{"id":4606,"date":"2026-02-11T11:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-11T11:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/?p=4606"},"modified":"2026-02-11T11:20:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-11T11:20:50","slug":"wetlands-and-carbon-sequestration-during-mekong-river-crisis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/?p=4606&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"Wetlands and Carbon Sequestration during Mekong River crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"

As global warming awareness grows, carbon credit and clean energy policies have become solutions for governments and capitalism. However, it still presents a contradiction and immense impact on ecosystems and community livelihoods. \u201c<\/span>Wetlands and Carbon Sequestration during Mekong River crisis<\/b>\u201d forum connected the real-life situation in Ban Sam Phong, Songkhram River basin, Nakhon Phanom province, to the macro-level policies by researchers, environmental activists, community leaders, and people who were affected by said policies.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

What Happens in Songkhram River Wetlands<\/b><\/h4>\n

Wimolchan Tiyabutr<\/b> highlighted the current situation in Ban Sam Phong, Songkhram River Basin, Nakhon Phanom Province, with an overview of \u201cBung Pa Tham\u201d forest, a unique wetland ecosystem comprised of important plant species such as bamboo, Siamese cassia, and Syzygium cumini. These plants are not just trees; they are a nursery for life. During the rainy season, fallen seeds become delicious food for fish. However, harmony of the community\u2019s way of life and the seasons was severely shaken. <\/span>Wimonchan<\/b> reflected on the inconsistency which emerged in the past 5-10 years, like flooding during the dry season. Especially in March and April 2025, sandbanks should be visible and villagers should go diving for clams. The water level rose unusually high instead. It was a cycle that happened every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, or every fortnight.<\/span><\/p>\n

This inconsistency is directly linked to the water release from dams on the Mekong River, resulting in a new threat: giant water hyacinths and giant mimosa bloom. These plants flow downstream and block waterways, preventing villagers from using fishing equipment like lift nets (or \u201cYok Yor\u201d). This impacted fishing income that used to be hundreds-thousands baht per year. Most importantly, it impacts the lower Songkhram River which is like a womb for fish. The breeding fish usually lay eggs in the riparian forests. These areas are severely affected and fish\u2019s life cycle is disrupted.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Disrupted Water Cycles<\/b><\/h4>\n

Montree Chantawong <\/b>from <\/span>the Mekong Butterfly<\/b> elaborates on the causes of these problems. He pointed out that the Mekong River and its tributaries have become the epitome of hydropower dams, with over 11 dams in China, a few more in Laos, and many new projects awaiting construction, without any signs of halting.<\/span><\/p>\n

Montree<\/b> critiqued the discourse that \u201cdams are clean energy\u201d. He referred to research showing that dams in tropical forests are fundamentally different from dams in colder climates. The latter are used as case studies in reports that support the \u201cclean\u201d image of dams. In flooding for dams in tropical areas, decaying plant and animal matter accumulates underwater, emitting enormous amounts of carbon dioxide and methane, possibly even more than electricity generation from fossil fuels. Even though that complete research report has not yet been published, Montree expressed concern about these impacts and said that it\u2019s necessary to monitor the data.<\/span><\/p>\n

Later, <\/span>Montree<\/b> gave the context of the river throughout the year. He confirmed the failure of water management by dams. Water level data from several dams in Laos showed that water levels have consistently exceeded 100% of reservoir capacity since July, creating the necessity to quickly release the water 24 hours a day. The consequence was a massive volume of water, not only from natural rainfall but also from the rapid drainage. It flooded and damaged agricultural areas along the Mekong river. The most painful thing is that fisher people reported that \u201cthe fish were quiet this year\u201d because the fluctuating water levels confuse them and prevent their seasonal migration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although dam builders referred to mathematical figures to claim that the Pak Beng Dam would reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 3.16 million tons per year, or the Ban Kum Dam by 2.9 million tons per year, these figures omitted the account of the true costs: the loss of the ecosystem and the cost to local lives. When villagers could no longer fish or cultivate rice, they were forced to convert wetland areas into rubber plantations or expand to other areas for their survival. This cycle will further harm the planet. Therefore, using carbon emission reduction figures without mentioning the damage to affected communities intentionally disregards what happens on the ground and does not provide verifiable evidence that dams play a key role in driving clean energy goals and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fake Green: From Dams to Carbon Markets<\/b><\/h4>\n

Dr. Surin Onprom<\/b>, an independent forestry researcher, pointed out the connection of ecological destruction from dams to the carbon market. He stated that wetlands like the Songkhram River basin originally served as natural \u201ccarbon sinks\u201d because the soil moisture slowed organic matter\u2019s decomposition. However, when dams cause fluctuations and irregularities in water systems, permanent flooding or unpredictable droughts, decomposition rate accelerates, eventually <\/span>transforming the area from a carbon sink into a \u201ccarbon emitter.\u201d<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, with state capitalism, the global warming narrative has been appropriated for profit, narrowly viewing \u201cforests\u201d as merely carbon sinks. Forests are valued for their monetary credits, which can be bought or sold in the market. The said mechanism neglects spiritual and community livelihoods. It does not focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but rather allows the capital to purchase credits to offset their own emissions, while maintaining their positive image as environmentally conscious and continuing selling their products without changing their production systems. <\/span>Dr. Surin<\/b> emphasized that this is a new form of threat; <\/span>the state and capital collide and grab public land and resources to satisfy profit sectors<\/span><\/em>, using the pretext that \u201cthe whole world is doing it, so why shouldn\u2019t we?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Local Perspectives<\/b><\/h4>\n

Wimolchan<\/b> from Ban Sam Phong community conveyed other locals\u2019 feelings, stating that <\/span>they are weary of constantly \u201cadapting\u201d to endless changes<\/span><\/em>. If given the choice, they\u201dwould rather stay the way they were,\u201d<\/em> because changes have made their lives more difficult. Now, they struggle to earn money to buy food, while they can live and gather food from nature in the past. Government\u2019s training or community development programs often end up without providing any market to support their products, leaving villagers the consequences of these failed attempts. A large-scale pond dredging project scheduled for 2026 presents another impact. It will destroy the community\u2019s fishing grounds and mushroom-gathering areas. Their current solution is relying on managing their own resources, for example, designating fish conservation zones in each village.<\/span><\/p>\n

Amnat Traichak<\/b>, a community representative and chairman of the Mekong River Basin Community Organization Council in Nakhon Phanom Province, also shared her concerns. He stressed the transboundary impacts, particularly chemicals and arsenic flowing into the Mekong River from the mines in neighboring countries. For their peace of mind, villagers have resorted to using their own water quality monitoring tools. <\/span>Amnat<\/b> called for a halt to other dams and large-scale constructions. If the government and private entities insist on proceeding, they should <\/span>share their profits and create funds to genuinely compensate affected villagers<\/span>, <\/span>instead of only focusing on using taxpayer money to repair damage caused by private entities<\/span><\/em>.<\/em> He also emphasized that civil society organizations should exchange information and protect their homeland.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the end of the discussion, <\/span>Ahmad Tisa<\/b>, a participant from Trat Province, shared that a similar experience happened in coastal areas in the Eastern region. They are facing carbon credit projects that involve monoculture mangrove planting for the sake of credit figures. In reality, such projects will destroy mangrove ecosystems\u2019 biodiversity, leading to the loss of marine life and disruption to local livelihoods.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

In short<\/b><\/h4>\n

This forum reflects on the failure of development that is justified by clean energy and greenhouse gas reduction narrative. In turn, that narrative has created another crisis with its damage to the ecosystem and to community livelihoods. Reality on the ground clearly shows that water management of hydropower dams cause flooding during the dry season and drought during the rainy season, as well as giant water hyacinth and giant mimosa bloom. The biodiversity and income for local people were lost. <\/span><\/p>\n

In contrast to mainstream beliefs, dams in tropical areas are not clean energy because their flooding causes underwater plant and animal remains to accumulate which emits methane and carbon dioxide. While wetlands, like Songkhram River basin that used to be natural carbon sinks, have become carbon emitters after the dams disrupt the water cycle with its permanent flooding or unpredictable droughts, a process that accelerates decomposition. The carbon market, a mechanism that government and business uses for <\/span>green washing<\/b>, has deepened the issue. With their profit-seeking and resource-grabbing motives, forests, which are intertwined with community livelihoods, are reduced to mere monetary values. <\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, people still have to face cross-border impacts. Their only choice is to assemble and protect their homeland. <\/span>Till the end, they insist that if they are given the choice, they would prefer to remain where they were, being free from interference of large-scale state and capital projects.<\/b><\/p>\n

Watch full video recording at https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9i8c-SWMgwY&t=24s<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As global warming awareness grows, carbon credit and clean energy policies have become solutions for governments and capitalism. However, it still presents a contradiction and immense impact on ecosystems and community livelihoods. \u201cWetlands and Carbon Sequestration during Mekong River crisis\u201d forum connected the real-life situation in Ban Sam Phong, Songkhram River basin, Nakhon Phanom province, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4603,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119],"tags":[152,150,146,148,154],"class_list":["post-4606","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dams","tag-ahmad-tisa","tag-amnat-traichak","tag-montree-chantawong","tag-surin-onprom","tag-wimolchan-tiyabutr"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4606"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4606\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4613,"href":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4606\/revisions\/4613"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4603"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maew-sea.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}