On September 10 - 13, 2016, within the framework of the national-level independent scientific research “Study on the impact of development activities on the river flow and ecological environment in the lower Ma river basin and proposal of solutions to minimize adverse impacts and ensure safety in the downstream”, the IWRP organized a working group consisting of key project staff to pay a visit to Thailand to learn experiences and share knowledge in water resource management, and in protection and sustainable development of water environment in Thailand. There, the delegation visited and worked with the International Environmental Management Company (International Environmental Management Co. Ltd, as IEM) in  Bangkok, Thailand.

IEM is an international company with its headquarters in Canada and branches in Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia. This is a company with many experienced experts in water resources management, environmental impact assessment, protection and sustainable development of water ecosystems. In the 1990s, IEM set up a representative office in Ho Chi Minh City and contributed to the research, evaluation and construction of the Quan Lo - Phung Hiep irrigation system.

At the meeting, the IWRP introduced the urgency of assessing the impact of Ma river water resources management and exploitation on lowering its downstream water levels with many arising problems in water use and water quality protection, in maintaining aquatic ecosystems in estuarine and coastal areas. The project manager also exchanged the objectives, research contents and recommendations and wished to learn IEM's experiences in assessing downstream environmental impacts, and methods and tools to estimate environmental flows ...

Director of IEM, Dr. Ron Livingstone and IEM's experts introduced the company's experiences in research related to the research content, recommended core relevant issues of concern and assessment on the water environment in the Ma river downstream, and also introduced some solutions to determine the factors that affect the quantity and quality of water sources, how to estimate environmental flows and minimum flows.

The two sides agreed to continue exchange and suggestions to improve the research quality of the topic. Besides, the IEM also pledged to support and seek opportunities to cooperate with the IWRP in related matters.

Source: Division for Science, Technology and Environment, IWRP