The Mekong River is a transboundary river in Asia. It originates from the Tibetan Plateau and flows through six riparian countries, China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. With a watershed of 795,000 km2, more than 60 million people who reside in the Lower Mekong Basin are dependent on the Mekong River as their main source of income.
The Mekong river one of the most biologically productive rivers and it is home to a large biodiversity of species. Particularly, it is a hotspot for fishes. The Lower Mekong Basin supports the Tonle Sap Lake, the world’s largest inland fishery in Cambodia, and it serves as a source of water for agriculture. As the livelihood of many depend on the Mekong River, the six riparian countries need to develop sustainably to ensure food security in the region.