The Mekong Environmental Symposium was successfully held in Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam from 5-7 March,2013. This is the first event organized by the German Aerospace Center(DLR) and WISDOM Project, Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam. The event, co-organized by the Southern Institute of Water Resources Research of Vietnam, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, National Natural Science Foundation of China, and the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences(IGSNRR-CAS) to mention but a few, aimed to serve as an international platform for governmental decision-makers, scientists, and other organizations active in the Mekong region. The Symposium was attended by over 400 prominent experts, professors, laboratory principals, project leaders and representatives of governments, from Germany, Vietnam, United States, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar and China.

The ten key topics for the Symposium included Hydropower development and impacts on the economy and the river ecology; Mekong Basin forest dynamics and REDD+ ; Mekong Basin land use (non-forest) dynamics; Mekong Basin hydrology and hydrography; Hazards and disaster risk reduction in the Mekong Basin; Mekong Basin aquatic ecology, biodiversity and water quality protection; Tonle Sap Lake: ecology, biodiversity and rural livelihoods; Mekong Delta: Climate change related challenges; Impacts of urbanization and industrialization on agriculture and water resources; Collaboration platforms in basin management: Information Systems and Spatial Infrastructures, Capacity building, education and outreach.

In his presentation, Professor SHEN Lei, from IGSNRR-CAS, highlighted their comprehensive survey and research results undertaken in the Lancang River of China in the past four years covering issues like water, land and biological resources, ecosystems, natural heritage, habitat environment and disasters, and progress of information system on resources and environment,. He further noted some key areas for potential international cooperation opportunities.

The Mekong River, known as Lancang River in China, which starts at the source of Qinghai Province and runs through Yunnan Province of China, as well as Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, is the world’s 12th-longest river. Mekong River Basin has raised great attention around the world over last 30 years.

The Chinese delegation consisting of 30 researchers was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China, projects under Ministry of Science and Technology of China and the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research,CAS.