Publications
2021 |
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 | Arkarath Soukhaphon Ian G. Baird, ; Hogan, Zeb S The Impacts of Hydropower Dams in the Mekong River Basin: A Review Journal Article Water, 13 (3), 2021. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: fisheries, hydropower, livelihoods, Mekong @article{Soukhaphon2021b, title = {The Impacts of Hydropower Dams in the Mekong River Basin: A Review}, author = {Arkarath Soukhaphon, Ian G. Baird, and Zeb S. Hogan}, url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/w13030265}, doi = {10.3390/w13030265}, year = {2021}, date = {2021-01-22}, journal = {Water}, volume = {13}, number = {3}, abstract = {The Mekong River, well known for its aquatic biodiversity, is important to the social, physical, and economic health of millions living in China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. This paper explores the social and environmental impacts of several Mekong basin hydropower dams and groupings of dams and the geographies of their impacts. Specifically, we examined the 3S (Sesan, Sekong Srepok) river system in northeastern Cambodia, the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and southern Laos; the Khone Falls area in southern Laos; the lower Mun River Basin in northeastern Thailand; and the upper Mekong River in Yunnan Province, China, northeastern Myanmar, northern Laos, and northern Thailand. Evidence shows that these dams and groupings of dams are affecting fish migrations, river hydrology, and sediment transfers. Such changes are negatively impacting riparian communities up to 1000 km away. Because many communities depend on the river and its resources for their food and livelihood, changes to the river have impacted, and will continue to negatively impact, food and economic security. While social and environmental impact assessments have been carried out for these projects, greater consideration of the scale and cumulative impacts of dams is necessary. }, keywords = {fisheries, hydropower, livelihoods, Mekong}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } The Mekong River, well known for its aquatic biodiversity, is important to the social, physical, and economic health of millions living in China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. This paper explores the social and environmental impacts of several Mekong basin hydropower dams and groupings of dams and the geographies of their impacts. Specifically, we examined the 3S (Sesan, Sekong Srepok) river system in northeastern Cambodia, the Central Highlands of Vietnam, and southern Laos; the Khone Falls area in southern Laos; the lower Mun River Basin in northeastern Thailand; and the upper Mekong River in Yunnan Province, China, northeastern Myanmar, northern Laos, and northern Thailand. Evidence shows that these dams and groupings of dams are affecting fish migrations, river hydrology, and sediment transfers. Such changes are negatively impacting riparian communities up to 1000 km away. Because many communities depend on the river and its resources for their food and livelihood, changes to the river have impacted, and will continue to negatively impact, food and economic security. While social and environmental impact assessments have been carried out for these projects, greater consideration of the scale and cumulative impacts of dams is necessary. |
2019 |
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D'Souza, Amabel University of Alberta, 2019. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: diversification, fishing livelihoods, Mekong @mastersthesis{D'Souza2019, title = {Diversification of Livelihoods in a Region Impacted by Hydroelectric Development: A Case Study in the Lower Mekong (Mun River/Sebok River)}, author = {Amabel D'Souza}, url = {https://doi.org/10.7939/r3-9kwy-8738, University of Alberta ERA link https://era.library.ualberta.ca/items/3b430d64-1a86-41fc-b95c-964d0e4ce1e8/download/47eabad7-1648-4d38-b488-e48ecafc42b7, University of Alberta PDF link }, doi = {10.7939/r3-9kwy-8738}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-06-04}, address = {University of Alberta, Faculty of Agriculture, Life & Environmental Sciences, Resource Economics & Environmental Sociology, Edmonton, AB}, school = {University of Alberta}, abstract = {Local people living along the Mun River and its tributaries, have a deep connection to this fresh water ecosystem and have longstanding knowledge, practices and norms that are critical to their fishing livelihoods. However due to the rapid development of hydropower in the Mekong Basin, fishing livelihoods are becoming increasingly complicated by environmental impacts. Many households and communities are thus diversifying their livelihoods in an effort to adapt to the associated ecological and socio-economic changes in their regions. There is a large literature on the impacts of hydroelectric development in the region, however, there has been limited research on diversifications and how they vary spatially; there has also been little research focused on community-based resource management including roles and use and how they have changed in the context of hydroelectric development. To address these gaps an exploratory case study was carried out in the nine communities of Baan Hua, Hew #11, Baan Hua Hew #4, Baan Na Choom Chon, Baan Huay Mak Tai, Baan Kho Tai, Baan Don Sumran, Baan Wangsabang Tai, Baan Thalat and Baan Doom Yai in the Mun and Sebok river areas since the implementation of the Pak Mun Dam. Twenty-six semi-structured interviews were conducted in this area in an effort to better understand historical fishing practices and diversifications in livelihoods that have taken place over the last two decades. Additionally, an examination of the rules and practices of these communities are taken into account. To better understand how households and communities are coping with changes in their livelihoods and local aquatic ecosystems, research was also carried out to learn more about rules in use; specifically, what kinds of rules and practices have been developed to ensure both social and ecological sustainability? This research, therefore, has been conducted in the hopes of providing useful and important details about community diversifications and experiences, as well as potentially contribute to the literature needed to address the lack of Local Ecological Knowledge in terms of policy change in this region.}, keywords = {diversification, fishing livelihoods, Mekong}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {mastersthesis} } Local people living along the Mun River and its tributaries, have a deep connection to this fresh water ecosystem and have longstanding knowledge, practices and norms that are critical to their fishing livelihoods. However due to the rapid development of hydropower in the Mekong Basin, fishing livelihoods are becoming increasingly complicated by environmental impacts. Many households and communities are thus diversifying their livelihoods in an effort to adapt to the associated ecological and socio-economic changes in their regions. There is a large literature on the impacts of hydroelectric development in the region, however, there has been limited research on diversifications and how they vary spatially; there has also been little research focused on community-based resource management including roles and use and how they have changed in the context of hydroelectric development. To address these gaps an exploratory case study was carried out in the nine communities of Baan Hua, Hew #11, Baan Hua Hew #4, Baan Na Choom Chon, Baan Huay Mak Tai, Baan Kho Tai, Baan Don Sumran, Baan Wangsabang Tai, Baan Thalat and Baan Doom Yai in the Mun and Sebok river areas since the implementation of the Pak Mun Dam. Twenty-six semi-structured interviews were conducted in this area in an effort to better understand historical fishing practices and diversifications in livelihoods that have taken place over the last two decades. Additionally, an examination of the rules and practices of these communities are taken into account. To better understand how households and communities are coping with changes in their livelihoods and local aquatic ecosystems, research was also carried out to learn more about rules in use; specifically, what kinds of rules and practices have been developed to ensure both social and ecological sustainability? This research, therefore, has been conducted in the hopes of providing useful and important details about community diversifications and experiences, as well as potentially contribute to the literature needed to address the lack of Local Ecological Knowledge in terms of policy change in this region. | |
 | Baird, Ian G; Manorom, Kanokwan; Phenow, Aurore; Gaja-Svasti, Sirasak What about the tributaries of the tributaries? Fish migrations, fisheries, dams and fishers’ knowledge in North-Eastern Thailand Journal Article International Journal of Water Resources Development, 36 (1), pp. 170-199, 2019. Abstract | Links | BibTeX | Tags: fisheries, hydropower dams, irrigation dams, Mekong, Sebok River, Thailand @article{Baird2019, title = {What about the tributaries of the tributaries? Fish migrations, fisheries, dams and fishers’ knowledge in North-Eastern Thailand}, author = {Ian G. Baird and Kanokwan Manorom and Aurore Phenow and Sirasak Gaja-Svasti}, doi = {10.1080/07900627.2019.1611549}, year = {2019}, date = {2019-05-28}, journal = {International Journal of Water Resources Development}, volume = {36}, number = {1}, pages = {170-199}, abstract = {The Pak Mun dam is among the most controversial hydropower projects in Thailand. However, the dam’s impacts on upriver tributaries have been neglected. We engaged fishers living in three villages along the Sebok River – a major tributary of the Mun River, upstream of the Pak Mun dam – to collect fish catch data for 24 months between 2014 and 2016. Using these data and fishers’ knowledge, the negative fishery impacts of the Pak Mun dam and the Ban Ot irrigation dam on the Sebok River were assessed. Both dams have negatively impacted Sebok River fisheries for migratory species.}, keywords = {fisheries, hydropower dams, irrigation dams, Mekong, Sebok River, Thailand}, pubstate = {published}, tppubtype = {article} } The Pak Mun dam is among the most controversial hydropower projects in Thailand. However, the dam’s impacts on upriver tributaries have been neglected. We engaged fishers living in three villages along the Sebok River – a major tributary of the Mun River, upstream of the Pak Mun dam – to collect fish catch data for 24 months between 2014 and 2016. Using these data and fishers’ knowledge, the negative fishery impacts of the Pak Mun dam and the Ban Ot irrigation dam on the Sebok River were assessed. Both dams have negatively impacted Sebok River fisheries for migratory species. |