Drought Management in Lao PDR

Department of Water Resources (DWR)Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE)

Lao PDR

ASEAN Drought Workshop 201518-20 August 2015, Bangkok, Thailand

Contents Overview of Water Resources In Laos Drought Condition in Laos Institutional Arrangement and Policy Framework Implemented Activities responding to drought Future Plan for Drought Management

Overview- Lao PDR Lao PDR is located in South-East Asia

with Area of 236,800 km2; 90% of the country are in Mekong

Basin; Water resources per capita is around

55,000 m3 per year; 35% of annual flow (or equal 270,000

m3) in Mekong is from Lao tributaries; Mountain covers 80% of county Laos has a tropical monsoon climate There are 2 seasons:

Dry Season (Nov-April) Rainy Season (May-October)

Drought Condition in Laos

Problems: Water scarcity in dry season especially water for

agriculture during February to May Water spring systems have been broken Groundwater quantity reduced; Not enough water for pumping (bore-hole , well) Land use changed, deforestation, climate change

Drought Condition in Laos

Stations: There are 16

meteorological stations used for analysis

1. Soukhoumma2. Saravanh 3. Donghene4. Kengkok 5. Phalan 6. Muong Mahaxai 7. Meuang kao 8. Kengkouang

(Source: Lao National Risk Profile)

9. Xayaboury 10. Luang Prabang 11. Pakkagnoung 12. Phiengluang 13. Luangnamtha 14. Muong Ngoy 15. Oudomxay 16. Phongsaly

Drought Condition in LaosDamages: 1987 – damaged $5 million 1988 - damaged $40 million – 730,000 people affected -

with a cut in annual crop yields by about one-third, mainly due to the restriction of rain-fed rice production

1989 – damaged $20 million 1998 – damaged 5 million 2003 – damaged 16.5 million Current – still occurring and damage

Institutions and Policy Framework

# Institutional Arrangement: National Disaster Management Committee (NDMC), 1999 Provincial Disaster Management Committee MONRE: Department of Water Resources, DMCC, DMH PONREs and DONREs

# Policy Framework National Strategy on Climate Change 2020 Climate change Action Plan 2013-2020 Nation Water Resources Strategy 2025 and Action Plan

2016-2020 - Program 9: Flood and Drought Management

Implemented Activities In collaboration with local authorities and communities

constructed check-dams (ex. at Nam Po sub-watershed) Repaired weirs (Nam Po sub-watershed) Repaired rural spring-water supply systems (at Vientiane,

Salavan, Sekong, Khammuan, Savannakhet Provinces…) Develop data collection form for local needs in scarcity areas Conducting survey in some scarcity areas and needs of people Draft drought management plans in river basins (Nam Ngum,

Xebungfai, Xebunghieng, Sedone…) Water balance modeling in Nam Ngum & Nam Xong Basins

Future Plans 2020 Assess drought status, identify risk areas and other impacts

through participation and coordination with sector concerned at central and local levels.

Develop drought management and mitigation plans in the river basins.

Implement, report and disseminate a reliable early drought warning system with focusing on establishment and improvement of infrastructure for storing water and mitigating drought impacts

Develop drought database and networks Develop guideline for drought management and mitigation Application of hydrology modeling (water balance-drought) Capacity building and Awareness raising

ຂໍ�ຂໍອບໃຈ.,,!

Thank you.,,!!

Contact: dwr.monre@gmail.com Mobile: +856 20 78078188

Office Contact:Tel: +856-21 241 744; Fax: +856-21 218 737

www.dwr.monre.gov.la