Urban wetland ecosystem assessment and management case study of Thatluang marsh, Vientiane, Lao PDR | |
| Author | Phenkhamla Phonvisai |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.UE-06-22 |
| Subject(s) | Wetland ecology Laos Vientiane Marsh ecology Laos Vientiane |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Urban wetlands provide many ecological and societal functions ranging from flood abatement to recreational opportunities to residents in neighboring communities. Wetland area tends to decline and long term successes at creating and restoring functional wetlands are rare. The need for wetland restoration know-how continues to increase, especially in urban environments problems that result from patterns of urban activities. The study was conducted in Thatluang wetland which is one of the largest wetland of' Vientiane, Lao PDR. This study is finding that the important aspect of the wetland ecosystem have been neglected by local authorities and the urban people. Direct use from urban wetland (rice production. gardens, fish, aquaculture, and capture fisheries) and indirect use (flood protection, option values, non-use values and water storage) and benefits created from Thatluang wetland often generate income and subsistence of the poorest and most vulnerable sectors of Vientiane's urban population. Wetland services, especially those relating to hydrology and water quality, help to fill in gap between the level of basic goods and services. The government can provide, and those which Vientiane's rapidly increasing urban population requires. The loss of wetland biodiversity takes place at immense social and economic cost, and runs the risk of undermining the very aim of urban development itself - better service provision, poverty alleviation, income and employment generation, and basic quality of life. This research is to demonstrate the importance of sustainable management of Thatluang wetland area and the need to incorporate into urban planning and decision making. Urban wetlands management in Lao PDR is important to the capability of governments for proactive management in the light of the political and economic concerns. Aside from adequate institutional framework, financial resources and manpower to effective environmental and natural resource management. Existing wetlands policies in the riparian government agencies tend to rely on countless, but unrelated, legislation and mandates of various government agencies. These policies are often confusing, overlapping or conflicting |
| Year | 2006 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Development and Sustainability (DDS) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Urban Environmental and Management (UE) |
| Chairperson(s) | Nowarat Coowanitwong |
| Examination Committee(s) | Perera, L.A.S. Ranjith ;Vilas Nitivattananon |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) - AIT Fellowship |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2006 |