Khmer Times —
For the first time in 60 years, the Mekong Basin which has one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world with more than 20,000 plant species and 850 fish species, had experienced low water levels from 2019 to last year.
The low water flow, caused by the weather, had greatly impacted the biodiversity, ecosystem, fisheries, loss of habitat, irrigation for agriculture farms, and livelihood of the people.
Cambodia National Mekong Committee deputy secretary-general Long Saravuth said during a Cross-Talk, themed ‘Less water in Mekong Basis-smart reservation in the dry season’ yesterday that the main cause for the low water level was the weather.
“When the water flow is low, the biggest challenge is to the fish and the fishing sector. It also greatly affects the people who depend on the Mekong River to irrigate their agricultural land and it also affects the ecosystem in the Basin,” he added.
He said the six Mekong countries must practice the Mekong principle and must address the low water flow and should not allow the water to go lower than the minimum flow.