Headwaters of Six Great Rivers of the World: Qingzang Plateau — An Author Interview on Dams, Transboundary River Governance, and Environmental Change in Asia

Abstract

This interview-based contribution presents the main scientific themes of Headwaters of Six Great Rivers of the World: Qingzang Plateau by Kenneth R. Olson and Wadslin Frenelus. The discussion focuses on the Qingzang Plateau as the hydrological source region for six major Asian river systems and examines the environmental and human consequences of hydropower development, sediment trapping, river regulation, and transboundary governance. Particular attention is given to the Lancang-Mekong system, the role of dams in altering flood pulses and sediment delivery, the ecological significance of river connectivity, and the social consequences of resettlement. The interview also addresses the environmental effects of war, especially arsenic contamination linked to Agent Blue in southern Vietnam and the degradation associated with conflict in Myanmar. Across these cases, the text argues that river management must be understood not only as an engineering problem but also as an ecological, political, and public-health problem. The contribution highlights the need for stronger interdisciplinary analysis, more effective transboundary coordination, and policy approaches centered on resilience, livelihood restoration, and long-term ecosystem protection