River management The Mekong River crosses multiple international boundaries, making its management complex. Each country has distinct priorities such as irrigation, damming and flood control. Upstream countries often focus on hydroelectricity, while downstream countries prioritise irrigation. These differing interests require international cooperation or assistance from independent organisations for effective river management.
Management issues • Transboundary rivers require complex inter-governmental management. • Seasonal flooding creates consistent issues. • There is increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
• The Mekong Delta has high population density (20 per cent of Vietnam’s population lives this region). • There is increasing use of dams in multiple countries along the Mekong’s upper and middle courses.
FIGURE10 This series of maps shows the potential impacts of sea-level rise on the Mekong Delta.
SkillBuilder discussion Geographical inquiry 1. How does sea-level rise affect coastal areas? 2. Do you think sea-level rise poses a risk to health and freshwater supplies of people in coastal areas? Explain. 3. What measures can communities take to lessen the impacts of sea-level rise?
TOPIC13 Landforms and landscapes – diversity, significance and management 343
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