Posted 29 апреля 2009,, 05:20

Published 29 апреля 2009,, 05:20

Modified 17 сентября 2022,, 14:23

Updated 17 сентября 2022,, 14:23

Russian and Chinese Ecologists Try to Find a Way to Prevent Construction of Dams on Great Rivers

29 апреля 2009, 05:20
The number of unobstructed rivers reduces year by year

VLADIVOSTOK. April 29. VOSTOK-MEDIA – The representatives of WWF branches from all over the world took part in the conference on preservation of Asian freshwater ecosystems. The meeting was held in Shanghai on the ‘Day of the Earth’. Yangtze, Mekong and Amur Rivers basins were the main topics of the conference.
Such meetings allow synchronize joint efforts working in large regions. There are some rivers that pass far beyond the territory of a country. To preserve Mekong and Amur all efforts of officials and scientists from three or more countries should be united. The united network cross-border specially protected natural reservations for cranes and other rare species of birds, Ramsard wetlands of international importance will help to preserve unobstructed rivers.
The representatives of WWF from eight countries met in Shanghai right after Yangtze forum, initiated by Chinese branch of WWF, was finished. About 1/3 of Chinese population live along Yangtze basin.
Yangtze started to suffer ecological changes after a big hydro-electric power station was constructed. The dam changed hydro-mode at downstream, disturbed processes of refilling of hundreds of lakes in the time of floods, blocked the flow of sludge drift.
Water level has changed dramatically in the largest lakes of Yangtze basin, where our storks, cranes and geese had been hibernating for centuries. And it became difficult for them to feed themselves. It threatens to extinction of these species.
In the near future the fate of the second largest river - Mekong will be determined. The Protocol of Intentions to construct a dam has in its downstream located at the territory of Vietnam has been already inked. Mekong is one of the most fish-yielding rivers in the world. The river is capable of feeding 6 mln. people only in Vietnam. And its basin also encompasses China, Laos and Cambodia.
The great river Amur is also in the focus of WWF members. At the present, the joint Russian-Chinese-Mongolian researches are being finished aimed at showing the importance of preservation of this unobstructed river. Dams should not be built on bed of the river. In other case the river will be dead.

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