The Mighty Mekong: Heart of Southeast Asia By: Bianca Sander

Lasagongma Spring near Mt. Guozongmucha, Tibetan Plateau Yunnan Province Myanmar/Laos border Laos Thailand/Laos border Cambodia Vietnam South China Sea www.aquaticcommunity.com

Economic Value Commercially worth $2billion 80% of the animal protein for the 60 million people living in the basin (World Wildlife Foundation 2011). The Mekong River is capable of producing 2,500,000 million tons of fish a year (Hogan 2011). Floating fish farm on the Mekong River, Vietnam

People living in the floating villages on the Mekong River rely on the fish supply for survival

Biodiversity of the Mekong River Watershed Vegetation Land Animals Aquatic Animals

Lotus Field, Cambodia

Carnivorous Pitcher Plant (www.wwf.panda.org)

Coconuts, Vietnam Jack Fruit rarefruit.org Rambutan rambutan.com

Boat full of pineapple, Thailand Mangostan, Thailand Globalopportunity.se Boat full of pineapple, Thailand

Young Elephant, Thailand Elephant Reserve, Thailand

Rhesus Macaque, Cambodia Monitor lizard, Thailand

Water fowl, Vietnam Stork Gardens, Vietnam

At least 1,300 species of freshwater fish (World Wildlife Foundation 2011) The 'sucker' fish (Oreoglanis) (www.wwf.panda.org)

Mekong river of Thailand by British fisherman Ian Welch Mekong river of Thailand by British fisherman Ian Welch. Its massive body was 7ft long and 7ft wide, with a tail measuring 10ft. After DNA was taken for testing this pregnant female was released back into the wild.

Mekong Giant Catfish Pangasianodon gigas/paucidens World’s largest scale-less freshwater fish 95% population drop over the last century (National Geographic, 2011) Endemic from the delta all the way to the Yunnan Province. Are now reported only in the main Mekong, no longer found in smaller tributaries or Tonle Sap

National Geographic 2011 Extremely overfished and are now “protected” by legislation in the Golden Triangle region.

Irrawaddy dolphin Orcaella brevirostris Critically vulnerable Lives in brackish coastal waters Mekong freshwater sub-population estimated at 127 individuals in 2005; may now be as few as 86 individuals (Beasley 2011). listed as critically endangered in the wild Worldwide population ~7,000

Feeds on fish, eggs, cephalopods, and crustaceans www.angkorcambodiaguide.com Irrawaddy dolphins can be found in conservation aquariums, where they can reproduce in a safe environment while learning tricks with other dolphins Teakdoor.com

Mekong in danger: damming Drastically affect quality and quantity of fish available for consumption. Many fish, such as the Mekong Giant Catfish, travels upstream to spawn. Lower water levels downstream reduces fish habitat Reduced sedimentation puts the delta at further risk of eroding into the sea Lower water levels are unfavorable to floating communities and markets

Existing: Manwan Dachaoshan Jinghong Xiaowan (2010) Under Constructi0n: Nuozhadu Planned: Gongguoqiao Ganlaba Mengsong Pak Beng Luang Prabang Xayabouri Pak Lay Sanakham Pak Chom Ban Koum Lat Sua Don Sahong Stung Treng Sambor www.savethemekong.org 2009

Museumstuff.com Dachaoshan Dam

Xiaowan Dam Chinadaily.com.cn

Lu, X.X. and R.Y. Siew, 2005 Water discharge and sediment flux changes in the Lower Mekong River Infilling of the Manwan reservoir in 1992 has disrupted water discharge and sediment transportation. Extremely low water levels in the Mekong may be a result of cascade damming in China. Discharge and sediment flux was analyzed at various gauging stations along the Mekong River downstream of the Manwan Dam.

Trend shows the variation in downstream sediment concentration from before to after the Manwan dam was constructed. Sites closer to the dam shower higher before-after variability than sites further downstream.

Lu and Siew 2005 Results General decrease in sediment discharge Lower average water levels Increased daily water fluctuation for sites downstream of Manwan Dam in China. These changes are relatively minimal at this time and only significantly affect sites nearer to the dam. They may become detrimental to the Mekong ecosystem as time passes and more dams are built along the Mekong in China and Thailand.

Thank You! Any Questions? Mekong River sunset, Louang Prabang, Laos www.everywheremag.com