USAID RDM/A Regional Environment Office Weekly Report Week Ending May 30, 2008

Mekong River Commission Launches Training Program on Transboundary Waters Conflict Prevention and Management. On May 29-30, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand the Mekong River Commission (MRC) launched a training program on Transboundary Waters Conflict Prevention and Management with support from the USAID ECO-Asia project. More than 40 technical officers of the Member Countries of the MRC, representing Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam, participated in the interactive conflict management training. The two-day training covered tools of conflict prevention and management aimed at addressing challenges related to country efforts to construct dams, irrigation infrastructure, and navigation waterways that significantly impact river livelihoods. According to Chief Executive Officer of the MRC Secretariat Mr. Jeremy Bird, “Building the necessary awareness and skills on addressing potential conflicts is critical to protecting vital ecosystems and promoting prosperity in the Mekong River Basin.”

Malaysian-Vietnam Wastewater Utility “Twinning” Completes Training on Improved System Operations. Under the USAID-funded ECO-Asia water and sanitation program, three officials from the Urban Environment Company (URENCO) of Halong City, Vietnam participated in on-site training at Indah Water Konsortium (IWK) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from May 26-28, 2008. The group visited three wastewater treatment plants to strengthen their capacity to operate treatment systems that use the sequencing batch reactor (SBR) technology. Participants received hands-on training on preventive maintenance for electrical and mechanical equipment, operator health and safety, and water quality monitoring. The staff from URENCO will apply this knowledge directly to their Bai Chay SBR treatment facility, which serves the tourist district of Halong City. They will also replicate the training for the staff serving the newly constructed SBR facility at Hong Guy, which serves the central part of Halong City.

ASEAN-WEN Task Forces to Bolster Cross-Border Investigations. ASEAN Anti-Wildlife Crime Task Forces will link up with INTERPOL to bolster cross-border wildlife crime suppression and ensure that seizures are followed by more arrests and prosecutions. At the 3rd Meeting of the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) on May 26-27, 2008, in Vientiane, Laos, ASEAN and INTERPOL agreed to establish a Special Investigations Group. USAID provided logistical and organizational support to the meeting, which resulted in progress on the strategic action and sustainability plans that underpin ASEAN-WEN's ongoing mission to protect the region's biodiversity.