Environment and natural resources
The Promise and Pitfalls of Hydropower Development Along the Mekong River
The collapse of a dam this summer in southeastern Laos, which triggered massive flooding that killed dozens and displaced thousands of people, has brought a renewed focus on hydroelectric dams in mainland Southeast Asia. Proponents of hydroelectric dams argue they will bring benefits in the ...
China Reshapes The Vital Mekong River To Power Its Expansion
Chinese tourists account for more visitors to Thailand — and much of Southeast Asia — than from any other country. []What’s more, China is building a series of hydropower dams on the Mekong, which analysts say will produce needed electricity while posing major threats to the ...
Floodwaters in Mekong delta to rise in next days
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) yesterday forecast that floodwaters in the Mekong delta would rise in next days. At present, the floodwater level is slowly rising; the highest level in Tien river at Tan Chau Station in An Giang province to the west is ...
German grant to help Mekong countries deal with climate change
Germany committed to investing around 4.6 million US dollars in strengthening cross-border water cooperation among countries along the Mekong River. The fund would be utilized to bolster dialogue related to trans-boundary water resource planning and management among the lower Mekong countries: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. Keep ...
UK government warns of ‘heightened’ Mekong flooding risk
Holidaymakers travelling to Cambodia and other countries through which the Mekong River runs have been warned of a “heightened risk of flooding” by the UK government. River cruise lines including Emerald Waterways, Scenic, Pandaw Cruises and Avalon Waterways operate on the Mekong, which flows through six countries. Keep ...
China Is Winning the Race for Water Security in Asia
Great power competition in Asia is not only about control of critical waterways in the South China Sea, but also about who controls Asia’s fresh water. The future of Asia’s water—upon which about four billion people depend—lies in China’s hands. Through its presence in Tibet, ...
Regional CSOs Boycott Mekong River Forum Over Opposition to Lao Dam
Thai and Cambodian civil society organizations rejected an invitation from the Lao government to attend a regional stakeholder forum on the Pak Lay dam, saying that the prior notification and consultation procedures for the controversial hydropower project are not transparent. Keep reading ...
Thailand: Southeast Asia’s Last Hope for Wildlife?
With wildlife populations in Indochina in rapid decline, Thailand is the last great hope for the region’s natural heritage, particularly for large carnivores such as tigers and leopards. In fact, many donor organizations feel that Thailand has already achieved mid-level development status, making it more ...
Save the Mekong calls for dam review
Pressure is mounting on the Lao PDR government to conduct a fresh impact assessment study of a proposed fourth dam on the lower Mekong River according to Save the Mekong, a coalition of non-government organisations. The call for a review and a fresh impact assessment coincided ...
Laos Accused of Copy-Pasting Dam Impact Survey
An official impact assessment for a controversial new Lao dam on the Mekong river has been directly copied and pasted in parts from a previous project, a coalition of groups fighting to protect the river has alleged. The allegation came as Mekong River Commission (MRC) ...
