Large dam construction has significant environmental and social
impacts at different scales. As the largest developing country in
the world, China has built about half of the world s large dams,
and more are expected to be built over the next two decades to meet
the country s rapidly growing demand for energy. This book
summarizes and updates information about the history, distribution,
functions, and impacts of large dams, both globally and at China s
national level. It then addresses the environmental and
social-economic impacts of large dams in China with particular
emphasis on the impacts of large dams on relocated people and
associated compensation policies. Lastly, it introduces an
integrated ecological and socio-economic study conducted in areas
affected by dams along the Upper Mekong River, China. This book has
the following three goals.
The first goal is to summarize and update information on large
dams globally and at China s national level (Ch. 2). We examine
large dam problems from different perspectives, ranging from their
spatial and temporal distributions and their environmental and
social impacts, to discussions and debates centered on them. We
also incorporate the results of an empirical investigation of the
environmental and socio-economic impacts of large dams on the Upper
Mekong River, China, and draw conclusions out of the analysis
(Chs.3 & 4).
Our second goal is to provide an analysis framework to help
understand the environmental and social-economic impacts of dam
construction and the resulting environmental degradations and
social inequities at different scales (Chs.3 & 4), as well as
to offer recommendations for mitigating these impacts within China
s socio-political context (Ch. 5). The significant environmental
effects resulting from dam construction include damage to
ecological integrity and loss of biological diversity. The most
significant social consequences brought by dam projects are their
negative impacts on relocated people. Our analysis framework
provides approaches to help comprehensively understand these
impacts.
Our third goal is to provide clues and suggestions for further
studies of large dam problems both globally and in China (Ch. 5).
The construction of large dams is proceeding rapidly in different
parts of the world despite the heated debates on whether they
should be built at all. The decision-making process related to
building large dams involves considerations of economic viability,
environmental sustainability, and social equity. Therefore,
interdisciplinary collaborations are required in large dam research
and development projects in order to reconcile the interests of
different stakeholders and avoid harming ecosystems, biodiversity,
and human welfare. Overall, we hope our book facilitates future
examinations of large dams by providing summaries of existing data
and research related to large dams, and offering a framework for
better understanding and analyzing their environmental and social
impacts."
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