Biodiversity Hot Spots along the Mekong

The Mekong has an outstanding variety of plants and animals Some areas are referred to as 'biological hot spots' because they support not only a high diversity of species, but also wildlife that is critically endangered and restricted to that area.

There are several 'biological hot spots' between Kratie and the Cambodian/Laos border. A survey of one 'hot spot' recently found many globally threatened fauna species including 36 birds, 9 mammals, 6 turtles and 11 fish species, and important riverine forests with plants endemic to the Lower Mekong Basin.

Ironically, these areas remain relatively untouched because for 30 years they sheltered members of the Pol Pot Regime and were not developed or settled. Non-governmental organisations and local communities are working to help protect these habitats and the river links between them.

Changes in river flow, pollution and over-harvesting are some of the impacts humans have had on river life. However, the greatest threat to the Mekong 'hotspots' is uncontrolled settlement and the associated impacts of forest clearing, hunting and fishing. Some form of protection and active management of these 'hotspots' is needed to secure the future biodiversity and ecotourism values.