NDLI: Aligning the Freshwater Health Index Indicator System against the Transboundary Water Governance Framework of Southeast Asia's Sesan, Srepok, and Sekong River Basin

Content Provider	Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
Author	Xiaofeng Liu Nicholas J. Souter Raymond Yu Wang Derek Vollmer
Abstract	Indicator systems can improve water governance by integrating and simplifying data on water resources. However, to our knowledge, no indicator systems have been comprehensively assessed against the water governance framework within which they operate. We assess the policy relevance of the Freshwater Health Index (FHI) to the governance frameworks of Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Viet Nam. These governance frameworks were chosen because the FHI has been applied to the transboundary Sesan, Srepok, and Sekong (3S) river basin, which traverses the three nations. We conduct an institutional analysis, assessing the FHI indicators against each nation’s relevant laws, plans, policies and strategies, as well as international agreements. The FHI indicators varied in their alignment with the 3S’s transboundary water governance framework. Ecosystem Vitality indicators, which measure environmental health, tended to show a greater alignment than Ecosystem Service indicators. The Governance and Stakeholders indicators, which assess aspects of the governance system, were highly relevant. Comparing the 3S FHI assessment results to the water governance framework provided a case for delivering environmental flows and headwater reforestation, and improving biodiversity protection and fish passage. The generally close alignment of FHI metrics with the 3S’s water governance frameworks shows that the FHI is a policy-relevant tool.
e-ISSN	20734441
DOI	10.3390/w11112307
Journal	Water
Issue Number	11
Volume Number	11
Language	English
Publisher	MDPI AG
Publisher Date	2019-11-01
Publisher Place	Switzerland
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Hydraulic Engineering Water Supply for Domestic and Industrial Purposes Freshwater Health Index Legislation Transboundary Water Governance Integrated Water Resources Management Mekong 3s Basin
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article

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