Redistribution of water use and benefits among hydropower affected communities in Lao PDR

In this paper, we assess how resettlement and changes in water access have altered livelihoods of local communities upstream of the Theun Hinboun Expansion Project in Lao PDR. Based on household surveys conducted both before and after resettlement, we estimate changes in water use and benefits among...

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Main Authors: Kura, Y., Joffre, Olivier M., Laplante, Benoit, Sengvilaykham, Bounthong
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: Elsevier 2014
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/66306
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author Kura, Y.
Joffre, Olivier M.
Laplante, Benoit
Sengvilaykham, Bounthong
author_browse Joffre, Olivier M.
Kura, Y.
Laplante, Benoit
Sengvilaykham, Bounthong
author_facet Kura, Y.
Joffre, Olivier M.
Laplante, Benoit
Sengvilaykham, Bounthong
author_sort Kura, Y.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description In this paper, we assess how resettlement and changes in water access have altered livelihoods of local communities upstream of the Theun Hinboun Expansion Project in Lao PDR. Based on household surveys conducted both before and after resettlement, we estimate changes in water use and benefits among households of 4 resettled villages. Results show that access to domestic water supply as well as water consumption have significantly improved after resettlement, while river-based livelihoods have for the most part been adversely impacted by the conversion of the Nam Gnouang River into a hydropower dam reservoir, and subsequent loss of riverbank gardens and the overall change in the ecosystem. In particular, the sources of income have become concentrated to much fewer options than before resettlement, with some households more specialized in fisheries than others. Our results represent a transitional state of economic activities by rural communities immediately after resettlement, rather than a fully evolved livelihood portfolio in a new environment. The results also suggest that a better understanding of changes in water use and benefits and of the determinants of adaptation is needed to better design appropriate interventions for rebuilding local livelihoods.
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spelling CGSpace663062024-08-27T10:35:00Z Redistribution of water use and benefits among hydropower affected communities in Lao PDR Kura, Y. Joffre, Olivier M. Laplante, Benoit Sengvilaykham, Bounthong In this paper, we assess how resettlement and changes in water access have altered livelihoods of local communities upstream of the Theun Hinboun Expansion Project in Lao PDR. Based on household surveys conducted both before and after resettlement, we estimate changes in water use and benefits among households of 4 resettled villages. Results show that access to domestic water supply as well as water consumption have significantly improved after resettlement, while river-based livelihoods have for the most part been adversely impacted by the conversion of the Nam Gnouang River into a hydropower dam reservoir, and subsequent loss of riverbank gardens and the overall change in the ecosystem. In particular, the sources of income have become concentrated to much fewer options than before resettlement, with some households more specialized in fisheries than others. Our results represent a transitional state of economic activities by rural communities immediately after resettlement, rather than a fully evolved livelihood portfolio in a new environment. The results also suggest that a better understanding of changes in water use and benefits and of the determinants of adaptation is needed to better design appropriate interventions for rebuilding local livelihoods. 2014-10 2015-05-19T18:01:37Z 2015-05-19T18:01:37Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/66306 en Limited Access Elsevier Kura Y., Joffre O., Laplant B., Sengvilaykham B. Redistribution of water use and benefits among hydropower affected communities in Lao PDR. Water Resources and Rural Development 4 (2014) 67-84
spellingShingle Kura, Y.
Joffre, Olivier M.
Laplante, Benoit
Sengvilaykham, Bounthong
Redistribution of water use and benefits among hydropower affected communities in Lao PDR
title Redistribution of water use and benefits among hydropower affected communities in Lao PDR
title_full Redistribution of water use and benefits among hydropower affected communities in Lao PDR
title_fullStr Redistribution of water use and benefits among hydropower affected communities in Lao PDR
title_full_unstemmed Redistribution of water use and benefits among hydropower affected communities in Lao PDR
title_short Redistribution of water use and benefits among hydropower affected communities in Lao PDR
title_sort redistribution of water use and benefits among hydropower affected communities in lao pdr
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/66306
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