by Marshall Chisholm

Created on: December 15, 2010   Last Updated: December 19, 2010

Resources are broken into two main categories: renewable and non-renewable. Renewable resources are the more eco-friendly of the two because their acquisition and use does not reduce their availability, nor impact the environment in a major way. Non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels are considered to be of greater worth since we cannot generate more of the resource. The primary concern for the future is resource management. So the goal for society is to develop a system that relies almost entirely on renewable resources rather than non-renewable. Renewable resources are regarded as the pinnacle of resource conservation and eco-friendly practices. However acquisition of these resources creates problems when not considered for long-term side effects on the environment, and for communities near such sites.

Hydroelectric power has become very popular for modern energy plant methods. The Mekong River is one of the world’s largest free-flowing river systems running an estimated length of roughly 5,000 km. Plans have recently been enacted to install 100 hydroelectric power plants along the river and its tributaries. While these power plants will bring in much needed income for the struggling countries in the region, several issues have been brought to light with this plan. In the Mekong River Basin specifically, there are issues with the biological life within the water and along the shores. Presently, the annual income for fishing along the Mekong River has been roughly the same as the income for hydroelectric power facilities along the river (Hanak, 2007). Fish are considered renewable resources so long as they have an environment able to sustain them. Centralized dam projects will fundamentally change the distribution of benefits derived from the river, drastically affecting several renewable dynamics of the river.

Several species present in the Mekong river travel vast distances in the river according to season for mating and giving birth to young. Dam projects interrupt these migration patterns, leaving the various species of marine life with the task of adjusting to restricted travel routes. In addition to disruption of mating seasons, several smaller aquatic creatures may find their way into the power generation turbines and be crushed. Chemicals from the plants (such as mercury and methyl-mercury) have created issues along the banks for land animals that frequent banks for food and water. In addition to the animals that are affected, the plant

• 1
• 2
• 3
• ...
• 8
• Next Page >>