To most people on earth – even biodiversity scientists- the Salween Basin is like the dark side of the moon. It is the second-longest river in Southeast Asia, yet few have even heard of it. Even in the populated valleys and cities of the countries that claim Salween waters – China, Burma, Thailand – people know little of this river. There are no big cities, no famous ruins, no superhighways, no dams – yet. But it is precisely this obscurity that makes the Salween Basin a place of great .