The Mekong River is essential to the livelihoods of more than 260 million people in China and Southeast Asia and supports plentiful and varied ecosystems. However, Southeast Asia’s decades long period of economic growth has increased the demand on water and energy resources in the region. This has put the Mekong River on the spot as a primary water and hydropower source in the region. Consequent construction of dams and other interventions in the river’s ecosystem has led to physical changes in the Mekong River Basin over the last five to ten years. These Interventions in the river system has raised various concerns for policy makers and environmental conservationists alike. However, there is little agreement among experts and policy makers on the primary causes of these changes and the transboundary nature of the Mekong River complicates the search for sustainable solutions. This report aims to shed light on the impact of the changing Mekong River on Thailand and the intricate causes for its change through interviews with experts and locals in affected areas. Based on this analysis the report further makes recommendations for ways forward that ensure the inclusive and sustainable development of the Mekong River basin.

1. Trends in Social and Environmental
Responsibility: The Challenges of
Transboundary River Management in the
Mekong River Basin
Klang Panya Institute, The Non-Government Think Tank for National Strategies
Ms. Yuwadee Kardkarnklai
Mr. Yannik Mieruch
Mr. Kritapak Prommanuwat
presented at ANU Workshop, 11 August 2022

2. Introduction
• As one of the largest rivers in
Asia the Mekong is a vital
resource to more than 260
million people
• Originating in the Himalayas
the almost 5000 kilometres
long river flows through six
countries: China, Myanmar,
Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and
Vietnam
• The Mekong supports a wide
range of flora and fauna with a
high biodiversity.

3. Increasing Economic Development
• While the Mekong was considered one of the least regulated rivers for years,
however use of the river for economic purposes has increased over the last
decade (Hecht, Lacombe, Arias, Dang, & Piman, 2019).
• Including building of dams to generate electricity and engineering work to modify water
routes for more convenient and safer transportation of goods
• The Transboundary nature of the Mekong creates complicates the management
of the river’s resources (Zeitoun, Goulden, & Tickner, 2013).
• There have been efforts towards the join-management of river resources through the
Mekong River Commission and other bilateral and multilateral initiatives
• These efforts have not been able to satisfactorily mitigate the negative social and
environmental impacts of economic use of the river (Feng, Wang, Suman, Yu, & He, 2019).

4. Methodology
• From January to June 2022, we carried out 20 stakeholder interviews
to explore the changes taking place in the Mekong River, identify the
problems and effects of this change, as well as how the livelihood
along the Mekong River has changed in the past.
• We interviewed government officials, academics, NGOs, and local
community members in northern and north-eastern Thailand (8
Mekong river provinces).

5. Changes in the Hydrological System of the
Mekong and its Impact on the River’s
Ecosystem

6. Changes in Water Flow
• Construction of dams alters the natural waterflow of the Mekong.
• Normally changes in the Mekong waterflow are seasonal with lower water
flow during the dry season and higher water flow during the rainy season.
• However, dam construction for power generation alters this natural
seasonal cycle towards a cycle following an economic logic of supply and
demand
• In the dry season when demands for electricity are usually higher, dams discharge a
higher amount of water.
• Destruction of islets functioning as natural barriers to facilitate
transportation along the river increases overall strength of water flow.

7. Changes in River Sediment
• These changes in waterflow impact the amount of sediment in the river.
• The retention of water in the dams can cause a significant reduction in sediments
• Sediments are rich in nutrients and a vital food source for various species in the Mekong
ecosystem.
• Low levels of sediment in addition to stronger waterflows leads to erosion of riverbanks
which are important parts of the ecosystem.
• Discharge of water from the dams can also cause abnormally high amounts of
sediments in the water
• Sediments then builds up and can result in unnaturally shallow river sections.
• Respondents noted that these changes of sediment in the river can even be
observed by the naked eye as a change in colour of the river.

8. Impact of Other Factors
• The impacts of dam construction are exacerbated through other factors
affecting levels of water in the river.
• As the Mekong is mainly fed by the snowmelt in the Himalaya (Adamson,
Rutherfurd, Peel, & Conlan, 2009), lower perspiration due to climate
change decreases overall amount of water in the river.
• The increasing economic utilisation and consequent destruction of
waterfront forests.
• Waterfront forests act like a sponge, retaining water throughout periods with higher
waterflows and discharging water in periods with lower water levels thus reducing
overall fluctuations in water levels.
• Due to the decreasing area of waterfront forests, this natural buffer is lost thus
exacerbating the problem of fluctuating water levels (Sridhar et al., 2019).

9. Ecological Impacts
• These changes in the Mekong River raise major environmental concerns.
• Local environmental organisations highlighted the negative impacts of
changes in waterflow and amount of river sediment on local ecosystems.
• Population of the giant catfish has decreased significantly due to disruptions of the
deep trenches that form its natural habitat and destruction of the aquatic plants that
are its natural breeding ground through fluctuating water levels and changes in
sediments.
• The aquatic plant called “Kai” which is unique to the Mekong River has been
negatively impacted as well.
• Nonaquatic animals such as birds whose life cycle depends on the river have lost
their breeding grounds on the riverbanks due to coastal erosion.

10. Impacts of the Changing Mekong on Local
Communities in Thailand

11. Flash Floods
• Changes in waterflow and the natural course of the river leads to an
increased risk of flash floods.
• One respondent from Nong Khai province recounts her experience
with a flash flood in 2008.
oDespite low amounts of rainfall, the Mekong water levels rose rapidly causing
large amount of damage to property and causing local communities to
evacuate the area.
• This is consistent with news reports of other flash floods in northern
Thailand.

12. Impact on Communities’ Livelihoods (1)
• Decrease in fishing yields
oDecreasing fish populations.
oRaising fishes in fish cages has also become less viable
oFluctuating water levels can also cause damage to fishing equipment
• Decreasing income from fishing negatively impacts local communities’
overall well-being and potentially leading to the complete loss of
fishing as a profession.

13. Impact on Communities’ Livelihoods (2)
• Destruction of farmland
oFluctuating water levels, reduced sediment, and coastal erosion has caused
significant damage to agricultural areas along the Mekong River.
oThis not only disrupts subsistence agriculture but the livelihoods of
commercial farmers who rely on the sale of their agricultural products.
• Communities can also be impacted by initiatives aimed to combat
negative ecological impacts.
• One respondent reported the loss of farmland due to the construction of an
embarkment by authorities aimed to combat coastal erosion.

14. Impact on Communities’ Livelihoods (3)
• Disruption of Tourism
oThe Jommanee River Shore in Nong Khai province used to be a popular tourist
destination with a well-visited street food market with more than 200 shops.
However, fluctuating water levels, repeated flooding and the erosion of
coastal areas forced the community to close the market.
• Increase of Crime
oReduced water levels has lead to increased cross-border criminal activity as
the river as natural border barrier is becoming more easily passable.

15. Concluding Thoughts
• Our research clearly shows that the changing Mekong significantly
impacts both the river’s ecosystem and the communities along its
banks.
• The causes of the changes are complex and interrelated and their
impacts are varied and strongly dependent on locality and
circumstances.
• Any approach to improved river management in the Mekong is
complicated by the transboundary nature of the river.

16. Recommendations (1)
• Localised identification of problems and suitable solutions.
• Monitoring and regulations that take local circumstance into account.
• Clear communication regarding local problems in each part of the river.
Localised Responses:
• Intensified cooperation through the Mekong River Commission especially
regarding the sharing of information, regulation of water resources, and
effective early warning systems for natural disasters.
• Increasing the MRCs regulatory power.
Multilateral Regulations:

17. Recommendations (2)
• Increase the engagement and cooperation of different sectors in river resource management processes
including government, local communities, civil society, academia, and the private sector.
• Build networks among communities along the river to serve as intermediaries in dealing with national and
international governance structures.
• Build networks of scholars to ensure evidence-based decision making.
Multisectionality
• Increase government commitment to just and equitable management of the Mekong and increase efforts of
international cooperation.
Government responsibility
• Balance economic concerns against social and environmental concerns.
• Keeping the river as close to its natural condition as possible.
• Obligate hydropower operators to contribute to efforts to mitigate the negative impacts of dam construction
on the environment and local communities through funding relevant social and environmental initiatives.
Balancing Economic, Social and Environmental Concerns

18. Outlook
• Experiences from other transboundary rivers show how efficient and effective
river management can ensure inclusive and sustainable use of water resources.
o Effective multilateral cooperation, investment of regulatory power in an international
management agency and the incorporation of the public improved sustainability of the
Danube River (ICPDR, 2018).
o The case of the Nile River shows the importance of the incorporation of principles of justice
and equitability (Yalew, Kwakkel, & Doorn, 2021).
• Hence, not all hope is lost, if the relevant national governments and agencies
incorporate these recommendations the Mekong can continue to sustain a
thriving ecosystem and provide for millions of people along its banks.

19. Thank You!
Any Questions?

20. References
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