Conclusion
From this overview, it is clear that the most effective solution to pursue is reconnecting river channels with floodplains.
Challenges in the Mekong Sub-Region
© WWF-Viet Nam
Disconnection of the Floodplain in Vietnam
The disconnection of floodplains in an agricultural region due to the establishment of dike systems causes degradation of soil quality and texture and soil subsidence in the floodplains.
Hydropower dam development
The construction of hydropower dams has increasingly regulated water levels and reduced natural sediment transport pathways.
Social-economic development
Human settlements have rapidly expanded and are expected to grow further. This has encroached on the natural environment and changed land use across the region from primarily natural to built-up and agricultural areas.
Floodplain disconnection
Three primary factors are responsible for disconnecting floodplains: physical barriers, river bed incision and alterations in flow.
Drowning flooded forest
Flooding plays a crucial role in shaping the flooded forest ecosystem, influencing the floodplain habitat's structure, quality, and function.
Degraded soil quality
Soil degradation in the Mekong Region results from multiple factors, including the cumulative impacts of hydropower dams that disrupt the flow of sediment carrying essential nutrients and intensive and unsustainable farming practices reliant on
Disruption in spawning zone and migratory route due to insufficiently large wetlands and insufficient connectivity
Commercial groundfish species, like whitefish, migrate upstream to areas along the Mekong River in Cambodia, southern Laos, and central Laos as part of their yearly breeding cycle.
Summary of Rising Problems
This section provides a summary of the issues identified in the four countries across the Mekong Region. The drivers, which serve as root causes, are interconnected with environmental changes.