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Such concerns were raised at the Mekong Forum themed "The Mekong Under Threat: Protecting People, Ecosystems in a Fast-changing Basin", co-organized by the International Rivers (IR), Pan Nature, Save the Mekong Coalition (MEF) and the Mekong Environment Forum (MEF) in Can Tho on March 20.
The Mekong is one of the largest rivers with high biodiversity in the world. The Lower Mekong River Basin is home to more than 60 million people, of whom about 85% are farmers and fishermen.
According to the reports, hydropower projects built in upper reaches will accelerate erosion of the river banks and river beds, especially in the Lower Mekong Delta in Vietnam. Development projects also affect food security and may lead to poverty as well as decrease in local people’s incomes.
Vietnam alone has a huge demand for water due to lengthened crop seasons and expanded agricultural land. According to official statistics, the country has 2.9 million hectares of agricultural land in its Mekong Delta, most of which is watered from the Mekong. The rice cultivation needs an amount of water from the Mekong River of up to 332 km³, while the total amount of water of the river running to the Mekong Delta is only about 475 km³.
In 2016, the Mekong Delta suffered severe droughts and salt intrusion, a record in the last 90 years.
Scientists participating in the forum urged member states of the Greater Mekong Sub-Region to urgently review alternative energy solutions to current hydropower projects. These include wind power, solar power or biomass electricity. Additionally, the riverine countries should boost cooperate to draw up a common development plan for the benefit of all countries in the sub-region.
