Last month, the Cambodian government made the decision to postpone the construction of any new hydropower dams along the Mekong River for the next decade. This is a huge victory for activists working against the construction of new development projects, as well as the tens of thousands who rely on the river and its banks for their livelihoods.
Since 2008, Global Greengrants Fund has supported multiple groups in Cambodia working to address the issue of large hydropower. One such group is the Forest and Livelihood Organization (FLO), which was formed in 2010 to strengthen the capacity of local people in Northeastern Cambodia to effectively promote their rights to resources, and to manage resources sustainably.
In 2019, Global Greenrants Fund awarded FLO a grant to build the capacity of community organizers to support local action against the proposed Sambor hydroelectric dam on the Mekong.
Information about the dam had been swirling, attracting stakeholders from conservation organizations, environmental organizations, and environmental activists to the site. Concerns included the environmental impacts of the dam, massive declines in fish stocks, significant decreases in agricultural output and water quality, and the future of people living and enjoying benefits from the Mekong.
Though numerous civil society organizations have been actively working to raise awareness of potential impacts, differing opinions about the best way to do this has created rifts within the community. Moreover, high scrutiny of local authorities, restrictions on people’s freedom, and the increase of monitoring non-governmental organizations’ dam-related work has further decreased unity.
For the members of FLO and other groups throughout Cambodia, the government’s decision was a huge victory, resulting in protected rights and a clean and healthy river for at least the next ten years.
2020 has been a good year for the Mekong Delta. In February, the Thai cabinet cancelled the Lancang-Mekong navigation channel improvement project, protecting a stretch of river from China to Myanmar, Northern Thailand, and Laos.
We’re proud of the power of collective action in the Mekong Delta, and the strength of grassroots activists mobilizing for their rights to a clean and healthy environment. This victory is another step towards a future in which progress and growth does not happen at the expense of people and planet.
Photo credit: Rajeev Rajagopalan / CC BY 2.0