On 14-15 November 2002, a group of 35 independent researchers and civil society advocates from Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, and China met in Phnom Penh at the First Annual Regional Environmental Forum (REF) for Mainland Southeast Asia.

The purpose of the REF, organized by the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP), Thailand Environment Institute (TEI), and World Resources Institute (WRI), was to discuss environmental governance challenges in the Mekong region.

After two days of deliberation, participants agreed on a joint statement providing concrete recommendations to governments, multilateral institutions, private corporations, and civil society groups for strengthening environmental governance in the region.

The statement outlines five areas in need of improvement:

• Regional environmental governance
• Public access to environmental information
• Environmental impact assessments
• Enforcement of environmental regulations
• Access to justice in environmental matters

The REF Consensus Statement is available for download at: www.ref-msea.org/consensus_statement.doc

For more information about the REF, please visit the REF web site at www.ref-msea.org, or contact Kao Kim Hourn
(cicp@camnet.com.kh) at CICP, Somrudee Nicro
(somrudee_nicro@yahoo.com) at TEI, or Mairi Dupar (mairid@wri.org) at WRI.

A compilation volume of papers from the REF will be available in early 2003.