Group 2: Siphandone Location: Main Room

1. 1.Mr. Chanyuth Tepa 2.Mr. Khamphay Luangath 3. Mr. Lonkham Atsanavong 4. Mr. Mark Dubois 5. Mr. Phaivanh Phiapalath 6. Mr. Prachith Noraseng 7. Dr. Robyn Johnston 8. Mr. Somany Phay Facilitators: 1. Mr. Martin Hollands 2. Dr. Robert Mather Group 2: SiphandoneLocation: Main Room

2. Siphandone ++ Mekong River 50 kms either side of Lao / Cambodian border

3. Siphandone • Braided river channel, islands, rapids, waterfalls and wetlands (gallery and flooded forest)

4. Intrinsic values • Species • Biodiversity of aquatic and animal species • Endangered fish species – giant catfish, giant rays, Probarbis • Dolphins • Habitats • Wetlands – flooded forest, gallery forest • Sand banks, sandy islands • Fish habitats – rapids, deep pools, feeding habitats, breeding habitats • Dolphin habitat • Waterbird habitat – Mekong wagtail and others • Migration paths • Variety of ethnic groups with - social and cultural values

5. Use values • Fish for food • Role in mitigating natural disaster • Livelihood and economic values • Tourism / ecotourism – dolphins, landscapes, waterfalls • Agricultural values • Ecosystem services • Provisioning – flood protection / water management • Nutrient recycling •  Spiritual cultural values. • NTFPs – traditional medicines

6. Development pressures and trend (non – CC) • Population increase, urbanisation, migration • Tourism development • Hydropower • Rural electrification • Infrastructure (roads etc) • Economic development – integrated markets, higher demand for resources • Impacts on equality? • Decentralised governance – increased participation, changes in legal framework – eg fisheries law bans certain gear including li traps • Technological change – new ways of doing things • Agricultural change (irrigation, plantations, chemical use, livestock replacing fish) • Land use change (conversion of natural systems; forest cover change) • Mining • Copper / gold upstream – Savannakhet • Bauxite on Bolavens Plateau (which catchments?) • Increase in conservation zones – Ramsar sites, World heritage sites, national parks

7. Values under threat • Dolphins • Fish and fish migration • Waterbirds • Deep pools • Medicinal plants • Flooded forests / gallery forest • Hydrological change

8. Values under threat - example Dolphins • tourism (positive through awareness; negative through stress) • hydrodam – division of population into two sub-groups; decline of fish population • flow changes – deep pools • water pollution - bioaccumulation of toxic chemicals – pesticides / mining wastes • inbreeding depression • conservation policy and institutions

9. Impacts of CC on values • Wetlands and water birds • Fish and fish migration • Forests and wildlife

10. Impacts of CC – exampleFish and fish migration • Change in magnitude, pattern, variability • To increase affect breeding, reproduction, feeding – magnitude of impacts not well known • Fluctuation / variability – may affect more sensitive species • Change in species distribution – new species viable in the area

11. Integrated planning • Should be led by provincial government • Work through existing national climate change office – link to provincial level is through provincial environment office – encourage use of Siphandone as pilot area • MRC Climate Change initiative and BDP sub-area studies • Direct engagement with provincial / district governments • Existing programs • ADB NRMPE (production efficiency) • agrobiodiversityinitiatives (TABI, UNDP/FAO)

12. Priority actions Payment for environmental services Infrastructure and development projects need to pay for loss of food and biodiversity (appropriate substitution and offsets) Agricultural production central to adaptation – increase agricultural productivity to reduce pressure on natural systems

13. Priority actions Knowledge and information • Information centre for Siphandone • Studies on fish migration, interaction between CC and other values • Knowledge network (linking local and scientific info) • Capacity building • Traditional spiritual and cultural values and knowledge

14. Priority actions Monitoring and evaluation Participatory identification of monitoring indicators eg “Tai Bann” / Salaphoum Participatory learning and action LEADS TO Knowledge based local economy LEADS TO Community adaptation to local climate impacts

15. Priority actions Legislation and regulation Designate for World Heritage and/or Ramsar Fisheries law Strengthen EIA and SEA capacity and implementation Clear demarkation of dolphin conservation zone and fish protected areas Fisheries co-management regulations