Aquatic ecosystem connectivity, ecosystem processes, and watershed integrity under Mekong dam development International Conference on Watershed Management Chiang Mai March 2011 Nikolai Sindorf, WWF‐Conservation Science Program Trang Dangthuy, WWF‐Greater Mekong Program Office
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International Conference Watershed Management Mai · Aquatic ecosystem connectivity, ecosystem processes, and watershed integrity under Mekong dam development International Conference
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Aquatic ecosystem connectivity, ecosystem processes,and watershed integrity under Mekong dam development
International Conference on Watershed ManagementChiang Mai
March 2011Nikolai Sindorf, WWF‐Conservation Science Program
Trang Dangthuy, WWF‐Greater Mekong Program Office
Methodology highlightsMethodology highlights
• develop a science‐backed environmental narrative that guides strategic decision‐making on dam impacts and connectivity, work towards a globally‐applicable template
• test river network connectivity visualizations on the Mekong with a focus on dam development
• propagate an ecosystem inclusive, basin‐wide, approach to dam development
•• upstreamupstream‐‐downstream network analysisdownstream network analysis•• allows multiple scalesallows multiple scales•• globally replicable to any river systemglobally replicable to any river system
•• location based; not datalocation based; not data‐‐basedbased•• configuration of multiple dams, configuration of multiple dams, •• river system perspective river system perspective
•• network algorithm; no environmental valuationnetwork algorithm; no environmental valuation•• comparative and scalablecomparative and scalable•• not a silver bullet; part of much broader assessmentnot a silver bullet; part of much broader assessment
Connectivity applied to dams and large tributariesConnectivity applied to dams and large tributaries
Our dam databaseOur dam databasecontains over 50 ofcontains over 50 ofthe largest or mostthe largest or mostprominent dams in prominent dams in the basin, and the basin, and includes hydropower includes hydropower and agricultural dams,and agricultural dams,it excludes a largeit excludes a largeamount of smaller,amount of smaller,agricultural dams.agricultural dams.
Connectivity applied to dams and large tributariesConnectivity applied to dams and large tributaries
In our initial analysisIn our initial analysiswe found out thatwe found out thatthe current layoutthe current layoutof dams of dams ‘‘blocksblocks’’ 40 % 40 % of the Mekong. of the Mekong.
Percentage of total system length (perennial streams)Percentage of total system length (perennial streams)
Current configuration of the Mekong, with over larger 50 damsCurrent configuration of the Mekong, with over larger 50 dams
Using a network connectivity algorithm Using a network connectivity algorithm we were able to determine that currently we were able to determine that currently 46 % 46 % of ecosystem connectivity is of ecosystem connectivity is preserved in the Mekong preserved in the Mekong
according to this ecosystem classificationaccording to this ecosystem classification
Overall ecosystem connectivity is very vulnerable to dam development on the main stem; the reproduction ofecosystem processes in the Mekong is extremely sensitive to the impacts of main stem dams because of its layout; a very long main stem fed by relative short tributaries
Overall ecosystem connectivity is very vulnerable to dam development on the main stem; the reproduction ofecosystem processes in the Mekong is extremely sensitive to the impacts of main stem dams because of its layout; a very long main stem fed by relative short tributaries
Conclusions and recommendationsConclusions and recommendations
• Work towards an open, consistent and reliable database of all existing dams in the Mekong basin, include planned dams
• Dams on the mainstream have disproportional impacts on the connectivity o f the ecosystems, compared to tributary dams
• Incorporate ecosystem processes connectivity as a guideline in basin‐wide dam planning
The methodology, analysis, and maps in this presentation are under copyright of WWF‐2011, and need to be properly referenced and acknowledged when being re‐used.