Improving riverine wetland ecosystems

Maintaining habitat connectivity is essential for species movements, resource flow, and ecological processes across landscapes. In aquatic environments, connectivity involves the continuous flow of water and linkage between water patches, which is crucial for enabling aquatic species to thrive and navigate the landscape (Januchowski-Hartley et al., 2013).

Highly suitable area per country

Internal Rate of Return

Background

The Mekong River basin is home to diverse wetland habitats that play a crucial role in supporting biodiversity. These habitats provide habitat for various aquatic vertebrates, including the critically endangered Siamese crocodile, Irrawaddy dolphin, resident and migratory fish species, and several frog and turtle species, including the endangered Asiatic softshell turtle and the vulnerable Giant Asian Pond turtle (Claridge, 1996). Many fish species in the Mekong region are known to undertake both lateral and longitudinal movements for their large-scale seasonal migrations.

Whitefish species, such as Pangasius, Boeseman, and white carp, engage in extensive longitudinal migrations between the Mekong mainstream, floodplains, and tributaries, covering long distances as transboundary migrants. In contrast, grey fish species, exemplified by silver barb and catfish, undertake short-distance lateral migrations in local tributaries and do not inhabit floodplain ponds during the dry season. Both groups of fish hold significant commercial importance for fishing-based communities in the Mekong region.