The First Southeast Asia Water Forum (SEAWF) was successfully held on 17-21 November 2003 in Chiang Mai , Thailand . On the last day of the Forum, participants in plenum deliberated on the Forum declaration specific recommendations to address the water issues in the region, including the following:

•  Ensure participation of all stakeholders in water resources management and development;

•  Develop legal and policy frameworks and heighten awareness of existing framework to promote regional collaboration;

•  Apply economic, social and cultural valuation and implement appropriate financial incentives;

•  Build and strengthen capacity to improve performance of IWRM through support of international and regional organizations for a Southeast Asian benchmarking programme;

•  Start process of consultation to put IWRM into practice by 2005

•  Enhance water safety and encourage cooperation between governmental, non-governmental and private sector activities, aimed at mitigating the negative effects of floods and droughts, including participation in the newly established International Flood Network (IFNET) and Network of Asian River Basin Organization (NARBO);

•  Continue effort for regional coordination and cooperation on shared river basins, including the establishment of regional and country hubs to promote IWRM;

•  Identify ways to improve and transform large rice irrigation system for participatory and decentralized management; and

•  Organizing biannual regional water forum to educate and exchange information between water resources managers, and other stakeholders.