Statement of Participants of Learning and Linking Platform on CBNRM and IWRM  

1. Brief project overview The Mekong River is a fundamental for natural resources – based livelihoods on one third of population in Vietnam, Lao PDR, and Cambodia. The river is shared among countries in the basin. However, the quality of life and the livelihoods of riparian and downstream communities are now changing due to trans-boundary impacts as flooding, water shortage, droughts, and pollution. It is important that upstream and downstream communities understand those impacts and share interest and responsibility towards resolving the issues.  In that situation, some local groups concerned about Lower Mekong water usage and maintain the local livelihoods of communities. They connected with local villagers to preserve natural resources and make a sustainable, environmental friendly way of living with their local products. Moreover, Center for Social Research and Development (CSRD) believes that a greater effort is needed to link people and groups so that we can work more effectively to achieve better outcomes for the Lower Mekong River Basin and its people.  In some places, models of Community - based Natural Resource Management (CBNRM) and Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) are being developed and implemented with varying degree of success. Yet the successful results stay at the communities. There are in the need of connection to other communities to broaden sharing of practices and lessons to bring greater positive results.  

2. Preamble

2.1.  After two year of facilitating the learning and linking platform on CBNRM and IWRM, we have been moving forward to a united community which is a network that include non – government organizations, community – based organization, local communities, individuals, experts, ect…. And strongly, we are committed to build a strong community network “The Mekong United Community Network - MUC” where the grass – root communities and individuals can connect and support each other in promoting the sustainable practices and protect our natural resources and livelihood from the external intervention affecting the well being of the nature and communities in the Lower Mekong countries.  

2.2.  We are aware that there are still many obstacles and challenges to mutual collaboration as there are differences in geography, community – based management mechanisms, and local contexts. However, in the long run with the consideration of globalization process, we are in the need of collaboration and support each other.  

2.3. Therefore, the Mekong United Community network, includes 09 representatives from Cambodia, 06 representatives from Laos, and 24 representatives from Vietnam, hereby, make this statement regarding ways forward in order to build long – term commitment for the project, spread the network, and disseminate the result of this project as among the member of the newly formed Mekong United Community Network.

3. Statement among the 3 countries on CBNRM and IWRM in Mekong rivers and promotion of gender role in the network strategy and plan

3.1. Sharing information: We, the members of the Mekong United Community Network, commit to sharing experiences, good practices, and lesson learned related to Sustainable and Community – Based Natural Resource Mananagement. Large scale development projects with trans-boundary impacts, national investment policies will also be disseminated to other partners, communities, gender groups, especially minority groups across the boundaries in the Lower Mekong.  We are committed to disseminating work/hand books to other national/local partners and communities and to ensuring effort come and are for the local people and community involvement in project implementation and bring benefit equally to their lives.   

3.2. Contributing and strengthening the network We are committed to keeping in regular contact with other partners in the network. The relationship can be maintained by social media, study tours, or via email working group. We will be working together towards joint action plan and raising awareness of other partners and communities at large regarding negative impacts of development projects, such as hydropower dams, or climate change that can affect the availability of natural resources. The information will be updated and spread out among the network members and other stakeholders. Linking to other networks, including women and youth network is also in need.    3.3. Promoting equality, particularly gender equality We will promote gender equality and women leadership in CBNRM models. Well equipped women, ethnic minority groups and indigenous peoples with capacity, awareness, skills and actively involving them in the decision-making processes around the use and management of natural resources will be prioritized.  

Source: http://vrn.org.vn/en/h/d/2015/10/1095/THE_MEKONG_UNITED_COMMUNITY_NETWORK_%28MUC%29_/index.html