Asean project aims to revitalize region’s rivers

A five-year project aimed at reducing pollution and revitalizing rivers in the region was launched last week in Manila by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean).

The Reducing Pollution and Preserving Environmental Flows in East Asian Seas Through the Implementation of Integrated River Basin Management (IRBM) project aims to develop practical and innovative ways for communities, industries and governments to work together, Asean said in statement.

It noted that many of the region’s largest cities were built beside rivers: Ho Chi Minh City has the Saigon, Kuala Lumpur the Klang, Jakarta the Ciliwung, and Metro Manila the Pasig, which provide habitats for plants and animals, food production and water sources for millions of people.

Supported by Global Environment Facility and the United Nations Development Program, the project will establish functional IRBM mechanisms in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam.

“It will integrate knowledge about the vital connections between rivers and seas. Best practices and pitfalls shall be shared for other rivers to emulate and avoid,” said Inthavy Akkharath, chairman of the Asean Working Group on Water Resources Management.

The launch was inaugurated by Carlos Primo David, undersecretary at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, who was quoted as having said that “effective governance will allow us to continue to utilize the water and other ecosystem services that river basins provide despite the threats of extreme events and climate change.”

Selva Ramachandran, UNDP Resident Representative to the Philippines, added that “water use among Asean countries is growing rapidly, while water quality and quantity challenges threaten to derail much-needed economic growth.”

“We’re glad to help address the critical issue of freshwater governance in river basins beyond national jurisdictions, addressing transboundary issues such as pollution, watershed management, climate change impacts and disaster risks.”

Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Asean deputy secretary-general, said “the project is a testament of Asean’s collective and forward-looking action to improving water resources management in our region”.

Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia, the implementing agency of the project, will work closely with the governments and stakeholders in Asean member-states to improve source-to-sea governance, as well as build the capacity to plan and strengthen river basin management mechanisms.

The launch was organized in conjunction with a project inception workshop and a project steering committee meeting to discuss implementation arrangements, among others.