My Geography 899

Mekong (Irrawaddy) Dolphins

Research Proposal  

I. Topic:  "Irrawaddy dolphin conservation planning in the Mekong River, northeastern Cambodia"

II. Project Summary (Abstract) 

 

III. Introduction (Problem, Question, & Hypothesis)

Summary: Irrawaddy dolphins are distributed from the east coast of India in the Bay of Bengal, to Papua New Guinea, and from northern Australia through the coast of Indochina (Stacey 1996).  They are also occupy lakes and rivers such as the Irrawaddy and Mekong River. In the Mekong River, local villagers reported that there are a lot in the past (xxx 199..), but the estimated population now is about ... (xxx 19..). Local people in the Mekong River respect this species as... (Braid 199..). The main threats are explosive fishing, gillnet, decreasing in food supply and development project in the Mekong River especially large-scale dams (xxx 19..). The main problems lie in the Cambodia. To save the dolphins, conservation plan for the species based on traditional and scientific knowledge is needed. 

Status and knowledge world wide: Irrawaddy dolphins are ...  

Status and knowledge in the Mekong River: The first record of the Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River was in 19... (xxx 19..). They are found in the main stream Mekong River from below the Khone Fall in Laos to Katie province in Cambodia; and in the Sekong river, a tributary of the Mekong River. 

In Laos, dolphins live in two main areas, below Khone Falls and Sekong River, a tributary of the Mekong River.  Waterfalls in the mainstream and the tributaries are the natural barriers for upstream movement of the dolphins. Dolphins have long been respected by the local. They believe that dolphin are reincarnated people (Braid 1997). 

Status and knowledge in Cambodia and fact of the area:  In Cambodia, the most concentrate area found the dolphins are in Kratie and Strung Treng provinces. It is sometimes seen in Ton Le Sap. Information about the distribution in Cambodia is based only on oral report not from sighting. "Villagers identified five deep water pool areas in an approximately 200-km section of the Mekong River between Kratie and Strung Treng/ Lao border where dolphins are said to live in considerable numbers on a regular basis" (Braid 1994).

Threats/ Problems:  Arial bombing by American and shooting by soldiers in the Indochina War are the worst threats in the pass, that cause a lot of decline in the population. The serious threats today are explosive and gillnets. Bomb fishing were heavily used in the pass and it is still practiced in some areas. It not only kill dolphins but also the fish in the Mekong River, which the dolphins depend upon. Even though villagers don't want them to die, in some cases they have to let them die because they are so poor that can not afford the damage of the net. Food supply is one of the most serious threats, according to villagers fish catch has declined 20-25 % per year. Sustainable fishery management with locals participation will be the good strategies to save the dolphins and the system.

Question:  How to create the conservation planning for Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River, northeastern Cambodia?

Hypothesis:  Conservation planning for Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River, northeastern Cambodia, must base on traditional, and scientific knowledge with local participation. 

Fact: it is remote area, the problems related to socio-economic, people have good attitude toward the species, 

Theory: (should be under hypothesis) Sustainable environmental management must base on the relationship between people and nature in each place. 

IV. Literature Review & Needs Assessments

Literature Review

why it has to be based on parallel knowledge, why local people participation plan needed, any theory to support, explain 

What have you known for literature research

Needs Assessment

what information you need to study more, explain clearly. 

Do you need to know all of pools' location, dolphin behavior in the study area, number of house hole, number of animals in the study area, type of economic activities. Do you need statistics, GIS, map. 

Traditional information 

  1. Is there any believe on fisheries, river, and nature

  2. Is there any cultural activity related to that, Ex. ecology monk for conservation 

  3. Who are stakeholders, student for conservation  

Scientific information 

  1. Where is the area used by the dolphin 

  2. Environmental policy, law and regulation 

  3. nn

 

V. Project Design (Objectives, study area, data collection, data analysis)

Objectives: 

  1. The first goal: To create (plan / guideline) for Irrawaddy dolphin conservation in the study area 
  2. The second goal: to investigate on current status and knowledge of the Irrawaddy dolphin in the Mekong River  
  3. The third goal: To investigate traditional and scientific knowledge about Irrawaddy conservation in the study area

Study area:  

The study area would be one of five deep pool areas. It should be the most Irrawaddy dolphin concentration area, There must be community located around the area at least one village. The area should represents the five deep pools areas in term of local fisheries community along the Mekong River  in  both  northeastern Cambodia and southern Laos, and it should  represents in the term of Irrawaddy dolphin habitats. 

Data Collection (Methodology)

  1. The first goal (status of the Irrawaddy dolphin in the Mekong River): gathering in formation from published and unpublished documents, geographical survey, and interviewing local people. 
  2. The second goal (Conservation strategies information of the area): gathering in formation from published and unpublished documents, and interviewing local people and other significant stakeholders. 
  3. The third goal (Conservation Plans) from collection of all information and theories. 

Data Analysis

 

VI. Project Conclusion (Feasibility and Significance)

The area represents the other area in term of ecological and social parameters. 

Out put of the research: 

  1. Significant information about knowledge and status of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River based on both scientific and traditional information

  2. Conservation plans for Irrawaddy dolphins of the study area in the Mekong River, which might be applied to all other five deep pool areas and other fisheries communities

  3. Translated to Cambodian and Laos languages and distribute to local villages and agencies 

Significance:

  1. I might find new conservation approach 

  2. It can be applied to other areas

  3. Mekong ecosystem conservation 

  4. Future research

Projected conservation plan:

  1. Fishing Community Network in northeastern Cambodia and between the southern Laos
  2. Protected Areas Declaration by local participation.
  3. Irrawaddy Conservation Education 
  4. Alternative economic activities.
  5. Cultural based knowledge on the Irrawaddy dolphin and fisheries advocate.
  6. Eco-tourism by local participation 
  7. Other plans based survey of locals’ opinion and other stakeholders.

 

VII. Project Time of Completion

1. Pre-survey (to select one of the five pools to be study area) - Two weeks, Jan or Feb 2003

2. Survey - One to two months,  Feb to March 2003

3. Writing Report - Two months, April - May 2003

 

VIII. Budget

 

IX. Bibliography

 

Proposal guidline ·Ø¡¢ì - ÊÁØË·Ñ - ¹Ôâè - ÁÃä

  1. Irrawaddy dolphin in the Mekong River will become extinct because of gillnet, explosive fishing, decreasing of food supply and dams.
  2. To solve the problems, Conservation planning based on scientific and traditional knowledge is needed.
  3. To plan, parameters of this parallel knowledge are needed to be studied and analyzed: resource management, society, environment, economic, and culture of the area.
  4. Three objectives are;   1. to investigate status of the Irrawaddy dolphin in the Mekong River,  2. to investigate conservation strategies information of the area,  3. To plan conservation plan for the Irrawaddy in the Mekong River, northeastern Cambodia
  5. The study area would be one of five (four) deep pool area in Cambodia. It should represent all of other areas. 
  6. The main methods are field survey (mapping and interview) and documentary research.
  7. The expected plans (local, national, and international level) based on those parameters are:
    1. Fishing Community Network in northeastern Cambodia and between the southern Laos
    2. Protected Areas Declaration by local participation.
    3. Irrawaddy Conservation Education 
    4. Alternative economic activities.
    5. Cultural based knowledge on the Irrawaddy dolphin and fisheries advocate.
    6. Eco-tourism
    7. Other plans based survey of locals’ opinion and other stakeholders.

Economic: the main economic activities, landuse, 

Social: Social structure in the area, Stakeholders and their culture, local organization,

Cultural: Attitudes toward the dolphin and big fish, believes related to nature, river and fish. Traditional resource management,

Environmental: Ecosystem of the Mekong River, ecology of the dolphins, environmental management 

·Ø¡¢ì - ÊÁØË·Ñ - ¹Ôâè - ÁÃä

   ·Ø¡¢ì What is the problem

   ÊÁØË·ÑÂ what is the cause

   ¹Ôâè what is the goal 

   ÁÃä How will you do