Reclaiming Asia’s Rivers for People and Nature
Across Asia, rivers have long served as lifelines—nourishing lands, feeding communities, and shaping ancient cultures. But for decades, thousands of dams, many now obsolete, have quietly disrupted these vital arteries. What was once hailed as progress has, in some cases, become a liability. Ageing concrete blocks migratory fish, impedes sediment flow, increases flood risk, and releases harmful greenhouse gases. Now, a powerful new idea is making waves: removing obsolete dams can do far more than clear a river’s path. It can spark a full-blown river renaissance.
This movement is gaining ground, thanks in part to an insightful article published by Francesco Ricciardi, Senior Environment Specialist at the ADB Office of Safeguards. In his piece, How Removing Obsolete Dams Can Spark a River Renaissance, Ricciardi outlines the compelling case for strategic dam removal, particularly in the Asia-Pacific. It’s well worth a read for anyone passionate about sustainable development, water resource management, or community resilience.
From Concrete Walls to Flowing Waters
Let’s take a real-world example. In the People’s Republic of China, more than 300 dams were recently dismantled along tributaries feeding into the Chishui River. The results were almost immediate. The water flowed freely. Fishers returned. Villages once facing economic stagnation began to flourish.
Locals are now hoping for the return of the elusive Yangtze sturgeon, a species absent from their nets for over two decades. As Ricciardi puts it: “One small valley shows what happens when a river is set free: nature responds, and communities feel the dividend in their pockets and hearts.”
The Economics of Letting Go
At first glance, dam removal might seem like a costly endeavour. But scratch the surface, and the economics flip. Maintaining a crumbling dam often involves repeated repairs, sediment dredging, and mounting safety risks. Demolition, on the other hand, is usually a one-time cost—and often cheaper than just one round of major maintenance.
The benefits stretch even further. Every $1 million spent on dam removal generates 10 to 13 jobs. These aren’t just short-term gigs for demolition crews. They include long-term roles for ecologists, construction professionals, tourism operators, and local business owners. That kind of ripple effect makes dam removal one of the more overlooked tools for job creation and rural revitalisation.
Safer Communities, Lower Risk
Old dams don’t just stop fish. They store risk. Their aging infrastructure turns into a ticking time bomb, especially in flood-prone regions. As storms grow fiercer with climate change, the pressure on outdated spillways intensifies. Removal wipes out this risk entirely.
In tropical regions, fluctuating water levels in reservoirs can also produce methane—a potent greenhouse gas. Taking down under-performing dams reduces emissions while reinstating sediment flows that naturally bolster coastlines against storm surges. It’s a climate win on multiple fronts.
Restoring the Ecosystem Services That Matter
Healthy rivers do more than just look pretty. They clean water, deliver fertile silt to floodplains and deltas, and support biodiversity. The value of these ecosystem services is immense but often overlooked until they’re lost. As Ricciardi notes: “What would your community gain if its river ran free again? Fisheries recover. Deltas rebuild. Waterfront property values rise—along with community pride.”
Consider this: big freshwater species have seen a shocking 90% population decline over the last 50 years. River fragmentation, largely due to dams, is the primary culprit. Reconnecting rivers is one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reverse this trend.
Mapping Swimways
Funding for restoration is never unlimited, which is why scientists have introduced the idea of “swimways” – the underwater equivalent of bird flyways. By identifying strategic chokepoints, where removing one barrier reconnects vast stretches of habitat, decision-makers can ensure the biggest bang for their buck.
A basin-wide swimway map could help target public and private investment in ways that maximise ecological, cultural, and nutritional returns. In many areas, removing just one dam can open up hundreds of kilometres of critical spawning grounds.
Europe Leads the Way
Asia isn’t starting from scratch. Europe has already removed over 3,800 dams, turning liabilities into opportunities. In 2023 alone, over 500 barriers were dismantled, spurred on by the EU Nature Restoration Law. The goal? Restore 25,000 km of free-flowing rivers by 2030.
These aren’t just environmental wins. They’re economic ones too. Towns and cities once hemmed in by concrete now boast revitalised riverfronts, booming ecotourism, and renewed local pride. The lessons from Europe could serve as a blueprint for Asia’s river renaissance.
Equity and Inclusion at the Heart
The people who benefit first and most from river restoration are often the ones who need it most. In remote villages, where protein doesn’t come from supermarkets but from rivers, fish migration routes are lifelines. When these are blocked, malnutrition and poverty follow.
Stagnant reservoirs also breed water-borne diseases, while fragile dams create anxiety among elders who’ve seen too many typhoons. Removing these hazards doesn’t just restore a river. It restores a community’s sense of safety, health, and dignity.
A Vision for Asia-Pacific
Strategic dam removal is more than an ecological intervention. It’s a chance to reimagine development itself—to focus not just on energy and irrigation, but also on wellbeing, resilience, and long-term value.
As Ricciardi puts it: “This vision of the future begins with the same courageous act: identifying a dam whose time has passed—and letting the river write the next chapter.” It’s a vision rooted in data, in people’s lived experience, and in the changing needs of a warming world.
Let Rivers Run Free
If Asia-Pacific embraces this opportunity, it could leapfrog old models of development and lead the world in sustainable water management. Communities, ecosystems, and economies all stand to gain. The first step is surprisingly simple: remove what no longer serves and let nature do the rest.
