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MESSAGE

In 1996, the Mekong Region Law Center (MRLC) formed a partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to co-operate in the field of Environmental Law and Policy for countries in the Mekong Region. Supported by funding from the Danish International Development Association (DANIDA) this partnership focuses, among other things, on the dissemination of information and material on Environmental Law. As a result, the MRLC/UNEP/DANIDA Publication Series on Environmental Law and Policy was initiated. The first publication in this series, The Southeast Asian Handbook of Treaties and Other Legal Instruments in the Field of Environmental Law was published in June, 1997. and contained the international agreements, both regional and global, that are of relevance to the countries of Southeast Asia. This publication proved to be of great use to those engaged in the field of law and sustainable development within and outside the Mekong Region.

UNEP’s long term Environmental Law Programme, commonly referred to as the Montevideo Programme II, adopted at the 17th Session of UNEP’s Governing Council calls on UNEP to assist States to strengthen their national legal and institutional measures for promoting environmental management in the context of sustainable development. Also, at the fourth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), 1996, there was a call for Governments to review their national legislation in light of the integrated nature of sustainable development and the need to implement international agreements and conventions. The CSD also requested the international community to continue to support developing the capacity of developing countries for this purpose. Furthermore, in Agenda 21, the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) reaffirmed that laws and regulations suited to country specific conditions are among the most important instruments for translating environment and development policies into action. It is in the spirit of the above mentioned pronouncements that MRLC/UNEP/DANIDA presents this publication on selected national environmental laws of the countries of Southeast Asia.

While this publication is not an exhaustive collection of environmental legislation in Southeast Asia, it provides the texts of the principal environmental management legislation in the respective countries. It is hoped that this publication will be of use to both legal professionals in the countries of Southeast Asia and well as to those engaged in the field of law and sustainable development, as a marker by which future legislative development initiatives can be undertaken.

I should like to express my appreciation for the continued financial support of DANIDA and also for the work done by Mr. Lal Kurukulasuriya, Chief of UNEP’s Regional Environmental Law Programme and Dr. Pisawat Sukonthapan, Executive Director of MRLC in compiling this important publication.

Dr. Suvit Yodmani
Regional Director and Representative
UNEP/ROAP