Hydropower Dams Threaten Mekong River's Biodiversity and Livelihoods

One in five fish species in the Mekong River face extinction due to habitat loss and hydropower development, impacting millions who rely on the river for food and income.

• Hydropower development in the Mekong River is driving the loss of fish populations and fisheries, with one in five fish species facing extinction.
• The Mekong River, home to over 1,100 fish species, supports the world's most productive freshwater fishery, crucial for the region's economy and food security.
• Hydropower dams disrupt river connectivity essential for fish migrations, leading to a decline in fish productivity and threatening the livelihoods of over 5 million people.
• Substituting lost Mekong fish protein with other sources like beef would require significant land conversion and increase greenhouse gas emissions, undermining climate mitigation efforts.
• Conservationists call for coordinated action to develop the river sustainably and reverse the adverse impacts on fish populations.

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Forbes South China Morning Post CNA