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Children swimming in the Nu River (Wang Yongchen) key documents View this page in: Chinese

The Nu/ is one of the region’s last free-flowing more on this campaign Nu River Hydropower Triggers rivers and is shared by China, Thailand, and Burma. The river Blogs (5) “Word Wars” Document Library (23) originates on the Tibetan Plateau and flows through China’s Images (24) World Heritage Site, before becoming Video (3) the Salween in Burma and Thailand and emptying into the Andaman Sea. China's Global Role China: Other Projects learn more about: Dam Plans Revived in China Jinsha River China The World Heritage Site in China is known as the epicenter of Lancang () River Chinese biodiversity and contains over 6,000 plant species and South-North Water Transfer is believed to support over 25% of the world’s and 50% of Project featured multimedia China’s animal species. This unique ecosystem and the communities that depend on it for their survival are threatened Dam by plans to construct a 21.3 GW 13-dam cascade on China’s Double Threat portion of the river. The projects would displace 50,000 ethnic on the Nu minority people. One village has already been relocated. News of the dams triggered UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee to issue a warning to the Chinese government in 2005 that any Interview with dam construction within the World Heritage property "would Peter Bosshard provide a case for inclusion of the property in the List of World and Katy Yan on Voice of America Heritage in Danger."

In an incredible victory for the burgeoning Chinese environmental movement, in 2004 Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Hydropower on announced the suspension of all projects on the Nu River the Nu River pending further scientific study. However, in February 2011, Chinese officials revealed plans to resume the Nu River dams as part of China's 12th Five-Year Plan, which aims to add up to join us! 140 GW of new hydropower capacity to meet its renewable Login/Register energy targets. Map data ©2011 - View larger map Groups Call for Halt to Burmese Dams

Communities living downstream in Burma and Thailand have voiced strong opposition to dam construction on the river both within China and on the lower stretch of the Nu/Salween in Burma. Five large dams and a water diversion project are currently being pushed by the governments of Burma and

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Thailand for the lower Nu/Salween in Burma, despite recent conflicts near the dam sites. Thousands depend on the Nu/Salween for their livelihoods. Fisheries are a major source of dietary protein for communities, and the river’s nutrient-rich waters sustain vegetable gardens and farmlands.

International Rivers is working with a coalition of NGOs to stop the dams in China and Burma, protect this precious resource, and find real solutions to climate change that don't sacrifice rivers and livelihoods.

MORE INFORMATION:

Read about International Rivers' latest field visit "China's big hydro wins permission for 21.3GW dam in world heritage site," The Guardian, February 1, 2011 Watch our latest 3 minute video about hydropower on the Nu River.

LATEST ADDITIONS:

Interview: New Decision-Making Tool to Assess Dam Impacts

UNESCO World Heritage Committee: "Notes with Concern" Unapproved Dam Construction on the Nu River

Recognizing Dams as a World Heritage Threat

Nu River Under Threat

Double Threat on the Nu

PARTNERS:

Salween Watch (Burma/Thailand) Green Watershed (China)

CONTACT US:

Katy Yan [email protected] +1 510 848 1155

Pianporn Deetes [email protected] +66 814 220 111

International Rivers, 2150 Allston Way, Suite 300, Berkeley, CA 94704-1378, USA Tel: +1 510 848 1155 | Fax: +1 510 848 1008 | E-mail: [email protected] Please use our contact form to submit errors, comments or bugs. International Rivers is licensed under Creative Commons

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