Environment and natural resources
18,000 trees to be felled for new tourist road through Vietnam mangrove forest
Ho Chi Minh City has approved a plan to build a new road through Can Gio Mangrove Forest, a biosphere reserve recognized by UNESCO, in a bid to attract more tourists. The road will be 17 meters wide and run 3.5 kilometers, which means 18,600 trees ...
Irrawaddy dolphin carcass washes ashore in Rayong
An Irrawaddy dolphin carcass was found on a Rayong beach on 14 July. Keep reading ...
Minister urges move toward sustainable seafood sector
Vietnam’s Agriculture Minister Cao Duc Phat said yesterday that localities nationwide need to step up efforts to ensure sustainable aquaculture, especially of key products like shrimp and tra fish. Addressing a conference held in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Bac Lieu to review two ...
Udon Thani locals up in arms over potash mine
Hearts of many locals in Udon Thani’s Prachaksinlapakhom district are heavy because of a pending project to launch mining operations in their hometown area. They are worried about possible pollution and adverse impacts on their health. “To tell the truth, I don’t believe in the environmental impact assessment [EIA],” ...
Gold diggers: Thai gold mine causes environmental and health problems
A major Geographical investigation looks at the devastating environmental and debilitating health effects a Thai gold mine is having on a village in Loei, and at how a group of determined villagers are fighting back This idyllic valley is the stage for the violent suppression of popular protests in the ...
Thailand's NRCT strikes deal on haze reduction in northern region
The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) has made an agreement with the 3rd Army Area on a cooperative effort to reduce haze disasters caused by burnings in the northern region. The NRCT Secretary-General Soottiporn Chittmittrapap has revealed that the NRCT has joined hands with the ...
One man's quest to save the most colossal fishes on earth
Zeb Hogan has been funded by National Geographic to research giant freshwater fish. “After working on this for about 10 years,” he says, “it turns out that there are about 30 species of freshwater fish that can get over 6 feet long or weigh more than ...
Laos: New farming methods suited to climate change
Poverty and scarce food supply was just a fact of life for the people in Koutou village, Luang Namtha province, Laos. With most people relying on rice farming and livestock for their livelihood, there were few options for other income. Koutou is one of 13 villages ...
Mekong's steady flow of tourism
Pongpet Mekloy argues that Thailand and Laos need to work closer together in order to capitalise on their joint attractions that line the mighty river. Research by Si Sa Ket Rajabhat University is highlighted, which investigated the potential for tourism along the international river, focusing on the ...
DMR hosts the 3rd Thai - Lao technical conference on geology and mineral resources
Thailand is hosting the 3rd Thai – Lao Technical conference on Geology and Mineral Resources, which is being held at the Golden Tulip Sovereign Hotel, Bangkok, 7-11 July. Thailand and Lao PDR have been working together on geology and mineral resources study for over 12 years. ...