Sustaining shared waters: CMDA contributes to ASEAN's first regional meeting on groundwater
On 18-21 May 2025, the first ASEAN Groundwater Resources Management Conference was held in Bangkok, hosted by Thailand’s Department of Groundwater Resources. This event brought together government officials, technical experts, and international organizations to collectively address groundwater challenges and strengthen sustainable governance across Southeast Asia.
Photo: Mr. Narapat Kaeothong – Vice Minister for Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand gave a welcome remark at the conference © CCOP
Photo: Group photo ASEAN ground water meeting in Thailand © IUCN Viet Nam
The Cambodia-Mekong River Delta Aquifer (CMDA) project’s representative shared key progress and insights from Southeast Asia’s first transboundary groundwater initiative funded under the GEF International Waters portfolio. FAO is the GEF agency for CMDA, which is being executed by IUCN as lead partner in collaboration with UNESCO, MERFI, and government agencies in Cambodia and Viet Nam. Being invited to this high-level meeting was recognition of CMDA’s role in promoting transboundary sustainable water governance.
The conference was a response to growing water stress across the region driven by rapid population growth, economic expansion, and climate change. As groundwater becomes increasingly vital, especially in drought prone and water scarce areas, its management is central to achieving SDG 6, and specifically SDG 6.5.2 on transboundary water cooperation. In many ASEAN Member States, groundwater supports domestic supply, agriculture, and industry, yet over-extraction and contamination are widespread. The conference sought to elevate groundwater governance on the regional agenda.
CMDA emphasized the importance of coordinated action on shared aquifers, including a Strategic Action Programme (SAP) development to support long-term, science-based management of the shared transboundary aquifer between Cambodia and Viet Nam. The SAP process is being informed by a comprehensive Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA), which is identifying key risks such as arsenic contamination, saline intrusion, land subsidence, and the steady depletion of aquifer levels. To respond to these threats, CMDA is piloting practical solutions in both countries, including Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR), an innovative approach designed to enhance the natural replenishment of groundwater resources and increase the aquifer’s resilience to stressors.
This is 3-day forum included presentations from ASEAN countries on groundwater protection, technical keynotes, and group discussions of governance, data sharing, and innovation. The event included in a field trip to Chachoengsao Province, highlighting practical experiences in groundwater management. One key meeting outcome is the intention to form a regional working group dedicated to groundwater collaboration. Results and recommendations from the meeting will be reported to the ASEAN Working Group on Water Resources Management (AWGWRM) and the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment (ASOEN) for further acknowledgment and action.
Participation in this regional gathering reaffirmed the importance of fostering professional relationships, trust, and learning between countries and organizations. As water challenges intensify, such cooperative approaches are essential to ensuring groundwater remains a valuable resource for generations to come.