Climate risks, regional integration and sustainability in the Mekong region

Rapid economic growth coupled with current and projected climate risks are challenging livelihoods and ecosystems in the Mekong Region. In some locations unsustainable development has created or deepened vulnerabilities to climate change as well as global, regional, and transborder socioeconomic processes. More accessible and appropriate information is urgently needed on ways to reduce the negative aspects of development and adapt to the impacts of climate change in this region.

This book improves our understanding of the linkages between drivers, opportunities, and constraints on the sustainability of the Mekong Region’s ecosystems – at the transboundary, subnational, and local levels. Economic integration, urbanization, and climate change have impacts that vary greatly among locations. Hence, one key lesson in this book is that it is important to tailor policies and actions to specific places and communities, paying particular attention to the most vulnerable sections of the population, and the capacities of local actors.

These multi-site and -country case studies provide much stronger tests of the merits and limitations of common policies than studies carried out in a single country, underlining the benefits of collaborative research.

The book is available in the SUMERNET Secretariat at the SEI-Asia Centre in Bangkok. The book can also be ordered directly from the publisher, SIRD, in Malaysia. The e-book can be downloaded from the link below.

Download e-book (PDF, 2MB)

Download the order form (PDF, 277kb)

Table of contents:

Abbreviations
Acknowledgements
Foreword by Eric Kemp-Benedict
1. Introduction – Pursuing Sustainability in the Mekong Region
Chayanis Krittasudthacheewa, Louis Lebel and Chu Thai Hoanh

I. Policy Think Pieces
2. Energy, Economy and Climate Change in the Mekong Region
Lailai Li and Tatirose Vijitpan
3. Valuing Ecosystem Services in the Mekong Region
Penporn Janekarnkij and Orn-uma Polpanich
4. Transboundary Flows of Resources, People, Goods and Services in the Mekong Region
Louis Lebel, Sopon Naruchaikusol and Muangpong Juntopas
5. Urbanization and Sustainable Development in the Mekong Region
Carl Middleton and Dusita Krawanchid

II. Cross-border Collaborative Research
6. Vulnerability of Livelihoods in Flood-prone Areas along the Cambodian-Vietnam Border
Nguyen Duy Can, Seak Sophat, Vo Hong Tu, Khom Sok Khom, and Chu Thai Hoanh
7. Increasing the Benefits from Contract Farming to Rural Households in the Mekong Region: Insights from Studies of Rice and Sugar
Saykham Voladet, Yanyong Inmuong, Aung Win Htut, Winston Set Aung, Men Prachvuthy, Louis Lebel, Graham Eagleton, Pippa Featherston, and Angela Bush
8. Quantifying Carbon Emissions Derived from China’s Investment and Trade in the Lower Mekong Countries
Hu Tao and Cao Chunmiao
9. Transboundary Fish Trade in the Lower Mekong Basin: Impacts on Fisheries and Rural Employment in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand
Raphael Glemet, Eleanor Elbert, Hap Navy, and Douangkham Singhanouvong
10. Communicating Water-related Climate Change Risks: Lessons from a Multi-tool and Multi-country Study in the Mekong Region
Ngo Cong Chinh, Yvette Clarke, Nguyen Hung Manh, Louis Lebel, Sakaradhorn Boontaveeyuwat, Seak Sophat, Bach Tan Sinh, Nguyen Tri Khiem
11. Climate Change Impacts on Food Security and Livelihoods: Case Studies from Lao PDR and the Philippines
Linda M. Peñalba, Dulce D. Elazegui, Outhai Soukhy, Mayo Grace C. Amit, Felino P. Lansigan, and Francis John F. Faderogao
12. The Impact of Urbanization on the Hinterlands: Perceptions of Households in the Hinterlands of Khon Kaen, Thailand and Vang Vieng, Lao PDR
Maniemai Thongyou, Bounthavy Sosamphanh, Thanapauge Chamaratana, Monchai Phongsiri, and Louis Lebel
13. Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Tourism Service Providers in Chiang Mai, Thailand and Hue, Vietnam
Sivanappan Kumar, Kyoko Kusakabe, Pravakar Pradhan, Pujan Shrestha, Srujana Goteti, Tran Anh Tuan, Ekawit Meteejaroenwong, Trinnawat Suwanprik, and Khanh Linh
14. Evaluation of the Impact of Pilot Payments for Forest Environmental Services: Case study in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam
Bui Duc Tinh, Tran Huu Tuan, and Phong Tran
15. Integrating Community-based Participatory Carbon Measurement and Monitoring with Satellite Remote Sensing and GIS in REDD+ MRV systems
Jay H. Samek, Usa Kinhom, David L. Skole, Pornchai Uttaruk, Teerawong Laosuwan, Phung Van Khoa, Sithong Thongmanivong, Chetphong Butthep, Do Xuan Lan, and Nguyen Xuan Giap
16. Getting to the Source: Community planning and Costing of Adaptation Interventions in Vietnam and Lao PDR
Caitlin Corner-Dolloff and Julian Moll-Rocek

III. Synthesis
17. Place-based Lessons for Regional Economic Development and Sustainability
Louis Lebel, Chu Thai Hoanh, and Chayanis Krittasudthacheewa
List of Figures and Tables
Bibliography
Contributors
Index