Posted on December, 19 2006

The European Union (EU), through their EU Asia Pro Eco Fund, will support WWF to improve wetland management and maintain ecosystems goods and services in That Luang Marsh, Lao PDR, through a collaborative project with WWF Germany, WWF Lao PDR, the Wild Fowl and Wetland Trust, and the government of Lao PDR.  

That Luang Marsh is the largest remaining wetland area in Vientiane, covering 20km² and providing aquatic resources to over 3,000 households, as well as valuable ecosystem services to Vientiane, including wastewater purification and flood protection. That Luang Marsh has been valued at roughly US$5 million annually, for both direct and indirect uses, with communities earning as much as US$514 per household from the marsh, yearly.

The WATER Project - Wastewater Treatment through Effective wetland Restoration of That Luang Marsh - will provide guidance on how the functions of the That Luang ecosystem can be maximized for the benefit of both people and wildlife.

The project will examine the issue of wastewater management within the city, and the feasibility of creating a constructed wetland treatment system, within That Luang Marsh, to treat domestic and industrial wastewater while maintaining the important functions of flood detention and food web support.

A sustainable urban plan for the area surrounding the marsh and an adaptive management plan for the wetland area will be developed promoting: high environmental standards in urban planning; innovative solutions and best practice guidance for effective treatment of domestic and industrial wastewater through wetland treatment systems; and the management of wetland resources and services to sustain stakeholder livelihoods and alleviate poverty.

Key stakeholders such as government implementing agencies, local communities, and industries will be engaged to develop management plans through a participatory process.

As both an introduction to the project, as well as part of the development of the Wetland Alliance Programme - a collaborative project with WWF, World Fish Centre, the Coastal Resources Institute (CORIN), and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), which is supported by the Cultural Industries Development Agency (CIDA) and funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) - a stakeholders consultation on That Luang Marsh was held on the 20 September 2006 at the Vientiane Prefecture. 

The workshop was chaired by the Vice Governor of Vientiane and included representatives from the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office, the Division of Livestock and Fisheries, the Vientiane Urban Development and Administrative Association, the Provincial Communication, Transportation, Post and Construction Office, Vientiane City Planning (VCP), the Science, Technology and Environment Office (STEO), and WWF.

The workshop aimed to improve the understanding of the stakeholders and policy makers involved in city planning and development, in regards to the importance of the That Luang Marsh, with a specific objective of identifying capacity building needs.  

Participants raised issues of threats related to uncontrolled development and pollution, as well as the large local reliance on this valuable resource. There was strong support for addressing these issues and improved management of the wetland area, which comes at a critical time in the development of Vientiane.

For more information, please contact: Pauline Gerrard