Evaluation of Transboundary Water Resource Development in Mekong River Basin: The Application of Analytic Hierarchy Process in the Context of Water Cooperation

Mekong River is one of the major international freshwater sources in the world. The Lower Mekong Basin (LMB) comprised of four downstream countries, including Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The utilization of the basin’s water brings not only substantial benefits to the region ranging from hydropower to navigation, but also negative impacts caused by the unbalanced water using. The essential role of Mekong River requires all member nations to cooperate effectively for the sustainable development of the region. One of the most popular methods in the field of water resource management is a trustable tool called the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). AHP is much appropriate for water resource policymaking. The literature, however, points out that there is no study to both structure the water using hierarchy and employ quantitative (objective) criteria to the AHP model in LMB case. With regard to water resource management, there are no previous studies applying AHP models to evaluating sustainable development of transboundary water resource in LMB case. This paper explores the evolution of water cooperation among Mekong countries and subsequently evaluates the water development scenarios in the LMB based on the water cooperation preferences of four LMB countries This study proposes a novel approach to analyzing, assessing water resource development scenarios characterized by sustainability indicators and to assisting in developing a suitable water policy in LMB according to the best cooperation scenario.

Transboundary water vulnerability and its drivers in China

Competitive use of transboundary freshwater resources is becoming one of the key factors influencing regional peace and political relationship among states.In China, 18 major international river basins are concentrated in three regions, of which the total annual outflow at the border is 7320×108 m3, occupying 26.8% of the total annual runoff of China, and the inflow at the border is only 172×108 m3.In this paper, we analyzed the major drivers affecting shared water vulnerability in China, namely:(1) changes in physical conditions affecting the availability of water;(2) competing objectives between economic development and ecological conservation;(3) lack of emergency response mechanisms;(4) unsound administrative institutions;and(5) shortcomings in the development of regional cooperation based on transboundary waters.We concluded by identifying four pathways for reducing vulnerability:(1) encouraging scientific research cooperation;(2) constructing information-sharing channels;(3) establishing early-warning mechanisms;and(4) promoting further coordination and negotia-tion.

The key indicators of transboundary water appor- tionment based on international laws and cases

Transboundary water, more competitive utilization and uncertain availability under the globalization trend, the issue of its apportionment which directly impacts national benefits of each riparian state is becoming one of the important topics in the world. Water is scarce in China, the most important upstream state in Asia, and this task has to be thought over in the coming future. Based on ＂International Freshwater Treaties Database＂ （1820-2007） by Oregon State University, and publications and reports on transboundary water utilization and management since 1999, 28 indicators of water apportionment adopted in 49 international treaties and cases in 1864-2002 are divided into 6 types, the spatial and temporal characteristics of the adopted indicators are analyzed in order to find the key indicator（s） of transboundary water apportionment. The major results include： the major adopted indicators, have significant differences among 5 regions/continents, the indicators at rank first and second place in the developed region （North America and Europe） according to the adopted times are ＂keeping minimum water flow＂ and ＂mean annual runoff＂, but in the developing region （Asia, Africa and South America）, the ranking order of the above two indicators is reversed; the major adopted indicators in the watersheds with insufficient water are ＂mean annual runoff＂ and ＂keeping minimum water flow＂, the ones in the watersheds with sufficient water are ＂keeping minimum water flow＂ and ＂maximum water intake＂; the international treaties signed from the first phase to the fourth phase, the developing process shows a progress of ＂fewer-increasing a lot-decreasing rapidly-equation basically＂, the regional distribution of the treaties shifts mainly from the developed region to the developing one, especially to Asia and Africa; the major adopted indicators shifts from ＂keeping minimum water flow＂ and ＂mean annual runoff＂ in 1864-1945, to ＂keeping minimum water flow＂ and ＂maximum water intake＂ in 1946-1971, then to ＂hydraulic facility operation＂ and ＂mean annual runoff＂ in 1972-1991, and finally to ＂keeping minimum water flow＂ and ＂mean annual runoff＂ in 1992-2002, the process shows similar a loop. Finally, the key indicator on transboundary water apportionment can be determined as ＂keeping minimum water flow＂.

Center for International Transboundary Water and Eco-Security Opens

An inauguration ceremony was held to mark the opening of the Center for International Transboundary Water and Eco-Security, Tsinghua University （CITWES） on December 10, 2006. Zhai Haohui, Vice Minister of MWR, Tsinghua Vice President Hu Heping and guests and representatives from some research institutions and universities in China participated in the event.

Deficient Developmental Planning Leading to Water Conflicts across Political Borders: The Way Forward

In this article, Turkey, Iran and Syria in the Middle East area are taken as examples for deficient planning and development of water resources shared with their downstream countries resulting in severe social, economic and political percussions to these neighbors. The current situation in the Middle East with wars against terrorism, uprising of population groups, and COVID-19 Pandemic have not allowed the affected countries Jordan, Iraq and Syria to properly react to the assaults of upstream water development and diversions on their fair shares in the transboundary waters. The rivers’ upstream developmental schemes have not taken advantages of recent advanced technological knowhow of water efficient development and use, seemingly because the arising water problems and catastrophes will not affect these upstream countries, but their downstream neighbors. Although, it is by now known that pressurized water conveyance system relative to canals saves 10% - 20% of the transmitted water, and drip and sprinkler irrigation require only 40% - 50% of the water used in surface and furrow irrigation, that is in addition to agricultural production increases when using advanced management strategies. As enhancing policies, tradeoffs between downstream and upstream countries are thought of as a strategic option to improve the water use efficiency in upstream countries in order to help downstream countries in obtaining their fair shares of the transboundary water resources.

Benefit Sharing on Transboundary Rivers: Case Study and Theoretical Exploration

Benefit sharing on transboundary rivers is an approach to address equitable and reasonable development and utilization of transboundary water resources(TWR). Through analyzing a few typical benefit sharing cases, this paper provides a systematic discussion of the theory of TWR benefits sharing. TWR features a kind of common pool resources(CPRs). Its benefit sharing subjects are the riparian countries. The shared benefits usually include flood prevention, power generation, navigation, irrigation, contributions to society and culture, etc. The benefit sharing modes mainly include shared benefits and responsibilities, reciprocal rights and obligations, equal benefit distribution, cost proportion-based benefit sharing, and demand-based benefit sharing. The first step in the realization process of benefit sharing is the sharing of data and information. Second is the benefit identification and evaluation. Third is the establishment of a mechanism to guarantee the benefit sharing. The conditions for realizing benefit sharing depends on, first, if the riparian countries are willing to cooperate with each other;second, whether the cooperation can bring incremental benefit or cost reduction in comparison with unilateral operation;and third, if the benefit distribution is equitable and reasonable and can stand the test of time.

近30年来洞里萨湖沿岸土地覆被变化及其对水位的响应

The transboundary influence of environmental change is a critical issue in the Lancang-Mekong region.As the largest river-connected lake in the lower Mekong,the ecological change and influence of Tonle Sap Lake have received widespread attention and discussion,especially after 2008,when the hydrological regime of the Lancang-Mekong River mainstream underwent distinct changes.However,the linkage and coupling mechanism between the lake riparian environment and mainstream water level change are still unclear.In this study,the interannual spatiotemporal changes in land cover in the Tonle Sap Lake riparian zone(TSLRZ)and their relationship with mainstream water levels were analysed.The results showed that the expansion of farmland was the most notable change in 1988–2020.After 2008,the land cover changes intensified,manifested as accelerated farmland expansion,intensified woodland fragmentation and significant water body shrinkage.Furthermore,the responses of the water body,degraded land,wasteland and grassland areas to the mainstream water levels weakened after 2008.Evidently,the land cover changes in the TSLRZ in the last 30 years were less related to the mainstream water level change than to local reclamation and logging.These results can offer a new scientific basis for the transboundary influence analysis of hydrological change.