Cambodia’s China-backed canal on Mekong may threaten ‘fragile ecosystems’
A Chinese-backed canal in Cambodia is likely to put “fragile” ecosystems at risk, researchers in China and Britain have warned, calling for better mitigation efforts.
The Funan Techo canal, a 180km (112-mile) project to link the Mekong River to the Gulf of Thailand, is a flagship project expected to reduce Cambodia’s transport dependence on Vietnam.
However, according to recent correspondence in the journal Nature, the canal’s passage through various habitats crucial to biodiversity will cause ecological harm and could impact agriculture.
“There are not only concerns about the ecological effects of the canal on the region’s diverse and fragile ecosystems, but also underexplored opportunities for mitigation,” the authors said.
Leopold Chen
