The Ramsar site is an area on the Mekong River of islands, wetlands and flooded forest north of Stung Treng and just south of the Laos border. This area has been designated a globally important wetland area and has been recognized as a biodiversity hotspot. Unfortunately, this designation provides no protection of any kind and the area is quickly being cleared of forests, overfished (including the use of dynamite and electro), and poisoned (watermelon farmers poison worms which emerge and in turn poison birds). Ten years ago this area was the home of tigers, elephants and large numbers of birds. Now all of these are gone..