The Role of Ubon Ratchathani University on Natural Resources Management : A Case of Pak Mun Dam

1. The Role of Ubon Ratchathani University on Natural Resources Management : A Case of Pak Mun Dam Asst. Professor. Dr. Praneet Ngamsnae Faculty of Agriculture, Ubon Ratchathani University Presentation for International Training Course on “ Integrated Water Resources Management for the Mekong”, Organized by Mekong Institute, KhonKaen University. At UbonRatchathani University Conference Hall January 7, 2011.

2. Overview of Presentation 1. Background of the Pak Mun Dam 2. Facts 3. Roles of Ubon Ratchathani University as an academic organization on this water resource development project 4 . Pak Mun Dam after 2004 5. Lessons learnt from Pak Mun Dam 6. Challenges of the Pak Mun Dam

3. Pak Mun Dam during closed period

4. Pak Mun Dam during opening period

5. Trap fisheries at the Pak Mun Dam during the opening period

6. Kaeng Saphu Pak Mun Dam Source: EGAT (2005) Location map of Pak Mun Project

7. 1. Background • Initiated by “National Energy Authority” (NEA) in 1970 • Transferred to “Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand” (EGAT) to continue further study in 1979 • The Government approved to implement the project on 15 May 1990: Needed 670 MW electric power in Northeast region • Completed in November 1994 as planed as multi-purpose run off river dam • Adding fish ladder after having lots of critics on fisher resources

8. 2. Pak Mun Dam: Facts • Real situation • Cost: $233m • Mitigation cost: $32m • Dry season HEP: 40 MW • Irrigation: None • Displaced families: 1700 hhs • Reservoir fisheries: 10kg/ha/yr • - Wild fishes : 169 of 265 species upstream of dam disappeared • Expectation • Cost: $135m • Mitigation cost: $11m • Dry season HEP: 136 MW • Irrigation: 29,500 ha • Displaced families: 241 hhs • Reservoir fisheries: 100kg/ha/yr • Natural fisheries: fish ladder, first for a Mekong dam (added later) Source: WCD (2000)

9. Livelihoods • Main livelihoods of the people settled at the lower Mun river •  Fishing as main income source • and other river resources and river bank gardening •  rainfed area: rice cultivation

10. Roles of Assembly of the Poor (AoP)and Platforms of political negotiation Serious counter between the police and the poor in front of the government house Walk rally along the road in BKK and symbolize with green flags and other mottos to inform the public and draw media and public attention

11. Demand of AoP: Dam’s Gate opening

12. “Water current velocity” is the key factor for the effectiveness of Fish Ladder 1 – 1.5 m./sec. is the optimum velocity for fishes passing through the fish ladder

13. 1, University centers, Information centers : MRSI,MSSCR 2. Organizes Conferences, Symposiums etc. 3. Research projects UBU Mission 1.To produce graduates with well-balanced knowledge, morals and wisdom 2.To promote and expand the university research 3.To provide academic services to the community through the university community outreach programs  4.To preserve and promote the arts, culture and heritage 3.Roles of Ubon Ratchathani University as an academic organization on this water resource development project

14. Research Project: Approaches to Restoration of the Ecology, Livelihood and Communities receiving Impacts from Construction of Pak Mun Dam By Ubon Ratchathani University June 2001- July 2002 Granted by Thai Government

15. (1).Rationale - Govt. granted UbonRatchatahni University to assess the impact of the dam in 2001 - Opening the dam’s gates 1 year for studying, - To present recommendations and issues to consider in decision-making for the Thai government

16. (2). Problem defining 2.1 Type of research: Interdisciplinary: Social, Applied and Scientific Research Integration of : Quantitative, Qualitative, Explanatory, Descriptive, Predictive and Diagnosis research 2.2 Aims/Objectives: Toanswer the questions To solve the conflict/controversy : - Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) - Assembly of the Poor (AoP), - Stakeholders (boththeproandcondam’s groups)

17. (3). Procedure Design 3.1 Define the questions of the research, 4 main questions: ◊ What is the status and role of the dam in electricity generation ? ◊ What are the actual and potential irrigation benefits of the dam? ◊ On and ecological, agricultural, and fisheries basis, how does the dam affect community economic and social relation? ◊ What options might exist to manage the dam?

18. Work Tasks : Corresponding to the Government’s TOR • Impacts on Ecosystem & Fisheries Resources : Faculty of Agriculture UBU • Impacts on Irrigation and Agriculture : • Faculty of Agriculture UBU • 3. Impacts on Electricity Generation & Energy Security : Faculty of Engineering UBU • 4. Impacts Community Economic & Social Relations: Faculty of Liberal Arts UBU • 5. Alternatives to Consider in Managing Pak Mun Dam • UBU Teams

19. 3.2 Conceptual Framework 111 2 3 4 3 types of Resources : 1. River-based Resources 2. Land – based Resources 3. Forest- based Resources

20. Hypotheses: • “All 3 types of resources spatial and temporally vary corresponding to seasons and the dam’s gates opening periods” • These variations influences the social, community economics, livelihood and health of the people. • It is therefore necessary to rank and prioritize the severity of these variables (factors), then analyze the causal chain and set up the strategic action plans. Example: River-based Resources

21. 3.3 Study sites/ Impacted communities

22. Sampling Stations of Sub Project 1) Impacts on Ecosystem & Fisheries Resources Sampling Stations of Sub Project 2) Impacts on Irrigation and Agriculture

23. Data collecting and field work

24. Study areas of sub project 3)Impacts Community Economic & Social Relations

25. (4). The pathway of research findings application

26. (5) Summary of the project overview

27. Survey of Income Change (Household/year) (6) Highlight of UBU findings: Livelihoods and impacts Source: Ubon Ratchathani University (2002) Income On-farm Fisheries Off-farm

28. (7) The 4 alternatives proposed for the Government ● Alternative1. Closing the sluice gates so as to use the dam for year-round electricity generation ● Alternative2. Opening the sluice gates during the rainy season for five months, (July-November) ● Alternative3. Opening the sluice gates from April-November, a total of 8 months ● Alternative4. Opening the sluice gates year-round

29. 4. Pak Mun Dam after 2004 Formal leaders of the villagers protested in front of the dam, demanding EGAT to close the dam’s gates (May 2005), sent petition to Ubon’s governor

30. 4.1Politics of Knowledge on flow management • Govt granted Ubon U. to assess the impact of the dam (10.2 million B) in 2001-2003 • Opening the dam’s gates 1 year for studying • EGAT granted Office of Science and Technology to do the research on development of quality of live in 2003 • Assembly of the Poor conducted Tai Baan Research on Pak Mun dam in 2003

31. 4.2 Cabinet resolution on Pak Mun dam • 2004: dam must be opened 4 months a year (May-August) • Win-win solution • Fish species from the Mekong river migrate, breed and spawn in the Mun River

32. 4.3 Cabinet resolution in 2007 • The government overode the decision made about Pak Mun Dam in 2004 by the ousted Thaksin Shinawatra government • issuing a resolution to keep the dam’s sluice gates closed, as suggested by the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC)’ • This decision was based on a ‘’trade-off’’ with the majority, those in favour of the closure (presenting to the government by ISOC 20,000 villagers’ name listed who support to close the dam’s gates). • But many of these villagers are less dependent

33. 4.4 Multistakeholder committee and dam management after 2007 • Early2008: InterimGovernmentestablishedtheCommitteeonPakMundam, chairedbythegovernor • Thecommitteestructurecomprisesofsixmaingroupswhichare: 1) Affectedvillagers (boththeproandcondam’sgroups); 2) Academics; 3) Lineagenciesatprovinciallevel; 4) Localadministrativeorganization; 5)EGAT (ElectricityGenerationAuthorityofThailand) and 6) NGOs.

34. 4.4.1Roles of this committee • 4 steering committees and their mandates and responsibilities to work • a steering committee for water management and allocation for agriculture; • a steering committee for managing the dam (closing and opening the dam’s gates), • a steering committee for quality of life, development and resilience • a steering committee for public relations.

35. 4.4.2 How this committee works? • This commission was authorized to propose policy recommendations and implementing plans about the dam to the government and EGAT • Participatory approach • Monthly meeting or so • Conducting a survey on quality of life development programmesin September 2008 for Mitigation plan

36. 5.Lessons learntfrom Pak Mun Dam • Pak Mun Dam is both justified and criticized on the grounds of efficiency, equity and sustainability • The Dam is the biggest single human impact on the Munvriver system at the mouth of the river • This case demonstrates that we cannot impose a simple technical fantasy on the complex landscape. • The social impacts of the dams are geographically dispersed. • The environmental impacts of this dam are both on-site and catchment-wide.

37. 6.Challengesof the Pak Mun Dam 1) How Pak Mun Dam serve as a significant lesson for the proposed dam. 2) How to disseminate information on the dam locally. 3) How to establish baseline data regarding the riparian people’s food security and their social, economic and cultural uses of the river. 4) How local and regional civil society groups should be involved.

38. Thank you for your attention Pak Mun Dam during closed period