Study on the Impacts of Hydropower Dams on Aquatic Resources and Livelihood of the People in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Hydropower development along the main stem of the Mekong River and its tributaries cause transboundary effects within the Mekong Basin Region, which comprises parts of six countries such as: Myanmar, Lao PDR, Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam.However, the negative impact of dam construction, mainly altered water flow and aquatic natural resources has severe impacts on the environments and the livelihoods of the rural Mekong population.This research was carried out to assess the impact of dams on exploitation of natural resources on the livelihoods of people living downstream.Results of the research will provide scientific foundation for proposing solutions to conserve and enhance the effectiveness of valuable livelihood in reducing vulnerability of people living in flooded areas.The results showed that people who live along the river are dependent on natural resources.They are mainly the poor, low education, and landless.Their income resources are mainly based on exploitation of natural fisheries and hired work.Therefore, the reduction of fisheries resources affected their livelihoods specifically reducing employment opportunities and their income, making their life unstable.Although the aquatic resources impacted on their livelihoods, only 30, 35% interviewed households in Khanh An commune, and 20, 25% in Phu Loc wanted to change their job.69, 65% of interviewed households in Khanh An and 79, 75% in Phu Loc commune would continue with their exploitation of natural fishes resources.They have no capital, land and other production facilities to change other jobs.The annual flooding of the Mekong Delta is both an obstacle and a resource to agricultural and rural development.Nearly a half of the Mekong Delta total area is continuously inundated for between four and six months August to November in the flood season [1].An Giang, one of the headwater provinces in the Mekong River Basin, should be influenced by the annual floods.According to Dao Cong Tien [2] showed that floods in the Mekong Delta last around six months, between July and December every year, one month later than flooding in the upstream of the Mekong Delta.Compared with upstream and flash flooding in the sloping areas of Central and Northern Mountain areas, flooding in the Mekong Delta occurs more gently but lasts longer.An Giang is one of the big provinces located at upstream of the Mekong River in south of Vietnam.It borders Cambodia in the North, Kien Giang in the West, Can Tho in the South and Dong Thap in the East.An Giang province is located deep inland, as the lower Mekong River and formerly of An Giang normal conditions has fresh water all year round.However, in recent years due to a number to have some number hydroelectric dam of project on the Citation: