A comparative study of water quality parameters and values of two major wetlands (That Luang and Bung Va) in Lao PDR | |
| Author | Nilinda Sourinphoumy |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-07-61 |
| Subject(s) | Water quality--Laos Wetland management--Laos |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | The study carried out through field analyses, questionnaire surveys and literature review during the period May-October 2007 allows for making the following conclusions. The That Luang Marshland as a support zone for Vientiane’s wastewater and flooding issues, have recently been shown to be subjected to tremendous human interference and unsustainable activities leading to its degradation in many ways. This may be said of numerous other wetlands in Laos. On the other hand, many rural wetlands, (dams, reservoirs, marshlands), e.g. Bung Va, are much less stressed and more pristine. During the study of the That Luang Marshland it was observed that the Government of Laos introduced numerous laws and regulations for sustainable development of water bodies and environment. However, significant pollution is on the increase in and around the That Luang Marshland, mainly due to rapid urbanization, industrialization and population growth, etc. The pollution is not abated as planned by the existing wastewater treatment pond system and therefore sewage water from Vientiane City flows in its entirety into the natural ecosystem of the Marshland. It was also observed and studied that wastewater discharges from various local stakeholders (light industries, households, social institutes, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, etc) are not monitored according to the existing rules and regulations. There are many reasons for the problems mentioned above and all appear to be related to lack of urban planning, until recently. However, even today, planning was based on physical, rather than environmental approaches and there has been little effort for conservation. The chemical analysis of water samples from different sampling points selected both in That Luang and Bung Va shown pollution traces in some of the sampling points. However, it was found that Bung Va is comparatively less polluted than That Luang. There are no specific regulations on wetland use, management and development in Lao PDR. Several laws and regulations concerning water and water resources management come from a variety of sources: Forestry Law, Water and Water Resources Law, and Agricultural Law, which are not rationalized to become a comprehensive compendium for efficient regulation. Hence the That Luang Marshland, as many other wetlands in Laos is still at risk of being ruined. The valuation research based on the values of 2007 yielded the following figures in terms of current direct (rice production, gardens, fish, aquaculture, capture fisheries, and non-fisheries) comprising 40% and indirect (flood protection, sanitation and wastewater purification, nature conservation and water storage) values. The value of That Luang Marshland was estimated to be approximately 7 million USD per annum. Bung Va was estimated to have a value of approximately 1.5 million USD per annum. The above-mentioned valuation may provide a basis for future decision- and policy-making process in terms of sustainable wetland management in Laos. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Shipin, Oleg V.;Berg, Carl Eric Haken; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Chongrak Polprasert; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | ADB – Japan Scholarship Program (ADB –JSP); |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |