Mekong Subsistence Peoples of Tibet & Yunnan Province of China.
The first 1000 kilometers of the Mekong’s length is predominantly populated by Tibetan peoples who have adapted to survive in the extremely harsh high altitude environments. The Tibetans specialize in semi nomadic herding of yaks and sheep on the high plains and terraced field agriculture at lower elevations where barley is the primary grain crop. Access to the river system is restricted by the steep sided valleys and gorges which have been carved out by the turbulent waters of the Mekong (Known locally as the ‘Zachu’). Cold weather further restricts indigenous peoples direct association with the waterway however the Zachu maintains significant spiritual significance.
After passing from Tibet into Yunnan the cultural dynamic gradually changes from predominantly Tibetan to Ethnic Lisu, Bai, Yi and Han farmers who produce rice and other grain crops on terraced fields. Like the Tibetans they generally avoid the rivers mainstream due to its perilous and inaccessible nature. In the Southern portions of Yunnan the Mekong transforms from a violent white water river to a tranquil meandering waterway where indigenous peoples from the Tai ethnic group have developed a close association with the waterway.
Around 30% of the Mekong rivers entire mainstream in China will be flooded under a series of man made reservoirs. Tens of thousands of impoverished subsistence people from various ethnic groups are in the process of being removed from their land to make way for the reservoirs. Various issues ranging from inadequate compensation, decreased food security and social upheaval have resulted for many communities.
China’s dam builders did not fully research the environmental consequences of constructing their dams on neighboring nations prior to construction commencing, nor were the neighboring nations consulted on the cascades development. To date China’s dam builders are yet to allocate a budget towards compensating the negatively impacted communities down stream of the dams. Increased cooperation with neighboring nations and greater resource allocation aimed at limiting the negative impacts of the dams at the grass roots level are considered essential if China’s Mekong stake holders are to fulfill their responsibilities to the Mekong subsistence peoples and environments. |
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