Population and per capita water consumption growth both leads to over exploitation of finite fresh water resources that tend to bring unexpected adverse impacts on environment in the form of land subsidence, water-quality deterioration, etc,. This happens when natural water cycle is altered without due considerations to the interactions and balance between different phases of the water cycle. Therefore as espoused by WSSD action plan item 23, understanding basin water cycle is of utmost importance for the sustainable water resources development and integrated water management. Understanding water cycle means clarifying its present status as well as being able to predict its future state adjusted by the human intervention such as land use change and urbanization. The program consists of three phases. (1) Understanding hydrological cycle through mathematical modeling (2) Examination of impacts of human interactions on water cycle (3) Assessment of climate change impacts on water cycle and water utilization (4) Capacity building and dissemination.

Mekong Basin Studies

The program carries out a number of projects related to Eco Security, Disaster reduction and Water Resources Mangement of the Mekong Basin. It also strives to establish a Mekong Basin Research Network to facilitate open and easy flow of information from upstream to downstream.