At the crossroad: Stakeholders’ perspectives from Thailand and Lao PDR towards a transboundary groundwater cooperation in the Khorat Plateau aquifer

Abstract

To understand stakeholder perceptions from Thailand and Lao PDR in promoting and supporting transboundary groundwater cooperation, a stakeholder workshop was conducted to look into the role of scientific information, groundwater resource use, institutional and legal frameworks and challenges and opportunities within the Khorat Platea transboundary aquifer. Results showed that (1) stakeholders perceived scientific information as pivotal in exposing potential problems and facilitate transformative change among users and policy makers across border, (2) groundwater resource use in the plateau area is limited to domestic and agricultural applications but increasing resource abstraction portrays a forbidding future scenario, (3) Thailand and Lao PDR have made significant strides in the decentralization of laws and policies pertaining to groundwater use but remains weak as local authorities lack the knowledge to manage and protect groundwater resources, and (4) Thailand and Lao PDR are at the crossroad of groundwater competition and cooperation and should work together to manage and protect the Khorat Plateau transboundary aquifer system. While anticipation for a transboundary cooperation may still need more efforts to take, interests and initiatives from all stakeholders must continue as initial elements for transboundary cooperation have already been achieved.