Environment and natural resources
Laos, WB sign up to green growth transition
Ministry of Finance and the World Bank on June 7 signed an agreement for more than 316 billion kip (US$38.6) million in credit to support key policy reforms to maintain the country’s strong economic growth. The agreement expects to benefit more people, especially the poor ...
Working group on chemicals and waste meets in capital
The Second Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Chemicals and Waste was held in Vientiane on June 7 where a variety of topics including waste management and their corresponding facilities were discussed. Speaking at the meeting, the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment’s Director General ...
How Cambodia’s record deforestation is driving crippling drought
Massive deforestation is playing a crucial role in the droughts that have devastated Cambodia. But despite an official ban on timber exports, forests continue to be cut down at a record rate. One of only two countries in the world to feature a building on its ...
Institute of herb genes conservation launched in Đà Nẵng
Đà Nẵng has established central Viet Nam’s first Green Technology Institute for Herb and Agricultural Gene Conservation. The city’s Union of Science and Engineering Associations said the institute would focus on research and conservation of precious and rare genes including more than 400 genes of herbs ...
NA discusses fisheries and forests
A draft amendment to the 2003 Law on Fisheries would allow provincial people’s committees to assign, lease and withdraw sea surface areas from organisations and individuals for aquaculture farming but a National Assembly working body says the Government or ministries should do the job. Presenting ...
Network formed to create climate resilient rice in Mekong Delta
Five Mekong Delta provinces and 11 agencies have signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in forming the Mekong Partnership for Climate Resilient Rice Research Network (MPCRR-N). The signatories were the departments of agriculture and rural development of An Giang, Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu ...
Rainforest alliance, UTZ announce merger to create single sustainability standard and certification program
In a rare instance of a merger in the non-profit world, the Rainforest Alliance and UTZ, two influential agricultural sustainability certification bodies, have announced they will come together under the Rainforest Alliance name later this year. Together, the two NGOs certify some 182,000 cocoa, coffee, ...
Myanmar will join Asian forest cooperation organization
The Union Parliament on Tuesday approved the signing of the regional agreement for the establishment of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization, after President U Htin Kyaw put forward the proposal. Burma’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation presented the proposal to Parliament last month. The organization was ...
Four million blue swimmer crabs released off Phú Quốc Island
More than four million pregnant blue swimmer crabs on Monday were released into the sea off Phú Quốc Island in an effort to replenish stocks in the area. Quảng Trọng Thao, deputy director of the Kiên Giang Province Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said ...
Hydropower dams, water diversion threaten Mekong Delta's water security
Scientists have once again raised their concerns about water security in the Mekong Delta, saying that hydropower dams on the Mekong River’s upper course as well as Thailand, Laos and Cambodia’s plans to divert the river are the biggest threats. Le Anh Tuan, deputy head ...
