The karst water environment in Southeast Asia: characteristics, challenges, and approaches

Abstract

The carbonate areas of Southeast Asia are part of the global set of well-developed tropical-subtropical karst regions and form water-rich aquifers. Due to the strong development of karst features, groundwater in karst conduits flows rapidly and is susceptible to various environmental problems, including rocky desertification and socioeconomic impacts leading to poverty. Karst-related data for the region are scarce and scattered. Based on information contributed by training workshops of the International Research Center on Karst (IRCK) under the auspices of UNESCO, as well as published literature, this study summarizes karst hydrogeological data and water-related environmental issues in Southeast Asia, in an attempt to find commonality, and to form both generally valid and region-specific concepts that can be extended to data-deficient areas, where these concepts may serve as a guide for governments when managing the karst environment. Based on topographic differences, karst terrains in Southeast Asia were classified into four types: karst on plateaux, karst in mountains, karst in plains, and karst on islands. This approach was utilized to compile and classify the surveyed karsts. The examples shared by participants in the IRCK training workshops included karst information from their own countries, most of which have not been published in English. The case studies demonstrate that karst areas in Southeast Asia are widely and repeatedly exposed to droughts and floods, resulting in environmental constraints and development obstacles. These studies also show that environmental problems can be resolved and sustainable development can be achieved if appropriate management measures are taken.