Mekong river (lancang) ecosystems and plant communities, Yunnan

Mekong River

The mighty Mekong, meandering through Yunnan, is taking on the colour of the soil in its watersheds. Unsustainable land-use systems in the mountains, are the reason. Crops like sugar cane, corn, and pine apple are not able to hold the top soil, and every rain washes millions of tons of soil into the river.
In addition, most forest in the tropical areas of Xishuangbanna has been cleared for rubber plantations, which provide little habitat for biodiversity protection of this unique place. However, rubber is no longer a viable crop for the area as economic return is steadily declining (read environmental economic report).
What is worse, however, is that more "development" is ahead.

Typical boat on the upper Mekong, Lancang. In the background rubber plantations and shifting cultivation. The banks are covered with bamboo and a characteristic xerophytic vegetation.

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Ecosystems and their plants and animals along the banks of the upper Mekong pools and puddles Plants and their habitats Bauhinia variegata candida Mekong fairy bush Mekong river palm (threatened by extinction) Fragrant Mekong shrub	Mekong River The mighty Mekong, meandering through Yunnan, is taking on the colour of the soil in its watersheds. Unsustainable land-use systems in the mountains, are the reason. Crops like sugar cane, corn, and pine apple are not able to hold the top soil, and every rain washes millions of tons of soil into the river. In addition, most forest in the tropical areas of Xishuangbanna has been cleared for rubber plantations, which provide little habitat for biodiversity protection of this unique place. However, rubber is no longer a viable crop for the area as economic return is steadily declining (read environmental economic report). What is worse, however, is that more "development" is ahead. Typical boat on the upper Mekong, Lancang. In the background rubber plantations and shifting cultivation. The banks are covered with bamboo and a characteristic xerophytic vegetation. HOME CULTURE spirituality : design : water : fashion ANIMALS amphibia : reptilia : butterflies : panda : takin TRAVEL ecotourism : Xishuangbanna : Shangrila : Yunnan : Mekong KNOWLEDGE books : Buddhist flowers : consulting : science of ecology : medicine PLANTS & SEEDS bananas : ginger : herbs : orchids : trees : succulents : lianas : sacred trees ART Gabrielle's traditional motive Chinese jewelry : Wu Jialin's black and white photography ECOSYSTEMS rain forests : river banks of the Mekong : pools : sacred forests : sinter terraces : chili growing CHINESE MEDICINE AIDS/HIV : asthma : acne : herpes : hepatitis : cancer : diabetes : health tea : malaria : Puer tea : orchid tea WHOLESALE NatureProducts.Net is the Thai internet portal for biodiversity products designed to protect endangered species in cooperation with local ethnic communities a project of the TianZi BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, China © 2000 - today		The banks of the upper Mekong river are a peculiar habitat of extreme environmental conditions. During rainy season the water level can be more than 20 meters higher at some places. Some plant species have adapted to this special environment and can even take inundation by the torrential waters. Shrubs at the upper water level of the Mekong river Roots of shrubs at the Mekong banks reaching the dry season water level of the river. Farming systems in the drift sands of the Mekong river. The farmers use corn, peanuts, and sweet potatoes.

The Mekong river banks