Mongabay series: Mekong dams

The Mekong is one of the world's longest rivers, and 60 million residents of Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos rely on it for their livelihoods. While hydropower dams being erected along its upper reaches threaten to impact fishing and agriculture from altered flows and flooding throughout the region, the river's delta, where 20% of Vietnam's population of 92 million grows much the country's food, is one of the most gravely threatened by sea level rise. Mongabay's series on the many threats to the Mekong begins with the view from Vietnam and travels throughout the region totaling up the cultural impacts now coming into focus.

Hydro projects a front for logging in Vietnam

Small hydroelectric projects in forested areas in Vietnam may be a front for logging operations in the country's national parks, reports Vietnam Net. According to Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and…

Controversial dam gets approval in Laos

The Mekong River in Thailand. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler. Laos has given approval to the hugely-controversial $3.5 billion Xayaburi Dam on the Mekong River, reports the BBC. The massive…