• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2012.05a
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• pp.37-37
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• 2012

The study aims to evaluate the complexity of relationships between the riparian states - China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia - in the Mekong River Basin since the mid-1990s with special reference to the discourse on hydropower development. A special emphasis will be put on the influence of China on hydropower development. Although a variety of issues on the river basin have been discussed among the riparian states, none of them has been effectively implemented owing to the lack of China's commitment to the discussions for sustainable water management. Now, a new turning point is observed in the region with emergence of the issue on hydropower development, not only in the upper basin but also in the lower basin. The discourse on hydropower in Mekong has quickly drawn attention of the public, accelerated by the onset of construction of the Xayabury Dam in Laos since November 2010. The influence of China as the upstream country with its political, economic, and military power has increasingly grown in the region over the last few decades, and such trend recently intensifies together with an expansion of Chinese commercial interests in the region. Since the establishment of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) in 1995, the four MRC members have striven to push forward a sustainable use of water resources in the basin. But the legitimacy of the MRC system has been eroded due to the lack of participation by Myanmar and China, and in particular, the Chinese absence has made the four riparian states blind about the change of water regime due to the Chinese dams upstream. Environmental damages due to hydropower development might be possible, including a drop of fish yields, crop production, and damages to the river's ecosystems. Vietnam and Cambodia have already expressed their concerns over the dam construction towards China as well as Laos by pointing out detrimental impacts of the dams to their economies. China's move to collaborate with the other riparian states since 2010 has given a positive signal in terms of sustainable water management in the river. However, this phenomenon never confirms China's proactive contribution to the cooperative activities within the framework of the MRC system. Laos' initiative to build a new dam in the lower basin alarms those who are opposed to dam construction in the fear of its far-reaching damages to the environment. The question goes back to the year-long debate on policy priorities given to economic growth or the environment. The riparian states require wisdom based on a consensus about sustainable water use rather than hydropower development based on individual growth dreams.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.230-230
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• 2015

When and why do states cooperate in international basins? In recent years, there have been increasing attempts to apply international relations theories such as realism and neo-liberal institutionalism in understanding prospect of cooperation among sovereign states over shared rivers. Realists of hydropolitics argue that fate of cooperation resides in hands of hegemons and distribution of aggregate power among riparian states. Such pessimistic contention has been challenged by neo-liberal institutionalists, especially through regime theory. However, regime theory barely explains why and how cooperation emerges in the first place prior to regime formation. Therefore, the research suggests the game theory from neo-liberal institutionalism as an alternative theoretic approach. The accountability of Oye (1986)'s theoretical framework is illustrated through the case of cooperation in the Rhine River Basin.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.207-225
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• 2013

Current ecological stream restoration is focusing on recovery of physical characteristic and ecological functions of individual stream. For effective stream restoration, the relationship between stream environment and riparian flora should be investigated. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship between disturbance of hydromorphological structures and naturalized plants ratio in small to mid-sized streams. For the study sites, Gwanpyeong stream, Dongdal stream, and Yongchoo streams were chosen as 'reference stream' while, Gunnam stream, Anchang stream, and Hwa stream were chosen as 'damaged stream'. The hydromorphological structures of streams were evaluated with LAWA and flora of the streams were completely enumerated to calculate naturalized plants ratio. The result showed that there was a significant correlation between the outcome of LAWA and naturalized plants ratio(r=0.675, p<0.01). The result of factor analysis of LAWA identified three factors, 'River front and land use', 'River bed materials and structures', and 'Crossing structure and bar'. Among the factors of hydromorphological structures given by the result of factor analysis, 'river front and land use' and 'bed materials and structures' have statistically significant relationship with naturalized plants ratio($R^2$=0.470, p<0.01). Given this results, quantitative analysis on the relationship between disturbance of hydromorphological structures of streams and naturalized plants ratio could provide some essential information for stream restoration. Also, as this study figured out major factors of hydromorphological structures that affect naturalized plants ratio, it might help monitor ecological states and current problems of small and mid-sized streams.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.223-223
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• 2015

This research evaluates cooperation in transboundary rivers with special reference to the Great Mekong Subregion (GMS) program in the Mekong River Basin. The benefit sharing approach has been deployed as a theoretical framework to analyze the extent to which the riparian states have achieved cooperation. The river basin governance led by the Mekong River Commission since 1995 has not adequately performed due to non-participation of upstream countries and the lack of law enforcement mechanism. Since the late 1980s, China has undertaken hydropower development unilaterally, thereby triggering discomfort from the Lower Mekong countries. The GMS program has led China to strengthening economic ties with the downstream countries through hydropower development as investors and developers. The program has also supported the establishment of economic corridors, and removal of physical barriers and has paved the way for cooperation in other sectors, such as the environment, agriculture, tourism and energy. There are challenges for further cooperation, including the development gaps between China and the downstream countries, political tensions and environment impacts of hydropower dams in the river basin. The Mekong River Basin shows the possibility of cooperation through benefit sharing. Sharing benefits accrued from the river and beyond the river between China and the downstream countries have enhanced economic ties, thereby consolidating cooperation each another.