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 transport and navigation 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 reason why river transportation is so important to the people and economy of the Mekong basin and explain how the type and role of transportation differs in the lower, middle and upper sectors of the Mekong.

2. Describe some of the types of projects that are being planned to improve navigation along the length of the Mekong River and identify the possible negative impacts that could result from these proposed projects.

3. Discuss the potential ecological impacts from improved transportation and how the changes in ecology will impact on agriculture and fiseries.