October 1, 2026
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In Laos and the Mekong region more widely, urban wetlands and streams provide critical ecosystem services including flood protection, water storage, aquifer recharge and habitat for biodiversity. They also help regulate urban microclimates, mitigate the urban heat island effect, improve water quality and support urban biodiversity.
However, urbanisation, infrastructure development and population growth have significantly degraded these ecosystems through construction, pollution and altered hydrology.
New guidelines provide a framework to rehabilitate, conserve and manage these urban wetlands and streams. The guidelines outline the factors that affect wetland and stream health and then explain the key stages and feedback loops involved in planning and implementing successful interventions:
- Identify problems.
- Consult stakeholders.
- Develop a shared vision.
- Select potential interventions.
- Assess technical, economic, regulatory and environmental feasibility.
- Plan and implement selected interventions.
- Monitor and evaluate interventions.
- Maintain interventions.
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The guidelines were developed as part of the ‘Building resilience of urban populations with ecosystem-based solutions in Lao PDR’ project. The project was supported by the Green Climate Fund through the United Nations Environment Programme, and delivered by the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the National University of Laos and Water Sensitive Cities Australia.
The project is also helping the National University of Laos (NUoL) realise its vision of being a national centre of excellence and regional knowledge hub for ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), bridging research, policy and education. Water Sensitive Cities Australia worked with colleagues at NUoL to develop a research blueprint and roadmap for a Knowledge Hub that embeds EbA principles across the university’s research agenda and curriculum.
The Hub will:
- Act as a central platform to generate, store and share knowledge on climate adaptation and nature-based solutions
- Bring together disciplines – engineering, water, forestry, planning, economics and policy – to tackle complex urban challenges
- Translate research into practice, supporting government strategies and on-ground implementation
- Build capability through curriculum, training and partnerships across academia, government and industry
- Guide future research, including priorities like urban flooding, wetlands, and ecosystem restoration.
The blueprint and roadmap set out governance arrangements, describe the faculties involved, identify possible research focus and initiatives, identify possible partners and propose a 5-year implementation plan.
