Environment and natural resources
Biodiversity
Fire in Phou Phanang Forest Contained After Nine Grueling Days
The fire, which was caused by agricultural burning in the area, had spread to 17 different villages in the Sangthong district, causing damage to an area of around 120 hectares of woodland.Around 600 people, including officials and local residents, were mobilized on 20 March to ...
Jonathan Meadley
Tiger Cubs Trafficked from Laos Confiscated in Thailand
After months of questioning the husband following initial suspicions, the police managed to arrest the couple red-handed and seized four baby tigers from them that were allegedly trafficked from Laos. The Thai police had been investigating the husband since September, and authorities eventually arrested him ...
Phontham Visapra
Overall Mekong River flow patterns do not change: report finding
Two hydropower projects along Southeast Asia’s most important river have had measurable, but moderate, impact on water flow, sediment and fisheries, according to preliminary findings of a report by the Mekong River Commission (MRC) released last week.With roughly one year of monitoring data, the MRC ...
Mekong dams must release less water in dry season to preserve habitats, experts say
Abnormally high-water levels in the Mekong River at the end of May indicate that dams on the river must release less water during the dry season to protect the ecosystem, experts said at an online panel Monday. Rain levels during the dry season this year have ...
Eugene Whong
Worries in Laos and Thailand as upstream dams drain Mekong River
Low water levels and a lack of sediment have affected the ecosystem and people’s livelihoods. Experts say the dams make the impact of periodic droughts in the Mekong basin worse and rob the river of the “pulse effect” that spreads water and nutrients that support ...
RFA
Luxembourg’s aid to support MRC’s new strategic directions
Luxembourg has provided EUR1 million (approx. USD1.13 million) in funding to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to assist Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam to maintain the ecological functions of the Mekong River and strengthen resilience against climate risks, floods and droughts.The grant ...
KPL
Mekong Countries Urged to Take Action as River Experiences Three Years of Low Flows
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) Secretariat has renewed its call for the six Mekong countries to urgently address regional low flows, water fluctuations and drought as the Lower Mekong River experiences record low flows for the third consecutive year. Keep reading ...
Latsamy Phonevilay
Fighting Poverty by Protecting Landscapes
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the World Bank have launched a US$57 million Lao Landscapes and Livelihoods Project that will generate jobs and incomes in rural areas by promoting investment in environmentally sustainable and socially-responsible forest and landscape management, and in the preservation ...
KPL
Australia, Germany, Switzerland to provide nearly USD13 m to improve Mekong’s overall state
Australia, Germany, and Switzerland on Jun 24 committed nearly USD13 million in funding to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to assist Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam to respond to pressing challenges while safeguarding the ecological function of the Mekong River and improving people’s ...
KPL
More funding for biodiversity, environmental protection
The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) will provide over 7.9 billion kip to strengthen biodiversity conservation and natural resource management activities in six target provinces.The 11 subprojects will take place in the provinces of Vientiane, Xayaboury, Huaphan, Luang Namtha and Attapeu, and in Vientiane, all of ...
Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth