158 Greater Mekong Subregion Atlas of <strong>the</strong> Environment
Agroecological ZonesThe <strong>GMS</strong> comprises four agroecological zones thathave common farm<strong>in</strong>g systems and are subjectto similar geographic constra<strong>in</strong>ts and risks.Deltas and <strong>the</strong> Tonle Sap Floodpla<strong>in</strong>. TheTonle Sap floodpla<strong>in</strong> and mega deltas of <strong>the</strong> Red,Mekong, Chao Phraya, and Ayeyarwady riversrepresent around 8% of <strong>the</strong> total <strong>GMS</strong> land areabut house over a third of <strong>the</strong> total population, some86 million people. Rural population densities arehigh and each delta hosts a major city. The citiesprovide markets and fuel demand for staples,vegetables, poultry, and meat. The ma<strong>in</strong> delta“rice bowls” of <strong>the</strong> <strong>GMS</strong> vary from <strong>the</strong> Tonle Sapfloodpla<strong>in</strong> and <strong>the</strong> Ayeyarwady Delta, which stillhave limited irrigation and low populations, to<strong>the</strong> densely settled and <strong>in</strong>tensively farmed ChaoPhraya, Mekong, and Red River deltas; <strong>the</strong> latterproduce two or three crops a year and have highlydeveloped irrigation <strong>in</strong>frastructure (dykes, levees,and canals to divert and reta<strong>in</strong> water). But <strong>the</strong>y allsuffer from water shortages <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> dry season. In<strong>the</strong> Mekong Delta <strong>in</strong> Viet Nam, more than 80% ofdry-season flows are diverted for irrigation, result<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong> local water shortages and seawater <strong>in</strong>trusion.The deltas and <strong>the</strong> Tonle Sap floodpla<strong>in</strong> supportextensive capture fisheries, as well as rapidlyexpand<strong>in</strong>g brackishwater and freshwateraquaculture. The Mekong Delta accounts for70% of Viet Nam’s aquaculture productionand 63% of its mar<strong>in</strong>e capture fisheries. TheTonle Sap floodpla<strong>in</strong> is particularly importantbecause of its productivity and l<strong>in</strong>k to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>landfisheries of <strong>the</strong> lower Mekong bas<strong>in</strong>, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>gCambodia, Lao PDR, and Viet Nam. The TonleSap fishery alone accounts for almost two thirdsof Cambodia’s <strong>in</strong>land fishery catch and accord<strong>in</strong>gto <strong>the</strong> National Accounts of Cambodia <strong>the</strong>fisheries sector made up 7.5% of GDP <strong>in</strong> 2010.Lowland Pla<strong>in</strong>s and Plateaus. Lowland pla<strong>in</strong>sand plateaus—from forests grow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rnCambodia to <strong>the</strong> partially irrigated, extensiveagriculture of <strong>the</strong> Isan Plateau, to <strong>the</strong> highlyirrigated Central Thailand pla<strong>in</strong>—make up a quarterof <strong>the</strong> <strong>GMS</strong> and house 64 million people. Apartfrom sparsely populated nor<strong>the</strong>rn Cambodia,population densities are moderate and povertyis widespread. Lowland pla<strong>in</strong>s have been largelycleared for agriculture <strong>in</strong> Thailand and Myanmar,with <strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g native vegetation limitedto higher, steeper land. Significant stands offorest rema<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>astern Cambodia and <strong>the</strong>sou<strong>the</strong>rn Lao PDR. Poor soils are widespread,access to water is limited, and <strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>gforests have significant conservation value.Agriculture is mostly ra<strong>in</strong>fed, although annualra<strong>in</strong>fall is generally low. Lowland pla<strong>in</strong>s andplateaus produce a quarter of <strong>the</strong> <strong>GMS</strong>’s rice,mostly <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> wet season. In <strong>the</strong> dry season,farmers graze livestock on <strong>the</strong> rice stubble,plant<strong>in</strong>g a second crop of irrigated rice, orgrow<strong>in</strong>g irrigated sugarcane, maize, legumes,pulses, or cassava. Large herds of cattle andbuffalo graze <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> pla<strong>in</strong>s and plateaus. Cattleare progressively replac<strong>in</strong>g buffalo due tomechanization and dietary preferences for beef.Large-scale plantations of oil palm, rubber,eucalyptus, sugarcane, cassava, and o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong>dustrialcrops are <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> pla<strong>in</strong>s and plateaus.For example, by 2007, Lao PDR had grantedUpper: Manual tractor, Yunnan, PRC,called <strong>the</strong> “iron buffalo” <strong>in</strong> some lowerMekong countries. Lower: Carry<strong>in</strong>gfreshly harvested sugarcane, Guangxi,PRC. Women carry out vital farm<strong>in</strong>gtasks across <strong>the</strong> subregion.Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Security 159
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Number of Vehicles per 1,000Persons
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GMS Passenger Transport (million pa
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Rush hour traffic in Ho Chi Minh Ci
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Traffic congestion in Bangkok,Thail
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Rehabilitated passenger train,Cambo
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kilometers in 2008. Most lines run
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Upper left: Yangon River port,Myamn
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Suvarnabhumi airport terminal,Bangk
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GMS International Tourist Arrivals
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Satellite images showing developmen
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While GMS tourism growth is predomi