Contradictions in Dam Building in Yunnan, China: Cultural Impacts versus Economic Growth

When choosing the site of a dam, meeting the needs of the resettled local communities should be a key criterion in making any decision to build a dam. On the basis of a pilot study in Yunnan, China, this article finds that neither displacement into the area surrounding the dam nor movement to other towns, can meet the needs of the communities displaced by dams. This is because: (a) ideal areas for dam building often do not coincide with the factors necessary to restore the economy of the resettlement communities; and (b) cultural diversity exacerbates the impacts of displacement by a dam. It is concluded that overcoming the limitations of the contradictions between dam construction and resettlement is difficult. More work is needed on the resettlements in Yunnan. The cultural dimensions should be taken into consideration before further decisions on dam building and resettlement are made.