Construction of Dams Would Strain Land, Water
Cambodia would significantly strain its land and water resources if a projected series of large-scale hydro-power dams are built along the Mekong, according to projections released this week. Fish remains the primary source of protein and researchers [from the Australia National University in Canberra and World Wildlife Fund] have estimated that dams planned on the Mekong and its tributaries would result in more than a 9 percent drop in fish stocks. … Should 11 mainstream dams be built as planned, Cambodia would need at least 29 percent more water annually. And if all 88 mainstream and tributary dams go ahead, that number shoots up to 42 percent. Moreover, the country will need at least 29 percent more pastureland to meet its food needs, placing it among the most vulnerable of all the countries along the Mekong. …
