“Our financial commitment today will provide additional support to concerted efforts in the region to ensure timely protection and sustainable management,” German Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Dirk Niebel said.
“Germany’s support will focus on selected priority sites where integrated and transboundary approaches are needed and where regional cooperation is important,” Niebel added.
The MRC said that the funding to support strategies and actions would be used for further protection and sustainable use of wetlands in the basin until 2020 and that it was part of Germany’s overall renewed support to the MRC signed last year.
Hans Guttman, the MRC chief executive, said that "widespread" loss of natural wetlands in the Lower Mekong Basin reflected many pressures including infrastructure development, intensification of agriculture and deforestation in the basin which stretches across Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam.
“Financial and technical support committed by Germany will strengthen and enhance the MRC’s work in this area at both the regional and national levels,” he said.
The MRC noted that Mekong River wetlands are important in maintaining the high biodiversity of the region, serving as a primary source of meat, fruits, vegetables, fodder for livestock, medicines and construction materials while providing leisure activities and tourism.
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