This study focuses on the design of water resources systems in developing nations with particular reference to the development of water resources in the Lower Mekong Basin (Khmer Republic, Laos, Thailand, and Republic of South Viet-Nam). The determination of the "best" system in terms of social goals reflecting the economic and social environment of the Mekong countries is the main issue of this dissertation. The imperfection of the usual technique for planning water resources systems, namely, cost-benefit analysis, leads to the use of the standardized cost-effectiveness methodology. To illustrate how the design is accomplished, two distinctly different structural alternatives of possible development in the Lower Mekong Basin are defined. The design process starts from the statements of goals or objectives of water resources development, which are then mapped onto specifications sets in which social needs are represented. Next, the capabilities of alternative systems are determined through simulation in which three 50-year sequences of synthetic streamflow are generated by a first order autoregressive scheme. The two alternatives are then compared using both quantitative and qualitative criteria. To illustrate how a decision in selecting an alternative system could be reached, ranking of criteria by order of preference is demonstrated. With the choice of either a fixed-cost or fixed-effectiveness approach, the decision to select the best alternative system could be made. At this point, the use of a weighting technique, which is a common fallacy of systems analysis, will be automatically eliminated. The study emphasizes that a systematic design procedure of water resources systems is provided by the standardized cost-effectiveness approach, which possesses several advantages. The approach will suggest and help identify the system closest to meeting the desired economic and social goals of the developing countries in the Lower Mekong Basin. In this connection, the approach will help governments in the preparation of programming and budgeting of capital for further investigations and investments. It is believed that the approach will eliminate unnecessary expenses in projects that are planned on an individual basis or by methods used at present. Further, the approach provides an appropriate mechanism for generating essential information in the decision process. Both quantifiable and non-quantifiable criteria are fully considered. The choice of a fixed-cost or fixed-effectiveness approach will determine the trade-off between these criteria. The study recognizes that research to determine appropriate hydrologic models for monthly streamflow generation for tributary projects in the Basin is necessary. This leads to another important area of research which is to find the appropriate number of monthly sequences of streamflow to be generated in relation to number of states and decision variables. Research on the design of computer experiments is necessary to improve simulation as a tool to estimate the quantitative effects of a given project.

River basins provide essential services for both humans and ecosystems. Understanding the connections between ecosystems and society and their function has been at the heart of resilience studies and has become an increasing important endeavor in research and practice. In this dissertation, I define basin resilience as a river basin system's capacity to absorb, manage, and adapt to biophysical, social-economic, and political changes (or stressors) while still maintaining its essential structure, feedbacks, and functional integrity. I address the question of resilience, scale, and development in the Mekong and Columbia River Basins. This dissertation answers the following questions: 1) is systems theory an appropriate model to evaluate basin resilience, 2) is the Mekong Basin resilient, 3) are the Mekong and Columbia River Basins resilient across multiple scales, 4) can conflict management and collaborative learning enhance resilience, 5) can a resilience framework be used for basin comparisons, and 6) what lessons can the Mekong basin take from rapid development in the Columbia basin? In Chapter 2, I create and apply a social-ecological systems (SES) model of the Mekong River Basin to assess resilience at sub-basin (provincial), watershed (national), and basin (regional) scales. Feedbacks, thresholds, vulnerability, and adaptive capacity are determined and used as inputs into an overall basin resilience assessment. Drawing upon field work done in the Mekong Basin, Chapter 3 uses Conflict Management and Collaborative Learning processes to address resilience weaknesses across multiple scales in the Mekong Basin. Chapter 4 uses the basin resilience framework to compare the Mekong and Columbia Basins against physical characteristics, development rate, conflict and cooperation, and institutional responses to development projects. In this dissertation I find the Mekong has medium-low basin resilience and that scale is a critical determinant in basin resilience assessments. I find that in this study, vulnerability is inversely proportional to resilience, and low resilience at one scale, for example fisheries in the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia, decreases resilience for the entire basin. I find that Cambodia and Lao PDR are the least resilience and Thailand the most resilient countries in the Mekong Basin ��� Thailand more resilient in some sectors than the Mekong River Commission (MRC). I find that the MRC's conflict management strategy is hampered by a restrictive mandate and weakness in capacity building at tributary and national scales but that Collaborative Learning processes are effective in enhancing resilience at the sub-basin scale. Finally, I demonstrate through the basin comparison that the Mekong has a highly resilient biophysical system and traditionally a resilient institutional system however, the proposed rate of development is unsustainable with trends indicating a significant erosion of resilience. I find the Columbia Basin lacking resilience in fishing, hydropower, and water quality ��� sectors mitigating the effects of development in the Columbia Basin, manifesting as overall negative trends in cooperation. However, the Columbia shows signs of increasing cooperation due recent inclusion of Tribal Nations in water management. Flexible and inclusive institutional responses to water resource development challenges, in the Mekong to rapid development on the mainstream and in the Columbia to negotiations over renewal of the Columbia River Treaty, are key determinants to whether or not each basin can halt the current negative trends and strengthen basin resilience to face the challenges now and those coming in the future. / Graduation date: 2013

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 158-184). / vii, 184 leaves, bound 29 cm

Masters (M.Sc.)--University of Sydney, 2006. / Title from title screen (viewed 27 February 2007). Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science to the School of Geosciences. Includes bibliographical references. Also issued in print.

Thesis (doctoral) - Universität, Marburg, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references and sources (p. 353-397)

Salinity intrusion, caused by global sea-level rise, is a major threat to paddy cultivation in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam (MKD). Salinity exposure reduces crop yields, increases soil salinity, and exacerbates fresh water scarcity, resulting in altered land use decisions and decreased paddy farming profitability. This study evaluates the effects of salinity intrusion on paddy yields and planted acreage, using a 21-year district-level panel dataset from the 13 provinces in the MKD. Specifically, we analyze the relationship between current salinity levels and paddy yield, as well as the relationship between lagged salinity levels and the paddy planted area. We examine these relationships across all districts, as well as for salinity-prone and non-salinity-prone districts and by proximity to the coast (20 km, 20-60 km, and 60+ km). The results indicate that salinity intrusion poses a significant challenge to paddy production in salinity-prone and coastal regions. Salinity level significantly and adversely affects paddy yields in salinity-prone and coastal districts. Similarly, high salinity levels in the past five years significantly reduce planted paddy acreage in these same regions. We also find that paddy yields in the MKD peaked in 2015 and have been declining since. The study highlights the regional differences in challenges associated with salinity intrusion in paddy production. Policymakers and agricultural managers need to take a region-specific approach to ensure that interventions are tailored to the specific needs and challenges faced by farmers. This entails supporting intensified paddy production in less salinity-prone areas and facilitating transitions to economically profitable alternatives to paddy in more salinity-prone areas. / Master of Science / Salinity intrusion, resulting from rising sea levels worldwide, poses a significant threat to paddy cultivation in the Lower Mekong Delta, Vietnam (MKD). The increased exposure to salinity adversely affects crop yields, exacerbates soil salinity levels, and contributes to freshwater scarcity. Consequently, this study aims to assess the effects of salinity intrusion on paddy yields and planted acreage in the MKD. By using a 21-year dataset covering thirteen provinces within the MKD, this study examines the relationship between current salinity levels and paddy yield, as well as the association between lagged salinity levels and the planted area of paddy crops. The analysis considers all districts within the region, distinguishing between salinity-prone and non-salinity-prone districts, as well as the proximity to the coast (20 km, 20-60 km, and 60+ km). The findings indicate that salinity intrusion presents a significant challenge to paddy production in both salinity-prone and coastal regions. High salinity levels substantially and adversely affect paddy yields in these districts. Furthermore, elevated salinity levels within the past five years significantly reduce the planted acreage of paddy crops in the same regions. Notably, paddy yields in the MKD reached their peak in 2015 and have been declining since. This study highlights the need for tailored strategies to address the diverse challenges faced by farmers in different regions. Policymakers and agricultural managers must support intensified rice production in areas that are less prone to salinity, while also promoting alternative crops in regions more vulnerable to salinity. By doing so, we can help sustain agricultural productivity and livelihoods in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, even in the face of salinity intrusion.

京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第24213号 / 工博第5041号 / 新制||工||1787(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院工学研究科社会基盤工学専攻 / (主査)教授 立川 康人, 教授 角 哲也, 准教授 佐山 敬洋 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

京都大学 / 新制・論文博士 / 博士(工学) / 乙第13491号 / 論工博第4200号 / 新制||工||1785(附属図書館) / (主査)教授 角 哲也, 准教授 Kantoush Sameh, 准教授 竹門 康弘 / 学位規則第4条第2項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DFAM

This thesis investigates how ethnic communities perceive the problems and benefits of local participation in the tourism planning process. It also explores how inhabitants perceive the general impacts of tourism development. In particular, problems associated with tourism development in terms of its impacts on ethnic communities, as understood by the local residents involved, are identified. One factor suggested by the results is that such impacts are in part a result of both insufficient and ineffective participation of local residents in tourism planning.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 113-116).