Sustainable development of water resources in the Mekong River Basin: Legal and policy implications of dams in the regional context

Abstract

The article addresses the subject of dams and dam construction in the Mekong River Basin. The focus lies on whether, under the existing legal framework and in light of the Mekong dam projects, it is possible to achieve sustainable development of water resources on a regional level. As a number of these dam projects are accompanied with concern and debate regarding the environment and socio-economic impacts, the article discusses the effects noted so far and future expectations of dam usage on the Mekong mainstream and tributaries. The article will further look into the procedural elements needed for achieving sustainable development in the Mekong River Basin. The basis for this analysis is found in the relevant international and regional framework, such as the UN Watercourses Convention and the Mekong Agreement, and in regional cooperation that focuses on sustainability issues in the basin.