Alliance Secretariat, the Asian Institute of Technology organized an
international conference on ‘Wetlands Management: Science, Practice and
Sustainable
Development’ in Siem Reap, Cambodia from 19-21 January 2016.
Attracting over 70 participants and 42 paper presentations, the
three-day conference aimed to build and strengthen bridges between
scientists, researchers, pra...ctitioners and policy-makers engaged in
natural wetlands management in the Mekong region and beyond.
The conference was co-hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Cambodia
and AIT. Wetlands Alliance, CORIN Asia, WorldFish Center and WWF were
organizing partners.
In his opening remarks, H.E Yin Kim Sean, Secretary of State of the
Ministry of Environment, Royal Government of Cambodia, highlighted the
significance of water and wetlands for local rural communities and
emphasized the importance of their management as a basis for the
functioning of society.
Professor Sivanappan Kumar, Vice-President Academic Affairs,
represented AIT at the opening ceremony. In his opening remarks, he
underscored the achievements of the Wetlands Alliance and reiterated
AIT’s continued commitment to contribute to developing and implementing
sustainable development solutions through research, education and
outreach.
Keynote presentations were delivered by Dr. Robert Mather on behalf of
the Secretariat of the ‘Ramsar Convention’, an international treaty on
the protection of globally important wetlands, and Dr. Zeb Hogan, the
host and star of National Geographic’s “Monsterfish” television
program.
Dr. Hogan has been working in the Mekong region for nearly 20 years,
researching giant freshwater fish in the region. In his keynote, he
passionately highlighted the links between the world’s largest
freshwater fish and communities, presenting numerous examples from
around the world of efforts that promote the co-existence of people and
fish.
According to Dr. Hogan, there are many examples that give reason for
hope that species such as the Mekong Giant Catfish have a future,
despite the potentially devastating impacts of large infrastructure
development works along the Mekong River.
Conference papers covered themes such as conservation, climate change
and livelihoods. Participants presented both research and experiences
from program implementation though to be useful for further program
planning.
The conference concluded with a field trip to Cambodia’s latest
protected area under the Ramsar Convention – Prek Toal – which is
considered to be the premier wetland site on Tonle Sap Great Lake. Last
year it was designated as Cambodia’s fourth Ramsar site.
