EXTENDING YOUR KNOWLEDGE

These questions are more general than the Interactive computer corrected questions. In fact, many of the questions may not have one correct answer. The purpose of these questions is to provide the users of the RAK with an opportunity to evaluate and apply their understanding of agriculture, irrigation, wetlands and forestry in the Mekong basin.

In order to answer these questions you can return to the material in the main text to review information on each topic, you can get some ideas about the answer by discussing the issues they raise with some of your colleagues, or you can utilize the RAK web site and Bulletin Board to get help from other RAK users or from one of the content experts that participated in the development of the RAK

1. Discuss the types of agriculture that is carried out in the lower, middle and upper sections of the Mekong basin and describe how they are related to the ecological conditions of the Mekong basin.

2. Discuss the inter relationships between ecology, agriculture and irrigation in the lower Mekong basin and explain how this inter relationship will be impacted by planned development.

3. What are four of the major wetlands in the Mekong River basin? What features to they possess? What challenges do they face?

4. Discuss the primary reasons why forests are important to the physical conditions and ecology of the entire Mekong River system. How will the role of forests be altered by planned developments in the upper Mekong.

5. In your opinion, what are the most important problems concerning agriculture, wetlands, and forests that are facing the people of the Mekong basin.