The Ayeyarwady State of the Basin Assessment (SOBA)
6 July 2018 (Updated) - The Ayeyarwady State of the Basin Assessment (SOBA) is one of the major knowledge outputs of the Ayeyarwady Integrated River Basin Management (AIRBM) Project prepared by Hydro-Informatics Centre (HIC).
SOBA is an integrated environmental, social and economic analysis of past and present condition and trends in water and water related resources in the Ayeyarwady basin. It is designed to inform readers with an interest in natural resources sustainability in the Ayeyarwady Basin. It may be read as a reference document or as a resource of information to guide policy and planning decision-making.
SOBA combines rigorous technical assessments with inclusive consultation processes. It takes stock of the status and historic trends in key environmental, social and economic characteristics of the Ayeyarwady system, and how the people of Myanmar utilise and benefit from the water and related resources of the river and its tributaries.
SOBA aims to inform planning in the Ayeyarwady Basin by providing baseline information on the condition and trends in water and land resources as well as related ecosystem services and the livelihoods and economies of Myanmar that depend on these resources. The work highlights issues, opportunities, risks and uncertainties, and trade-offs that will need to be addressed in this planning process. Furthermore, SOBA provides an important baseline against which the impacts of future development pathways may be monitored and assessed.
To complete the suite of SOBA technical and synthesis reports more than 100 key experts from some 25 international and Myanmar companies, NGOs, universities and research organisations undertook field surveys, modelling studies, consultation and scientific analysis.
Eight thematic areas are covered in SOBA, including:
- Surface Water resources and use,
- Water Pollution,
- Groundwater resources and use,
- Geomorphology and Sediments,
- Fisheries and Aquaculture,
- Biodiversity,
- Socio-Economic Development, including demographics, sectoral development and macro-economics and
- Community Perspectives.
Updated on 10 July 2018.
Files to download
The SOBA Report comprises two volumes:
SOBA Volume 1: Synthesis Report: The SOBA synthesis report is a strategic synthesis for multi-stakeholders focusing on the strategic findings and conclusions of the SOBA assessment. It includes a main report (100-200 pages) and an executive summary (20-30 pages).
SOBA Volume 2: Technical Reports: Volume 2 is a compilation of 17 final reports from the SOBA packages covering the thematic areas.
SOBA was supported and guided by the efforts and hard work of the following people :
- H.E U Henry Van Thio, Vice President of Myanmar
- U Htun Lwin Oo, Secretary of the NWRC
- U Win Hlaing AIRBM Project Director
- U Ohn Myint, the late Chair of the Advisory Group of the NWRC and former Deputy Minister of the ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation
- U Cho Cho, current chair of the Advisory Group (AG) of the NWRC
- Other AG members
- U Win Haling, AIRBM Project Director
- Prof. Dr. Khin Ni Ni Thein, AIRBM Component 1 Director
- Dr. Greg Browder, Water Practise Lead, World Bank
- H.E. Nicholas Coppell, Ambassador, Australian Embassy Yangon
- H.E. Kaye Schofield, Chair of the Australian Water Partner Ship (AWP) Advisory Committee
- Dr. John Dore, Senior Water Resources Specialist Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
- Mr. Nicolas Cumpston, Counsellor for Economic and Development Cooperation
- Prof. Nicholas Schofield, CEO AWP
- Mr. Tarek Ketelsen, SOBA Coordinator
- U Aung Naing Myo, SOBA Environmental Scientist
- Daw Mya Mya Win, SOBA GIS Specialist
- Daw Aye Thida Mon, Project Officer
- U Nway Aung,HIC GIS & Data Specialist, HIC
- Daw Khin Theingi San, Project Officer, HIC
- U Thet Swe Aye, Stakeholder Communications Officer, HIC
- Daw Aye Myat Mon Kyaw, Junior Researcher, HIC
- Daw Nay Chi Win Maung, Junior Researcher, HIC
- Daw Phyu Thinzar Kyaw, Junior Researcher, HIC
- U Ye Thu Aung, Junior Researcher,HIC
Source: airbm
