ScaleWat field visit and Basin Validation Meeting advance water tenure dialogue in Thailand

Following the successful National Validation Meeting held in Bangkok, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) of Thailand travelled to Rayong for the project’s Basin Validation Meeting, an essential step of the water tenure assessment process with local stakeholders and community members.

On 21 October 2025, the ScaleWat team and ONWR visited two communities in the Prasae River Basin, Bo Thong and Wangwa sub-districts, that participated in the field research for the water tenure assessment.

In Bo Thong sub-district, which lies outside an irrigated area, community leaders from the Land Reform Agricultural Cooperative explained that unclear mandates between local and national authorities have created challenges in maintaining infrastructure and resolving conflicts.

In Wangwa, the team met with a water user group recognized for strong organization and participation within an irrigated area, registered under the ONWR and the Royal Irrigation Department (RID). The group’s leaders, who are members of the community, hold long-term mandates and receive support from both local and national authorities. They shared that conflicts over water have decreased since the group was established, and that clear rules and trust among members contribute to more sustainable management.

The Basin Validation Meeting took place on 22 October with participation from ONWR’s sub-division office ONWR 2, the Regional Irrigation Office for the Prasae River Basin RID 9, sub-district municipalities, and water user management groups. The technical team, composed of Dr Karika Kunta, Sociologist and Team Lead at the National Institute of Development Administration, Dr Chatubhoom Bhoomiboonchoo, Legal Expert at Naresuan University, and Dr Nat Marjang, Water Resources Management Expert at Kasetsart University, presented their findings to stakeholders.

The meeting featured a panel of local stakeholders, including representatives from the Water Management and Irrigation System Improvement Branch of Regional Irrigation Office 9, Water Resources Office 6, Banna Subdistrict Municipality, the Wangwa Sub-district Irrigation Water User Management Group, and the Bo Thong Land Reform Agricultural Cooperative Ltd. This was the first time these institutions met together to discuss water allocation, water rights, conflict resolution, water quality, and prioritization.

Dr Thanet Aksorn, Director of Academic and Water Management for ONWR 2, moderated the session and guided discussions on improving cooperation between agencies, strengthening water quality monitoring systems, and supporting local water users and basin organizations to prevent or address conflicts. Speakers emphasized that sustainable water management depends not only on infrastructure investments but also on strong and inclusive community mechanisms.

Ms Thotsapon Rodkhong, leader of the Bo Thong Land Reform Agricultural Cooperative, reflected on her experience: “I previously did not know about water tenure, but now, with your field visit, I have begun to recognize the challenges. We are responsible for water management in the community and for understanding water tenure and the legislation that dictates how we manage water.”

During group activities, participants refined preliminary findings and proposed practical recommendations, including aligning licensing decisions with drought and flood plans, developing a Joint Interpretation Manual to enhance field officers’ understanding of procedures, creating community regulations and a Water-Use Rights Register, defining an indicative 10 percent environmental flow target, and adopting a simple daily water-level recording protocol.