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Fishing on the Mekong. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
A coalition of NGOs, lacademics, journalists, artists and local people have started a petition against a series of dams planned by Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. According to the organization, the massive dams will upend the river’s biodiversity and undercut the livelihoods of local people.
According to the organization: “The Mekong River is under threat. The governments of Cambodia, Laos and Thailand are considering plans to build 11 big hydropower dams on the river’s mainstream. If built, these dams would block major fish migrations and dramatically change the Mekong forever, placing at risk the food security and income of millions of people.”
Save the Mekong ‘s petition: Save the Mekong: Our River Feeds Millions.
Forest along the Nam Ou river in Laos. Photo by Rhett A. Butler
Deforestation for a rubber plantation in Laos. Photo by Rhett A. Butler
Yesterday, Conservation International (CI) released a top 10 list of the world’s most threatened biodiverse forest. Number one were the forests of Indo-Burma, including Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar (Burma), and parts of China and India. This landscape includes the forests in Laos picture above. Only 5% of these forests remain. Click here to find out what the other 9 threatened forests: From Cambodia to California: the world’s top 10 most threatened forests.
Waterfall in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Photo by Rhett A. Butler
Forest waterfall in Arenal, Costa Rica. Photo by Rhett A. Butler
Waterfall on the summit of Auyantepui, Venezuela. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.
Jungle waterfall in Suriname. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.
Waterfall near Skogar in Iceland. Photo by Tina A. Butler.
Tad Lo waterfall in Laos. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.
Waterfall on the island of Borneo, Malaysia. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.
River and waterfalls on Cradle Mountain in Tasmanian, Australia. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.
Waterfalls in Milford Sound New Zealand. Photo by Nancy Butler.
Small waterfall in Madagascar. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.
Waterfall in Bwindi, Uganda. Photo by Rhett A. Butler.
Young monk in Ban Houa Khong. Photo by Rhett A. Butler 2009
While attention in the bushmeat trade is often given to mammals, birds–such as these songbirds for sale as food in Laos–are also eaten in many parts of the world. Photo by: Rhett A. Butler.
Click to see more photos of the wildlife trade in Laos.
Related Article: Laos Emerges as Key Source in Asia’s Illicit Wildlife Trade.