Greater Mekong

Southeast Asia’s Greater Mekong sub-region – a biodiversity hot spot – risks losing more than a third of its remaining forest cover within the next two decades if governments fail to boost protection, value and restore natural capital, and embrace green growth, warns a new WWF report. WWF’s analysis reveals the Greater Mekong has retained about 98 million hectares of natural forest, just over half of the region’s land area, but further rapid loss is expected if current deforestation rates persist. Between 1973 and 2009, the five countries of the Greater Mekong lost just under one-third of their remaining forest cover.

Hot on the heels of news to postpone the decision on the Xayaburi dam, the WWF says scientists have been discovering a new species in the Greater Mekong area every two days. More than 200 new species were discovered last year but the WWF warns that many are in danger, with the problem only getting worse as development of the Mekong river destroys and pollutes habitat. The WWF argue it is home to some of the world’s most endangered species, including tigers, Asian elephants, Mekong dolphins and Mekong giant catfish.