Dam projects threaten Mekong biodiversity
There is pressure on authorities in Laos to halt the development of a controversial dam project after a report showed the dam could cause a dramatic deterioration in biodiversity.
The report, a major survey of biodiversity in Indo-Burma carried out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, found that while the Mekong River is still relatively healthy, construction of the Xayaburi and other dams could have drastic consequences.
Head of Southeast Asia Group for the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Robert Mather, told Radio Australia's Asia Pacific if all 11 dams planned for construction on the Lower Mekong before 2025 go ahead, fish and mollusc species will suffer.
"The percentage of threatened species will increase by 11 per cent for the fish and 14 per cent for the molluscs," Mr Mather said.
However Mr Mather says the data is deficient in some areas so the true impact on species of the Xayaburi dam may not be known.
"When no proper surveys up to this point had been done on that stretch of the river, we don't even know if there's anything there that's important or of conservation significance."
Pollution and overharvesting are also threatening the river species.
Mr Mather says the food security of people in the region may be at risk with fish providing 60 per cent of total animal protein.
"With the Mekong fisheries alone being valued at several billion dollars a year at point of first sale...it becomes very important that we manage to conserve these fish species and mollusc species and so on for the benefit of local peoples' livelihood."