Concerned about the potential negative effects of dam construction on the Salween River, domestic and international experts plan to conduct a workshop on “Salween (Thanlwin) Ecosystem Knowledge Resource Sharing” this September in Mon State.
The workshop will be held in the first week of September at Moulmein (Mawlamyaing) University for the purpose of educating and raising awareness among local people about the potential negative effects of the dam construction. According to workshop organizer U Min Min Nwe, the workshop will be led by experts from China, Thailand, and Burma.
“Because the dam is built on the Salween River people residing along the river will face negative impacts, and the workshop is designed to point out these impacts in order to see the whole picture,” said U Min Min Nwe.
The workshop will enable academics and local residents to exchange information and discuss the negative impacts of the dam construction,” according to Nai Virawat Dheeraprasert, chairman of the Foundation for Ecological Recovery (FER).
“If any dam is constructed on the Salween River, not only does it impact the ecology in the area immediately surrounding the dam, but also the ecology near Moulmein City because the city is located at the mouth of the river. We have studied the environmental conditions of China and Thailand as well as Burma’s Karen State and Moulmein City because there are concerns as to potential environmental degradation in these areas due to the dam,” said Nai Virawat Dheeraprasert in an interview with IMNA.
At the Salween River Ecosystem and Resource Sharing Workshop, Nai Virawat Dheeraprasert will discuss “the value [in terms of ecosystem services] of the Salween River Ecosystem as well as various proposals to develop the Salween.”
FER Thailand has invited environmental organizations; scholars; those who have been harmed or are threatened by Salween dam construction; and other interested persons in Thailand to participate in the workshop.
The idea of holding a workshop came about on August 4th, when Mr. Montri from Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University met with environment activists and civil society organizations in Moulmein City.
The Salween River starts in China and runs through Shan, Karenni, Karen, and Mon States. It’s one of the world’s longest rivers, and the river’s mouth is sheltered by an island close to Moulmein called Bilugyun Island. Eventually, water from the Salween enters the Gulf of Martaban and the Andaman Sea via the Kyaikkami River.
