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The GEF-LDCF funded Integrated Water Resources Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (IWRM-EbA) Project, implemented by UNDP Lao PDR, participated in the Regional Workshop on Wetland Management and Conservation in the Mekong-Lancang Region in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The project shared experiences on ecosystem-based adaptation, wetland restoration, community conservation, and community-based monitoring, while strengthening South-South cooperation and regional partnerships to advance climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable wetland management across the region.
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Representatives from Lao PDR share experiences on Ecosystem-based Adaptation approaches at the Regional Wetland Workshop in Phnom Penh
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Phnom Penh, Cambodia | 28 July 2026 — The GEF-LDCF funded project on Integrated Water Resources Management and Ecosystem-based Adaptation (IWRM-EbA) being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Lao PDR participated in the Regional Workshop on Wetland Management and Conservation in the Mekong-Lancang Region, strengthening South-South knowledge exchange and regional cooperation for sustainable wetland management.
The workshop, organized by The General Directorate of Natural Protected Area, Ministry of Environment of Cambodia, brought together government representatives, wetland experts, conservation organisations, development partners, researchers, and practitioners from countries across the Mekong-Lancang region to share experiences, explore common challenges, and identify opportunities for stronger collaboration on wetland conservation and management.
Representing the GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA Project, Mr. Singthong Phanthamala, the Project Manager and Mr. Phingsaliao Sithiengtham, Project Coordinator shared their collective experiences from the project in applying Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and integrated water resources management to strengthen wetland resilience in Lao PDR. Their presentations and interventions showcased initiatives from the GEF-LDCF project undertaken in Savannakhet and Luang Prabang such as EbA wetland restoration, Community Conservation Agreement, and Community-based Monitoring, demonstrating how healthy wetlands can provide multiple benefits, including flood and drought risk reduction, biodiversity conservation, water security, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
Their participation provided an important opportunity to foster South-South cooperation through knowledge exchange, allowing the GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA Project to share notable insights from Lao PDR while learning from wetland initiatives and innovations across the Mekong-Lancang region.
Mr. Phingsaliao Sithiengtham, Project Coordinator GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA project, as a panelist in session on Aligning the Regional Initiatives for the wetland conservation in the Mekong-Lancang Region session, also shared his experiences on Ecosystem-based Adaptation, Community-based Monitoring, and carbon-rich wetlands. “We see a strong opportunity to scale up Ecosystem-based Adaptation for regional wetland management. Our experience in Lao PDR shows that wetland conservation can provide multiple benefits for climate resilience, biodiversity, water security, and local livelihoods. By learning from each other and working together, we can move from individual projects towards joint regional initiatives that deliver lasting results.” Mr. Phingsaliao Sithiengtham quoted.
The workshop highlighted the importance of moving beyond knowledge sharing and striving towards joint regional action. Participants discussed opportunities for collaboration in wetland monitoring, ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, carbon-rich wetlands, community-based management, and sustainable financing. For the GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA Project, the workshop also provided an opportunity to explore potential opportunities for joint projects and partnerships among Mekong-Lancang countries and regional organisations. Such collaboration showcase how GEF resources could be leveraged to support replication and scaling-up of successful EbA approaches, strengthen technical capacity, improve knowledge and data sharing, and mobilise resources for wetland conservation and climate resilience.
The GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA Project recognises that many wetland ecosystems and their associated challenges extend beyond administrative and national boundaries. Regional cooperation therefore provides an important pathway to share knowledge, strengthen institutional capacity, and develop practical solutions that can be adapted to different contexts. The participation of the GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA Project in the workshop contributes to the Project's broader commitment to knowledge exchange, South-South cooperation, and partnership building under its approved work programme.
Through continued engagement with regional partners, and support from GEF-LDCF, this UNDP implemented project aims to promote practical approaches that integrate wetland conservation, ecosystem-based adaptation, integrated water resources management, and community participation. The experience gained through this regional exchange will also contribute to the promotion and sharing of lessons from the IWRM-EbA approaches in Lao PDR, while opening opportunities for future cooperation, building on support from the GEF-LDCF, with countries and organizations across the Mekong-Lancang region.
The IWRM-EbA Project is funded by the Least Developed Country Fund, Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Lao PDR in coordination with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The four-year project aims to strengthen integrated management of water and land resources and enhance climate resilience through ecosystem-based approaches in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin and Luang Prabang.
The workshop, organized by The General Directorate of Natural Protected Area, Ministry of Environment of Cambodia, brought together government representatives, wetland experts, conservation organisations, development partners, researchers, and practitioners from countries across the Mekong-Lancang region to share experiences, explore common challenges, and identify opportunities for stronger collaboration on wetland conservation and management.
Representing the GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA Project, Mr. Singthong Phanthamala, the Project Manager and Mr. Phingsaliao Sithiengtham, Project Coordinator shared their collective experiences from the project in applying Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) and integrated water resources management to strengthen wetland resilience in Lao PDR. Their presentations and interventions showcased initiatives from the GEF-LDCF project undertaken in Savannakhet and Luang Prabang such as EbA wetland restoration, Community Conservation Agreement, and Community-based Monitoring, demonstrating how healthy wetlands can provide multiple benefits, including flood and drought risk reduction, biodiversity conservation, water security, climate resilience, and sustainable livelihoods.
Their participation provided an important opportunity to foster South-South cooperation through knowledge exchange, allowing the GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA Project to share notable insights from Lao PDR while learning from wetland initiatives and innovations across the Mekong-Lancang region.
Mr. Phingsaliao Sithiengtham, Project Coordinator GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA project, as a panelist in session on Aligning the Regional Initiatives for the wetland conservation in the Mekong-Lancang Region session, also shared his experiences on Ecosystem-based Adaptation, Community-based Monitoring, and carbon-rich wetlands. “We see a strong opportunity to scale up Ecosystem-based Adaptation for regional wetland management. Our experience in Lao PDR shows that wetland conservation can provide multiple benefits for climate resilience, biodiversity, water security, and local livelihoods. By learning from each other and working together, we can move from individual projects towards joint regional initiatives that deliver lasting results.” Mr. Phingsaliao Sithiengtham quoted.
The workshop highlighted the importance of moving beyond knowledge sharing and striving towards joint regional action. Participants discussed opportunities for collaboration in wetland monitoring, ecosystem restoration, climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, carbon-rich wetlands, community-based management, and sustainable financing. For the GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA Project, the workshop also provided an opportunity to explore potential opportunities for joint projects and partnerships among Mekong-Lancang countries and regional organisations. Such collaboration showcase how GEF resources could be leveraged to support replication and scaling-up of successful EbA approaches, strengthen technical capacity, improve knowledge and data sharing, and mobilise resources for wetland conservation and climate resilience.
The GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA Project recognises that many wetland ecosystems and their associated challenges extend beyond administrative and national boundaries. Regional cooperation therefore provides an important pathway to share knowledge, strengthen institutional capacity, and develop practical solutions that can be adapted to different contexts. The participation of the GEF-LDCF IWRM-EbA Project in the workshop contributes to the Project's broader commitment to knowledge exchange, South-South cooperation, and partnership building under its approved work programme.
Through continued engagement with regional partners, and support from GEF-LDCF, this UNDP implemented project aims to promote practical approaches that integrate wetland conservation, ecosystem-based adaptation, integrated water resources management, and community participation. The experience gained through this regional exchange will also contribute to the promotion and sharing of lessons from the IWRM-EbA approaches in Lao PDR, while opening opportunities for future cooperation, building on support from the GEF-LDCF, with countries and organizations across the Mekong-Lancang region.
The IWRM-EbA Project is funded by the Least Developed Country Fund, Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Department of Water Resources, Ministry of Agriculture and Environment of Lao PDR in coordination with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The four-year project aims to strengthen integrated management of water and land resources and enhance climate resilience through ecosystem-based approaches in the Xe Bang Hieng River Basin and Luang Prabang.