The economic and social transformation of the twentieth
century saw a dramatic increase in human population,
economic activity and demand for natural resources
(Costanza et al. 2007). In particular, the end of World War
II was followed by a marked acceleration in the scope,
scale and intensity of human impacts on the environment
(Costanza et al. 2007). The Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment documented these impacts, and concluded that
they had fundamental consequences for human well-being
(MEA (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) 2005).
There is some evidence that a reduction in the rate of
anthropogenic impacts on natural ecosystems is occurring
due to declining fertility and birth rates, the emergence of
environmental institutions and governance, and changing
values and behaviours (Hibbard et al. 2007). This deceleration,
however, is still modest, is confined largely to the
post-industrial economies, and it remains unclear whether
and when signs of deceleration will emerge in other regions
(Hibbard et al. 2007).
We considered this issue through study of the fisheries
of the Mekong river, a biologically diverse and highly
productive ecosystem (Campbell 2009) that is the focus of
intense development attention (Molle et al. 2009). We
examined the potential impacts of proposed dam developments
on fish migrations in the Mekong and their implications
for the basin’s fisheries. These are amongst the
most important of the river ecosystem’s provisioning services
(MEA (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) 2005),
and their condition and future prospects provide important
insights into the basin states’ capacity to pursue economic
development while maintaining natural ecosystems and the
services they provide.
The economic and social transformation of the twentiethcentury saw a dramatic increase in human population,economic activity and demand for natural resources(Costanza et al. 2007). In particular, the end of World WarII was followed by a marked acceleration in the scope,scale and intensity of human impacts on the environment(Costanza et al. 2007). The Millennium EcosystemAssessment documented these impacts, and concluded thatthey had fundamental consequences for human well-being(MEA (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) 2005).There is some evidence that a reduction in the rate ofanthropogenic impacts on natural ecosystems is occurringdue to declining fertility and birth rates, the emergence ofenvironmental institutions and governance, and changingvalues and behaviours (Hibbard et al. 2007). This deceleration,however, is still modest, is confined largely to thepost-industrial economies, and it remains unclear whetherand when signs of deceleration will emerge in other regions(Hibbard et al. 2007).We considered this issue through study of the fisheriesof the Mekong river, a biologically diverse and highlyproductive ecosystem (Campbell 2009) that is the focus ofintense development attention (Molle et al. 2009). Weexamined the potential impacts of proposed dam developmentson fish migrations in the Mekong and their implicationsfor the basin’s fisheries. These are amongst themost important of the river ecosystem’s provisioning services(MEA (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment) 2005),and their condition and future prospects provide importantinsights into the basin states’ capacity to pursue economicdevelopment while maintaining natural ecosystems and theservices they provide.
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