IUCN launches Mekong FLOW project to restore wetlands in Southeast Asia

On the occasion of World Wetlands Day (2 February 2026), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Asia officially launched Mekong FLOW: Freshwater Landscapes and Opportunities for Wetlands-based Adaptation, aiming to restore freshwater wetlands and strengthen climate resilience for millions of people in Southeast Asia.

Wetlands play a central role in river systems. When floods occur, wetlands absorb and regulate water flows. During dry periods, they help maintain water supplies for rivers and streams. Across Southeast Asia, millions of people living in low-lying deltas and coastal plains depend on these river networks for agriculture, fisheries and tourism.

In the Mekong Basin alone, wetlands support the livelihoods of more than 60 million people. Fisheries provide up to 80% of local animal protein, while wetlands also make major contributions to agricultural productivity and flood risk reduction. However, despite their importance to biodiversity and human well-being, wetlands in the region are under growing pressure from habitat loss, infrastructure development, pollution and climate change.

Mekong FLOW is a four-year project with a total budget of USD 2 million, funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation. The project aims to improve the health of wetland ecosystems and enhance community resilience to climate impacts across four countries in the Mekong Basin through nature-based solutions.

“As climate change and ecosystem degradation continue to impact local communities in the Mekong region, it is even more crucial to protect healthy wetlands that act as buffers against floods and droughts, as well as biodiversity loss”, said Dr Dindo Campilan, Regional Director for Asia and Hub Director for Oceania at IUCN. “The Mekong FLOW project provides an opportunity to scale IUCN’s work with national partners for more climate-resilient, nature-positive wetland-based livelihoods.”

In Laos, the project will focus on restoring and reconnecting more than 1,000 hectares of wetlands within the 12,400-hectare Xe Champhone Ramsar Site, while also supporting fisheries development to improve food security. In Thailand, Mekong FLOW will support community-led efforts to nominate the Ing River Basin as a Ramsar Site and to restore one of the last remaining flooded-forest tributaries of the Mekong River.

In Cambodia and Viet Nam, the project will restore around 200 hectares of wetlands through biodiversity-friendly farming and fisheries models. It will also help establish buffer zones around protected wetlands and promote legal protection for more than 50,000 hectares of the Bassac Marshes, the largest remaining natural wetland in the Mekong Delta.

Mekong FLOW builds on IUCN’s existing regional networks, including the Indo-Burma Regional Ramsar Initiative (IBRRI). Through its Strategic Plan 2025-2030, member countries are working together to strengthen wetland management, integrate climate adaptation into national policies, and mobilise sustainable financing for nature-based solutions.

By addressing current threats and strengthening regional cooperation, Mekong FLOW is expected to help restore vital wetland ecosystems, safeguard livelihoods, improve food security, and reduce disaster risks for millions of people across the Mekong region.