What are the threats facing the Mekong River?
Answer… The Mekong River is the largest and longest river in South-East Asia, and suffers from a wide range of serious threats. Deforestation along rivers and in uplands has changed runoff patterns and increased sedimentation. The river basin has become the focus for construction of new dams in the region, for sale of energy mostly to Thailand by its neighbours which include Lao PDR, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and China. These dams would reduce important fish populations and could worsen floods. In addition, impoundments are blocking the movements of the ecoregion’s numerous migratory fish species.
