SBR- Content.pmd - INBO

14 - Cooperation in the Mekong BasinCooperation in the 14Mekong Basin1. Cooperation is crucialCountries that share boundaries are stronglyinfluenced by their neighbours. Populations havealways moved, but increasing numbers are movingto seek employment and better living conditions.Thus wealthy countries attract people from poorerneighbouring countries and this can cause socialproblems in both countries. Similarly,environmental and other political decisions takenin one country can affect its neighbours. If onecountry introduces very strict industrial effluentlaws, some polluting industries may relocate toneighbouring countries. If over-exploitation usesup a particular natural resource in one country itmay lead to increased exploitation in neighbouringcountries to supply the market.Where countries share river basins, the potentialfor the actions of one country to influence anotheris even more acute. Upstream countries may divertwater, reducing availability for downstream users.Flood protection works at one site along a rivermay exacerbate flooding problems elsewhere,either by downstream retardation structuresincreasing upstream flooding, or upstream drainagestructures increasing floods downstream. BarriersToxic spills in a river can affect water quality andaquatic life far downstreamerected to control saline water intrusion may impede the movements of anadromous and catadromousfish that move between the river and the sea, thus affecting upstream fisheries, while pollution fromupstream sources may impact on downstream fisheries.If people from several countries are to live peacefully and equitably within a river basin it isobvious that there must be a spirit of transparency, trust and cooperation both within and betweencountries. If development is to be successful within river basins, it is also clear that developmentmust take a basinwide perspective if it is to help in reducing, rather than intensifying, tensionsbetween countries.283