Hydropower Dam

The Mekong riverbank gardening is a critical part of local livelihoods. It supports riverine communities through vital food production, reciprocal exchanges, and additional income generation. However, changes to the river’s ecosystems caused by many large-scale dams threaten these ways of life. 

The Lower Sesan II dam in Cambodia's Stung Treng province has resulted in inundation of seasonal wetlands, relocation and the fragmentation of local communities. Previously self-sufficient communities are struggling as they become low-income wage labor in distant cities but face mounting debts, economic insecurity, homesickness, and mental stress. Community leaders are striving to invest in education for local youth to gain a better future.