Environment and natural resources

Forests and forestry

Chain saw injuries in Myanmar tied to illegal logging

As darkness fell in the forests of central Myanmar on a rainy evening last July, May Thu and her husband Myint Swe*, were wrapping up their day’s work: illegal logging. May Thu, a petite 27-year-old with long black hair and shining black eyes, clambered on ...

Agriculture, not gold or USD, most attractive investment channel

Agriculture was never found on the list of the most attractive investment channels for those who have idle money. But things are changing as the government has committed to reserve VND50-60 trillion worth of preferential capital and promised a series of preferential policies for agricultural ...

Deputy PM advises Saravan on development path

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone and his delegation recently visited Saravan provincial authorities to encourage and guide their operations in the year ahead. During the visit from February 5-6, Dr Sonexay listed the successes previously achieved by the province and plans for the year ...

Ministries urged to do more to protect forests

Forest activists and community representatives have urged the government to post markers at protected natural areas to prevent encroachment of loggers and the clearing of forest. The proposal was made at a forum on protecting and conserving natural resources on February 6 attended by the Environment Minister, ...

Minister calls for chainsaw import ban to tackle logging

Environment Minister Say Sam Al on February 6 said he would seek approval for a ban on the import of chainsaws in a bid to tackle the country’s persistent illegal logging trade. Mr. Sam Al announced his plans during a morning meeting at the ministry, ...

Ministry to closely monitor agri-business

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry will this year closely monitor domestic and foreign investment in this sector as it believes that many companies have not implemented the agreements made or complied with stipulated feasibility study methods. The ministry will strictly apply management measures to ...

How should Vietnam behave after the US abandons TPP?

Anti-globalization and protectionist attitudes are increasing in some countries, but Vietnam still has an open economy. This means big challenges for Vietnam in upcoming days. US President Donald Trump on January 23 officially pulled out of the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership, a move that The New ...

PM vows to address chronic land issues

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has pledged to find solutions to the many land issues that have emerged and the government has formed a taskforce committee to investigate the problems and resolve them. The committee will investigate land concessions, the transfer of land use rights in ...

Nan village changes farming practices to avoid burn-off woes

Ban Nam Chang village in Nan province has become a pioneer in tackling the seasonal haze problem in the North by changing its farming practices. With summer set to begin soon, farmers will soon be setting their fields on fire to clear land for the ...

10 sawmills closed, 18 others in process: official

Ten sawmills located near and inside forest areas have been closed and removed, while 18 others are in the process of being removed as part of the government’s crackdown on sawmill operations and illegal logging. The closures came after the government recently issued an order ...

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