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Savannakhet, Lao PDR – 8 September 2025: The Department of Water Resources (DWR), in partnership with the Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA) and UNDP, will host a National Training on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Wetland Management from 10–12 September in Savannakhet Province. Part of the IWRM–EbA Project funded by the GEF LDCF, the training aims to strengthen community resilience to climate risks in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin and Luang Prabang City through sustainable wetland management. Over 50 participants—including wetland managers, government officials, academics, and international organizations—will engage in classroom sessions, fieldwork at the Xe Champhone Ramsar Site, and practical exercises using tools like RAWES, R-METT, and WETVAT. The training reinforces Lao PDR’s commitment to integrated water resource management, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
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National Training on Ecosystem-based Wetland Management to Take Place in Savannakhet
Full Description
Savannakhet, Lao PDR – 8 September 2025 – The Department of Water Resources (DWR), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, in collaboration with the Ramsar Regional Center – East Asia (RRC-EA) and with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), will host the National Training on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) Wetland Management in Savannakhet Province from 10–12 September 2025.
The training forms part of the Integrated Water Resource Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (IWRM–EbA) Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility’s Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Government of the Lao PDR. The project aims to strengthen the resilience of communities in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin and Luang Prabang City against climate risks such as floods and droughts by integrating ecosystem-based approaches into water resource management. More than 50 participants are expected to attend, including wetland managers, provincial and district officials from the Offices of Natural Resources and Environment (PONRE and DONRE), academics, and representatives from international organizations such as IUCN, WCS, IWMI, and UNDP.
The training programme will combine classroom sessions, group discussions, and hands-on fieldwork at the Xe Champhone Ramsar Site, a wetland of international importance in Champhone District. Participants will apply tools such as the Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES), the Ramsar Site Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (R-METT), and the Wetland Vulnerability Assessment Tool (WETVAT) to strengthen monitoring and planning for wetland conservation.
Experts from the IWRM–EbA Project will play a key role in the training. Dr. Deependra Joshi, Chief Technical Advisor, will share insights on linking water and wetland management in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin, while Mr. Phingsaliao Sithiengtham, Project Coordinator, will co-lead practical exercises on applying the RAWES approach both in the classroom and during the field visit.
“This training will help enhance wetland conservation and management in Lao PDR while also promoting community resilience to the impacts of climate change,” said Mr. Singthong Phanthamala, Director of the River Basin Management and Development Planning Division, DWR. “By building technical capacity and fostering collaboration, we are creating a stronger network of wetland managers equipped to safeguard these critical ecosystems.”
Wetlands such as the Xe Champhone Ramsar Site are essential for biodiversity, water regulation, and local livelihoods. However, pressures from land use change, unsustainable practices, and climate variability continue to pose significant challenges. The training will provide practical solutions and foster collaboration among stakeholders to address these issues.
This activity builds on previous interventions of the IWRM–EbA Project in Savannakhet and Luang Prabang and reflects the Government’s commitment to advancing integrated water resource management and nature-based solutions in line with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which Lao PDR joined in 2010.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Phouphet Chittaphone
Database and Communication Officer, IWRM–EbA Project
Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
Email: [email protected] | Tel: +856 20 5856 2532
The training forms part of the Integrated Water Resource Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (IWRM–EbA) Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility’s Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Government of the Lao PDR. The project aims to strengthen the resilience of communities in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin and Luang Prabang City against climate risks such as floods and droughts by integrating ecosystem-based approaches into water resource management. More than 50 participants are expected to attend, including wetland managers, provincial and district officials from the Offices of Natural Resources and Environment (PONRE and DONRE), academics, and representatives from international organizations such as IUCN, WCS, IWMI, and UNDP.
The training programme will combine classroom sessions, group discussions, and hands-on fieldwork at the Xe Champhone Ramsar Site, a wetland of international importance in Champhone District. Participants will apply tools such as the Rapid Assessment of Wetland Ecosystem Services (RAWES), the Ramsar Site Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (R-METT), and the Wetland Vulnerability Assessment Tool (WETVAT) to strengthen monitoring and planning for wetland conservation.
Experts from the IWRM–EbA Project will play a key role in the training. Dr. Deependra Joshi, Chief Technical Advisor, will share insights on linking water and wetland management in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin, while Mr. Phingsaliao Sithiengtham, Project Coordinator, will co-lead practical exercises on applying the RAWES approach both in the classroom and during the field visit.
“This training will help enhance wetland conservation and management in Lao PDR while also promoting community resilience to the impacts of climate change,” said Mr. Singthong Phanthamala, Director of the River Basin Management and Development Planning Division, DWR. “By building technical capacity and fostering collaboration, we are creating a stronger network of wetland managers equipped to safeguard these critical ecosystems.”
Wetlands such as the Xe Champhone Ramsar Site are essential for biodiversity, water regulation, and local livelihoods. However, pressures from land use change, unsustainable practices, and climate variability continue to pose significant challenges. The training will provide practical solutions and foster collaboration among stakeholders to address these issues.
This activity builds on previous interventions of the IWRM–EbA Project in Savannakhet and Luang Prabang and reflects the Government’s commitment to advancing integrated water resource management and nature-based solutions in line with the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, which Lao PDR joined in 2010.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Phouphet Chittaphone
Database and Communication Officer, IWRM–EbA Project
Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment
Email: [email protected] | Tel: +856 20 5856 2532