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Institutional cooperation at a basin level: For what, by whom? Lessons learned from Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake

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  • Marko Keskinen
  • Olli Varis

Abstract

Water is fundamental for the development of any society. Several concepts in water management promote integration, cooperation and a basin‐wide approach as a means to achieve sustainable development of water resources. Management institutions aiming to put these concepts into practice are developed around the world, with varying success. This paper looks at the institutional setting in the Tonle Sap Lake area in Cambodia, and analyses three initiatives for establishing a coordinating organization for the lake basin. Due to the significance of the Tonle Sap to the entire country and the transboundary Mekong River Basin, the area's management is an important yet contested issue. Our study indicates that while the discussion about the most suitable forms of management revolves around commonly accepted ideals of cooperation and sustainability, the actual drivers for institutional reforms are strongly influenced by the existing institutions and their political rivalries and interests. Following, the basin‐wide approach currently dominant in water management — for good and logical reasons — can actually hinder institutional cooperation, as the existing institutional hegemons may see it as a threat to their mandate. We therefore argue that a process seeking to establish a new basin organization should pay particular attention to the existing institutions, including the way the differing scales, levels and boundaries within the basin affect their relations.

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  • Marko Keskinen & Olli Varis, 2012. "Institutional cooperation at a basin level: For what, by whom? Lessons learned from Cambodia's Tonle Sap Lake," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 36(1), pages 50-60, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:natres:v:36:y:2012:i:1:p:50-60
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1477-8947.2012.01445.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Svendsen, Mark & Wester, Philippus & Molle, Francois, 2005. "Managing river basins: an institutional perspective," IWMI Books, Reports H036301, International Water Management Institute.
    2. Svendsen, Mark (ed.), 2005. "Irrigation and river basin management: options for governance and institutions," IWMI Books, International Water Management Institute, number 138050.
    3. Marko Keskinen & Mira Käkönen & Prom Tola & Olli Varis, 2007. "The Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia: Water-related conflicts with abundance of water," Economics of Peace and Security Journal, EPS Publishing, vol. 2(2), pages 49-59, June.
    4. Jonathan Lautze & Sanjiv de Silva & Mark Giordano & Luke Sanford, 2011. "Putting the cart before the horse: Water governance and IWRM," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 35, pages 1-8, February.
    5. Molle, Francois, 2008. "Implementing integrated river basin management: lessons from the Red River Basin, Vietnam. Working paper," IWMI Working Papers H041494, International Water Management Institute.
    6. Gibson, Clark C. & Ostrom, Elinor & Ahn, T. K., 2000. "The concept of scale and the human dimensions of global change: a survey," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(2), pages 217-239, February.
    7. D. J. Bandaragoda, 2006. "Status of Institutional Reforms for Integrated Water Resources Management in Asia: Indications from Policy Reviews in Five Countries," IWMI Working Papers H038707, International Water Management Institute.
    8. Svendsen, Mark & Wester, Philippus & Molle, Francois, 2005. "Managing river basins: an institutional perspective," Book Chapters,, International Water Management Institute.
    9. Svendsen, Mark, 2005. "Irrigation and river basin management: options for governance and institutions," IWMI Books, Reports H036300, International Water Management Institute.
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    1. Blake D. Ratner & Sovannarith So & Kosal Mam & Il Oeur & Sour Kim, 2017. "Conflict and collective action in Tonle Sap fisheries: adapting governance to support community livelihoods," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 41(2), pages 71-82, May.

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