The Mekong Basin encompasses parts of six countries (Fig. 1) with a total population of
around 70 million people. The Mekong River is the largest river in South East Asia, and has
immense cultural and economic significance for the people of the region, as well as
supporting diverse and unique ecosystems such as Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia. The water
resources of the basin contribute substantially to the economies of the countries as well as
to local livelihoods and food security. A comprehensive overview of the Mekong Basin and
its resources are available in MRC