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Academic Collaboration for Water,
Development and Sustainable Environment in the Greater Mekong
Subregion |
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Principal Investigators UT: S.
Ohgaki MIT: H. Hemond ETH: A. Zehnder
The Greater
Mekong Subregion is one of the world's lowest income regions. After
decades of civil war, the effects of economic growth is gradually
infiltrating into this region, and the lifestyle of the local people
may change rapidly in the near future. Water is the most important
resource that supports life and economy in this region. While
abundant water supports ecosystem and agriculture in this region, it
also causes natural disaster such as flooding. Future economic
growth may intensify water uses, and consequently cause adverse
effects on aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, a comprehensive and
harmonious management plan of the watershed is indispensable for
sustainable water use and development, and for maintaining
ecological integrity. For this kind of plan to be produced, basic
data on water quantity and quality, water use, and alternative water
sources are needed.
Goals/Objectives This study
focuses on the lower Mekong Region including Cambodia and the Mekong
Delta in Vietnam. The goal of the research is to find the current
problems hindering integrated management of the Mekong River
Watershed, and to propose ways to achieve sustainable watershed
management, socio-economic development, and maintaining ecological
integrity. For this goal an academic network will be constructed to
acquire basic data, produce ecological and socio-economic models,
and strengthen academic potentials of the universities in the Mekong
Region. |
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