Criticalwetlandmangrove
The Mekong Delta
Vietnam & Cambodia · Southeast Asia
75%
Already Lost
310
Species at Risk
45 million tons
Carbon Stored
15yr
Without Action
The Crisis
Upstream dams have disrupted the Mekong's sediment flow, starving the delta of its lifeblood. Saltwater intrusion now destroys rice crops. Coastal erosion swallows 500 meters of land per year in some areas. 20 million people face food and water insecurity.
Key Threats
Upstream dam construction
Saltwater intrusion
Land subsidence
Sand mining
On the Ground
Farmers in Can Tho watch their fields go white with salt as the sea creeps further inland each year. The Mekong once brought rich silt that made this one of the world's most productive rice bowls. Now, with 11 dams trapping that sediment upstream, the delta is literally sinking into the sea.
Location Map
