Forests and forestry
Forest policy and administration
Vietnam to use satellite data to monitor forests, water resources
Scientists and natural resource management agencies will no longer have to pay for optical images for forest inventory and surveys after the Vietnam DataCube, a satellite database, is put into operation. Keep reading ...
Thien Nhien
Laos signs Asian Forest Cooperation Organisation agreement
Laos has signed an agreement on the Establishment of the Asian Forest Cooperation Organisation and is the 10th country to sign this document. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Lien Thikeo signed the agreement on behalf of the government, according to a statement from the ...
Asean LIP Reporter
With its Environmental Crisis, Is Laos Missing the Forest for the Trees?
Laos’ reputation as having some of the most lush and diverse forests in the Mekong remains under serious threat after a December investigation by government officials found evidence of large-scale illegal logging operations in the southern Attapeu province, despite recent efforts to end the practice. ...
Erin Cook
Thailand to clear air with Laos, Myanmar
Thailand is working with Laos and Myanmar to address the problem of cross-border haze pollution caused by the illegal burning of forests. Keep reading ...
APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
Malaysian government to ban export of rubberwood from July 1
The government will ban the export of rubberwood effective July 1, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong. Dr Wee said on Thursday that the decision was made to address the shortage of raw materials faced by the Malaysian ...
Illegal logging a perennial problem in Vietnam despite premier’s order
Natural forests in Vietnam continue to fall victim to illegal logging, despite orders from the prime minister to shut down access to at-risk areas last year. Following a directive from PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc in late June 2016, local authorities are no longer permitted to ...
Deputies critical of draft Forest Law
National Assembly deputies said on Monday that the Law on Forest Protection and Development had not clearly identified responsibility for forest protection nor encouraged people to participate seriously in protecting the country’s trees.Read more ...
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 ...
Vietnam pledges to investigate massive illegal logging violations as international pressure grows
After several weeks of silence, the Vietnamese government announced that is working to begin an investigation into allegations of widespread illegal logging in Cambodia directed by Vietnamese companies and provincial government officials. Earlier this month the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) released a damning report which ...
Organisations discuss capacity for improved regional forest governance
The Center for People and Forests in partnership with the Lao Biodiversity Association and the World Wide Fund for Nature have launched a five year project to strengthen capacity in forest governance. Supported by the European Union, the project’s objective is to empower non-state actors ...