The Bangkok Post
Mangrove forests see big growth
Thailand’s mangrove forests have increased by more than 200,000 rai, raising the total mangrove coverage to 1.73 million rai, according to Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa. Citing satellite data showing the extent of mangrove forests in 24 coastal provinces, Mr Varawut said these ...
Zoo agency sets up board to investigate illegal trade
The Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand (ZPO) board on Tuesday set up a panel to investigate the illegal wildlife trade across zoos nationwide in the wake of the disappearance of rare albino barking deer at Songkhla Zoo. Chavalit Chookajorn, the former permanent secretary of the Ministry ...
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
Asean needs to act on Mekong River
Two events happened last month that went largely unnoticed by most of the mainstream media in Southeast Asia. One was the third Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders’ Meeting between China and the five Mekong members of Asean — Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. The other ...
CHEN CHEN LEE
Salween diversion project enters troubled waters
Over the past few months, the Irrigation Department and the House Committee Review of Integrated River Basin Management have been heavily promoting an inter-basin water diversion scheme. Planned projects will divert water across Thailand, incorporating international river basins, including the Mekong and Salween, to address ...
PIANPORN DEETES
Covid and the climate crisis in SE Asia
‘A global reset”, “a sick planet”, “health security” are huge, heavy phrases that have been swirling in the global psyche for most of this Covid-19-marked year. They speak of the “must-do-something” type of issues that weigh on the minds of people everywhere, including in Southeast ...
JOHANNA SON
Water agency seeks input on Moon River Basin plan
Nakhon Ratchasima: The Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) yesterday kick started public consultations to draw up a water-management plan for the Moon River Basin. The plan is urgently needed to tackle severe drought and floods in 10 northeastern provinces, it says. The first consultation, which ...
PRASIT TANGPRASERT
OPED: Plastic waste still an issue
When it comes to policy on waste management and recycling, the Prayut Chan-o-cha administration is generally deemed to be progressive. The Natural Resources and Environment Ministry in 2018 made a landmark decision to slap a ban on the importation of plastics and electronic waste which ...
270kg marijuana seized from Mekong riverbank
Border control police on Saturday night seized 270 kilogrammes of premium-grade dried marijuana on the Mekong river bank in Tha Uthen district, company commander Pol Lt Col Apisit Rodnoy said at a press conference on Sunday. Eight black plastic bags were found by officers of the ...
PATTANAPONG SRIPIACHAI
Indigenous voices raised
Minorities and indigenous people are often among the most marginalised communities in many societies. Systemically excluded from participation in the socio‐economic life of many countries, they lack access to political power and encounter obstacles to asserting their identity. Indigenous communities comprise 6% of the world’s population ...
APIRADEE TREERUTKUARKUL
Dow-DMCR-IUCN takes mangrove conservation to the next level in the fight against global warming and marine debris
Dow Thailand in collaboration with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently held a signing ceremony for a cooperation agreement on the “Dow & Thailand Mangrove Alliance”. The collaboration ...