Environment and natural resources
Myanmar releases endangered turtles into Chindwin River
Conservationists have begun reintroducing a critically endangered turtle species in its original habitat in the upper Chindwin River. The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) said it has begun the “soft release” of 40 rare Burmese roofed turtles near Linpha village in Hkamti township in Sagaing Region. Burmese roofed ...
MYAT MOE AUNG
Thai Activists Protest New Xayaburi Dam on Mekong River
A series of dams on the transboundary Mekong River has reduced water levels, damaging fisheries and causing other environmental problems for the people who depend on the waterway for their livelihoods and food. Now, as the latest dam, the Lao-owned Xayaburi, begins operations on the Lower Mekong, a Thai activist group is ...
Billion-dollar wildlife industry in Vietnam under assault as law drafted to halt trading
Vietnam’s prime minister, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, has asked the country’s agriculture ministry to draft a directive to stop illegal trading and consumption of wildlife over fears it spreads disease. The directive, seen as a victory for animal rights organisations, will lead to a clamping down on ...
Chris Humphrey
Dams in the upper Mekong River modify nutrient bioavailability downstream
The number of hydropower dams has increased dramatically in the last 100 years for energy supply, climate change mitigation, and economic development. However, recent studies have overwhelmingly stressed the negative consequences of dam construction. Notably, it is commonly assumed that reservoirs retain nutrients, and this ...
Science China Press
New dolphin calf spotted in Kratie province
A newly born dolphin calf was spotted swimming among other adult dolphins in Kampi deep pool located in Kratie province, WWF-Cambodia said in a statement. The calf was found late last week by WWF-Cambodia’s Mekong dolphin research team, it said, stressing that this is the fourth ...
Smaller fragments of forest at risk of greater levels of deforestation, study finds
Smaller fragments of tropical forest experienced forest loss at a greater rate than larger blocks between 2001 and 2018, researchers have found, prompting calls for restorative measures to be taken to increase cover in highly fragmented areas. According to a statement released in conjunction with the report, ...
Lauren Crothers
Ayeyarwady island eyed as Ramsar Site
The Forest Department wants to upgrade an island in Ayeyarwady Region that is a nesting site for sea turtles from its current status as a protected area to a Ramsar Site. A Ramsar Site is a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the ...
MYAT MOE AUNG
Lao government considers tax to protect environment
Industries that produce pollution may have to pay more taxes now that the Lao government has embraced the National Green Growth Strategy. Under the strategy, which Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith endorsed on Jan 30, the Ministry of Finance will impose taxes to discourage industries from producing ...
On the Mekong, Khon Pi rapids saved – for now
Just over a year ago, I reported on the uncertain future of the Khon Pi rapids, located near the Thai town of Chiang Khong and lying in the riverbed between Thailand and Laos. At issue was the desire of a Chinese company to blast the rapids and ...
MILTON OSBORNE
FAO help train Laos officials on climate mapping, zoning
Laos government officials completed a three-week training course on advanced Geographic Information Systems, which was implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to enable them to undertake climate mapping and zoning. The training course, funded by the Global Environment Facility, covered spatial analysis, geo-databases, network ...
