The Mekong River watershed is one of the most productive and biodiverse in the world, with a freshwater fishery that supports the livelihoods of 60 million people. Unfortunately, the Mekong region is susceptible to the negative effects of climate change, which are aggravated by existing and proposed hydropower dams that restrict fish passage, and trap sediment and prevent it from replenishing areas downstream, particularly in the river’s delta.
The six-year Climate Resilient Mekong program helps Lower Mekong countries study the potential effects of dam construction and identify ways to mitigate the potential impacts on the Mekong River system. The program works to better inform the choices made by national governments, investors and hydropower customers with regard to the siting, design and operation of hydropower dams throughout the entire Mekong River system in order to maintain the flow of water, sediment and nutrients essential for sustaining the river’s exceptional biological productivity and allow for fish passage.
FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENTS OF PROJECT ALTERNATIVES
The Climate Resilient Mekong program promotes access to analytical tools that simulate hydrologic, geomorphic and biological processes throughout the river basin. It also helps build the capacity of Lower Mekong countries to use those models to evaluate optimal site location, design and operation of existing and future dams. The program focuses on biological “hotspots” in assessing how sediment reduction affects morphology, habitats, and biological productivity of the river. Additionally, the program conducts economic feasibility analyses for best alternatives and then broadly disseminates the results to inform future decisions on basin infrastructure.
TECHNICAL COLLABORATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING
The program works with the Mekong River Commission and other water resource authorities, governments, non-governmental organizations and technical research institutions, as well as hydropower investors and customers to create a U.S.-Lower Mekong technical partnership. The program seeks to complement and support existing initiatives implemented by these organizations as well as actions taken by the Lower Mekong countries themselves to address siting, design and operation of hydropower dams.
EXPECTED RESULTS
The program’s objective is to improve the capability of the Lower Mekong countries to coordinate decision-making on dam siting, design and operation in a manner that mitigates their adverse impacts. Ultimately, the program seeks to encourage Lower Mekong countries to implement best practices to reduce the combined effects of sediment disruption and climate change.
PARTNERS
USAID’s primary partner for this program is The Natural Heritage Institute.
The Lower Mekong Sub-region, with a population of 235 million, is increasingly prosperous, healthy, educated, and globally-competitive. The U.S. Government supports the security, economic development and integration that underpin this prosperity. Increasing regional connectivity means greater access to electricity, water, financial resources and traded goods. However, without proper analysis and planning, new investments—especially in large-scale infrastructure and land use—can have significant negative social, environmental, and economic impacts.
Rapid economic growth in the Lower Mekong region has accelerated the flow of foreign direct investment at unprecedented rates, bringing crucial development finance and reducing poverty rates. At the same time this growth has increased natural resource extraction and infrastructure development. New investments in large-scale infrastructure and agriculture can have significant negative social, environmental and economic consequences if not properly planned and managed.
The United States has a government-wide strategy to combat wildlife trafficking to protect endangered species such as elephants, rhinos, pangolins, tigers, sharks, tuna and turtles. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been actively working to stop the illegal trade in wildlife in Asia since 2005 when the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) was created. USAID has built on ASEAN-WEN's successes and is sharing its lessons with China and South Asia through Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking program.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Connectivity through Trade and Investment is a five-year project of the United States Agency for International Development and the Department of State to increase U.S. economic engagement and cooperation with ASEAN countries. Asia is an increasingly inter-connected region and with the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, the U.S. government has aligned its development assistance priorities in support of regional integration.
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