1st Southeast Asia Water Forum
Strengthening Regional Capacity Through Best Practices in Integrated Water Resources Management
17-21 November 2003
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ministerial Declaration on Managing Water Resources in Southeast Asia
We, the Ministers responsible for water resources from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam gathered in Chiang Mai, Thailand on 21st November 2003 for the 1st Ministerial Meeting on Managing Water Resources,
CONCERNED with the problems of food security and inadequate access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation facilities for all and especially for the poor and the degradation of environment in catchments including freshwater and coastal waters with corresponding loss of biodiversity and natural resource productivities;
NOTING the increase in demand and competition fo water among various users often to the disadvantage of the poor and vulnerable people;
ALSO NOTING the increasing risks of flood and drought incidents resulting from human interventions, climate variability and climate change;
FURTHER NOTING inefficient governance in water resources and inadequate coordination among and between management institutions, water users, economic sectors, academic and research institutions and other stakeholders;
DO HEREBY DECLARE our determination to strengthen water resources management and enhance our regional cooperation in the field of water resources management, and to this end adopt the following guidelies:
Guidelines
Implementation of the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) by using the river basin approach including conjuctive use of surface and ground water as a starting point
Promotion of the national policy towards increasing investment levels in achieving the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) and the World Food Summit Goals in relation to effective water management
Encouragement of legal frameworks/guidelines for water allocation supported by good governance
Enhancement of the efficiency,equity and productivity of water uses in the agriculture, urban, industrial, and other sectors
Encouraging the involvement of users and other stakeholders in decision-making process with emphasis on the gender roles, selected good traditional management and opportunities through the establishment and strengthening of the River Basin Organization
Strengthening close regional cooperation among meteorologists, hydrologists and water managers in coping with climate variability and climate change, floods and droughts
Organizing bi-annual regional water forums to educate and exchange information between water resources managers, and other stakeholders
Take note of the Declaration of the 1st Southeast Asia Water Forum.
We express our deepest gratitude to the people and government of Thailand for their generous hospitality and exellent arrangements made for the Ministerial Meeting on Managing Water Resources in Southeast Asia.
Adopted by unanimous acclamation on this 21st day of November 2003, Chiang Mai, Thailand.
News and Events 
Top of page