Latest reports and discussion papers:

Working Paper on Lessons Learned from the Pilot Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Quang Nam Hydropower Development Plan in Vietnam. (Download, 0.25 MB) Final Report "SEA of the Quang Nam Province Hydropower Plan for the Vu Gua-Thu Bon River Basin" (Download, 13 MB) Reimaanlok - National Conservation Area Plan for the Marshall Islands Review of Implementation of Decree 67/2003 on Environmental Protection Charges for Wastewater in Viet Nam

Map of the Month:

An Example of ICEM's geovisual work: 2D Ho Chi Minh City – Existing and planned transport 2050 and impacts of flooding, Viet Nam. More maps and 3D materials >>

News:

August 2009

The Mekong Delta Climate Change Forum. ICEM is organizing a Mekong Delta Forum on climate change as part of the Preparatory Phase of the Mekong Delta Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Project. The Project is partnered with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Mekong Delta Provincial Peoples Committees, and is funded by AusAID and the ADB. The Forum will take place in Can Tho City on 26th August 2009. The Forum’s objectives are to: (i) identify and discuss common climate change challenges with Delta provinces are confronting; (ii) identify existing initiatives and establish an information exchange network; and (iii) discuss the Mekong Delta Climate Change Project. Participants will include national and provincial Government of Vietnam representatives.

July 2009

MRC SEA of Hydropower on Mainstream Mekong River – Viet Nam National SEA Scoping Workshop. ICEM held a program of consultations in Hanoi including a national SEA scoping workshop for Viet Nam government technical staff from 29 June to 2nd July 2009. The National Scoping workshop aimed to define the key strategic issues to be addressed by the SEA, and to review and refine the SEA approach. Similar scoping workshops are to be held in Lao PDR, Cambodia and Thailand. Special civil society consultative meetings will also be organized in each country as a first step in stakeholder engagement at each stage of the SEA.

June 2009

MRC SEA of Hydropower on Mainstream Mekong River. ICEM has been commissioned by the Mekong River Commission to undertake a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of 11 planned hydropower dams along the mainstream Mekong River, in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam. The SEA will run for 12 months and assess the wider economic, social and environmental implications of the proposed developments. The SEA process will involve wide consultation with government, NGOs, civil society and the private sector. A special SEA website is being prepared to facilitate information exchange and stakeholder participation. More

January 2009

Ho Chi Minh Adaptation to Climate Change Study Draft Report. ICEM was contracted by the ADB and the HCMC Peoples Committee in early 2008. Due for completion in June 2009, the study is an initial step in a planned response by the City to the challenges it faces in adapting to climate change. The study explored the threats of climate change and its impact on areas, communities and sectors in the city and provided recommendations for adaptation options. The Draft Final Report (PDF) is now with government and international organizations for review. More

November 2007

Final Report "Improving Water Quality in the Day/Nhue River Basin: Capacity Building and Pollution Sources Inventory". The water resources management studies carried out by Project TA 3892-VIE for the Cau and Day/Nhue River Sub-basins found pollution loads from many sources, some of which were well above national standards and negatively impacting local economies and the health of affected communities. The studies of both rivers called for a comprehensive inventory of pollution sources so that priorities can be set for taking quick action to manage the most important sources while adopting a more systematic and long term approach to controlling others. >>Download report

October 2007

Hanoi, 22nd October 2007, ICEM with MONRE and IIED conducted a workshop on climate change adaptation in development policies, plans and programs in Vietnam. 60 representatives from different ministries, donors, international development organizations, and projects attended the workshop. >>Read more; >>Download summary report July 2007

ICEM's Jiri Dusik has served as the team leader for the Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Multi-Annual Adaptation Strategy for the Mauritian Sugarcane Cluster 2006-2015. This SEA has been undertaken by the European Commission (EC) in order to provide the EC and the Government of Mauritius with relevant information for the decision-making on major proposals for development and restructuring of the sugarcane industry which plays a key role in the national economy. The SEA was carried out through consultations with 63 experts involved in in-country research and policy studies and through site visits to various milling plants, analyses of statistical data and comparative reviews of relevant in-country research studies with international literature. >>More information and download of final report

April 2007

The Marshall Islands national conservation areas plan was further developed through a two day inter-agency workshop 16-17 May. The conservation plan working group made up of representatives of all key government agencies and conservation NGOs reviewed the GIS analysis and conservation targets, the legislative framework for management plans and the planning process. A round of agency by agency meetings is now taking place and circulation of sections of the national plan for written comments. This phase of the project runs to July 2007 with the submission to government of the full draft plan.

March 2007

ICEM and the Asian Development Bank is supporting the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Ministry of Industry conduct a pilot strategic environmental assessment of the hydropower plan in the Vu Gia - Thu Bon River Basin. The SEA team conducted a field mission to the basin during March 2007. The team worked with provincial and local government agencies in Quang Nam and Danang Province and facilitated a two day workshop of stakeholders to discuss the findings of the initial assessments of past and current development trends. A second mission is schedule for July-August this year. >>Download final report (13MB)

January 2007

Work on the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the Multi Annual Adaptation Strategy (MAAS) of Mauritius commenced, executed by a team of international experts lead by ICEM Expert Jiri Dusik. Read more.

The project "Effective Management of World Heritage Sites and Capacity-Building for Protected Areas in the Marshall Islands" , part of ICEM's island program, has finished the inception phase, successfully establishing a procedure for collection and mapping of local and expert knowledge of resources and key sites that are important to conserve and manage. This information has been compiled into a GIS that will be used now as the basis for the National Conservation Area Plan and ongoing planning at local level. The progress report is available for download (Report, Appendices). Read more.

November 2006

The Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Hydropower Sector with ADB, Energy Vietnam (EVN), the Ministry of Industry and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is focusing on the Vu Gia - Thu Bon River Basin in Central Vietnam. In November 2006, ICEM supported central and local authorities complete the scoping phase of the SEA and the definition of strategic issues confronting the basin. Assessments are underway of trends in those issues with and without the hydro plans for the basin. A major mission of the full team to Quang Nam Province is scheduled for March including more detailed field studies with local agencies.

August 2006

ADB SEA Vietnam:
ICEM will be supporting MONRE and EVN in implementing the ADB Strategic Environmental Assessment of the Hydropower Sector with special focus on Quang Nam Province in Central Viet Nam. Work on the SEA is expected to commence in September 2006.

Mekong region Core Environment Program:
In August 2006 an ICEM team facilitated a planning session of the six Mekong countries to define a ten year program to integrate environment with sector and economic corridor development in the region through the application of Strategic Environmental Assessment.

WB SEA Vietnam:
ICEM in partnership with Birdlife International is implementing the Strategic Environmental Assessment of Vietnams hydro-power sector with a special focus on biodiversity. The project is funded by the World Bank and commenced in May 2006.

Country Environmental Analysis Vietnam:
ICEM is currently working on the Country Environmental Analysis of Vietnam, a World Bank funded project reviewing industrial pollution of the manufacturing sector throughout the country.