14.1 TOPIC OVERVIEW AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES

This section presents a description of the use of water from the Mekong River and its tributaries for small scale and commercial agriculture, and explains the importance of water to sustain the relationship between ecological resources of wetlands and their use for agriculture and especially the growing of rice. Differences between agriculture in upland and lowland areas of the basin as well as differences within the same area are described in terms of water issues.

The important ecological relationships between forests, logging and water quantity is described and the overall importance of forest cover including functions, such as shading and water temperature regulation, stream bank stabilization, and nutrient input to the physical and ecological health of the Mekong River explained. The major causes of forest cover loss in the Mekong River Basin are discussed, which include logging, agricultural development, fuel wood collection, and encroachment from human settlements. Finally, significant impacts and transboundary issues resulting from loss of forest cover are presented.

After completing this Section, the user should be able to:

• Describe the importance of agriculture in the Mekong Basin;

• Identify the ecological aspects of agriculture and irrigation;

• List the major wetland sites in the Mekong basin;

• Identify the major functions of forests with respect to stream ecology;

• List the primary causes of forest cover loss in the Mekong River Basin;

• Identify the major impacts on stream ecology from loss of forest cover.