.handle.net/10568/91555