Environment and natural resources
MRC to hold 2nd Regional Stakeholder Forum on Pak Beng hydro development
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) will hold its second Regional Stakeholder Forum on the hydropower development at Pak Beng in northern Laos. The forum will be held on May 5, 2017 in Vientiane. The MRC has called for public comment on the consultation process for ...
US EPA confirms continuity of open data service
US Environmental Protection Agency Public Affairs Director confirms that EPA’s Open Data Web service will not be turned off, given a continuing resolution is passed on April 28, 2017. The service will remain operational and available.Read more at Bernadette Hyland’s Medium article. ...
EITI releases progress report 2017: ending company anonymity – the key to fighting corruption
The Extractive Industries Transparency Index (EITI) has released its 2017 progress report, highlighting issues such as ‘Tackling hidden ownership in the extractives sector’, recommending ‘Policy steps towards tackling a trillion dollar challenge’, and ‘Mainstreaming EITI disclosures’. You can view an interactive version of their report or ...
An overview of large-scale investments in the Mekong Region
Focus on the Global South has released a new report on large scale investment in the Mekong region. Read their release below, and download the report here.Across the Mekong region, ‘development’ has become synonymous with rapid economic growth, to be achieved through predominantly large-scale, private investments. The ...
MRC announces Mekong Day event to celebrate signing of Mekong agreement
Today marks the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the Mekong Agreement between Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam. It is a founding agreement on regional collaboration on water management that established the Mekong River Commission.The MRC will celebrate the Mekong Day tomorrow with ...
Logging, mining, and agricultural concessions data transparency: a survey of 14 forested countries
Logging, Mining, And Agricultural Concessions Data Transparency: A Survey Of 14 Forested Countries. “Global demand for timber, agricultural commodities, and extractives is a significant driver of deforestation worldwide. Transparent land-concessions data for these large-scale commercial activities are essential to understand drivers of forest loss, monitor ...
Winrock's Watershed Ecosystem Services Tool is now live
Under the USAID Supporting Forests and Biodiversity (SFB) Project, Winrock International has developed an innovative online tool to assess the ecosystem service impacts of land use decisions in Cambodia. The Watershed Ecosystem Services Tool (WESTool) integrates cutting-edge analyses with a user-friendly online platform to give ...
Lao PDR is to undertake MRC’s prior consultation on its new hydropower development plan in Pak Beng
The Lao government has notified the Mekong River Commission (MRC) that it will seek the the MRC’s prior consultation on the Pak Beng hydropower project in Oudomxay province. See the full release below, and at the MRC’s website. —Vientiane, Lao PDR, 7 November 2016 – The ...
IDI launches 'accountability hub' for land, housing and resource rights
Inclusive Development International has launched an online accountability hub to provide resources for advocates to conduct investigative research in support of communities whose rights and resources are threatened by investment projects. Visit ‘Following the money to justice’ to see what it’s all about, and see the ...
Regional guidelines on public participation in environmental impact asessment
Mekong Partnership for the Environment (MPE)’s Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) have invited public comment on their draft regional guidelines for public participation in EIA. See an introduction to the guidelines below and access the full set of guidelines at their website ...