The Mekong River is one of the world’s richest areas of biodiversity as well as an important livelihood source for millions of people in the Southeast Asian region. A proposed hydro-electric mega-dam in southern Laos poses a significant risk to the river’s huge number of fish species, and would wreak havoc on normal migration and breeding cycles and threaten the lives of hundreds of local fishing communities. Populations of critically endangered species, such as the Irrawaddy Dolphin and giant catfish, would also be impacted if construction of the dam proceeds.
Greengrants Global Advisor, International Rivers, together with local partners in Thailand and Cambodia, has launched a campaign to put a halt to this and 11 other proposed dam projects on the Mekong. The Save the Mekong Campaign is an international effort to keep the Mekong flowing freely and to save this critical source of food, income, and life for present and future generations.
Greengrants has supported several groups working to address the negative impacts of the proposed dam and protect the Mekong River. Recent grantees include Foundation for Ecological Recovery, the NGO Forum on Cambodia, Mekong Watch, and Living Rivers Siam, formerly SEARIN. These groups are applying pressure on the Mekong governments to protect and restore river ecosystems and river-based livelihoods in the region.
Search our Grants List to find more about our work in the Mekong.
Read more about the Don Sahong Dam project.