Environment and natural resources
Forest department investigates sizeable seizures of smuggled timber
The forest department has launched an internal investigation in response to sizeable seizures of smuggled timber since late January. On Jan. 24, authorities seized more than 30 tons of smuggled teak from two containers at the Myanmar Industrial Port in Yangon. Further investigations led to ...
Hanoi vows to eliminate 2.5 million old, polluting motorbikes
The Hanoi authorities are trying to recall 2.5 million old motorbikes which discharge harmful substances to the environment. However, observers don’t think the solution is feasible. Hanoi has 6 million motorbikes and nearly 1 million cars of different kinds. These include 2.5 million motorbikes in use ...
Plastic-free zone campaign at Mt Zwe Ka Bin
The first plastic-free zone campaign will be held at Mount Zwe Ka Bin from March 11 to 14. The campaign, which will be held simultaneously with the Tabaung festival in Kayin State, will involve about 350 volunteers from various organisations, including the Hpa-an Students Union, ...
Overseas Vietnamese finds solution to lack of freshwater in Mekong Delta
The Co Chien River in Tra Vinh province, at certain moments in the day, is the source of freshwater, an overseas Vietnamese man has discovered. A river water monitoring buoy provides a solution to local farmers to get freshwater for irrigation. For Vietnamese farmers, four elements, ...
Egco funds 7 new power projects
Electricity Generating Group has budgeted more than Bt30 billion this year for seven power projects both in Thailand and overseas, according to company president Chanin Chaonirattisai. Six of the projects are under construction and scheduled to start commercial operations between this year and 2019, including three ...
Law needed to regulate Thai investors’ abuses abroad: Thai, Myanmar groups
Community groups in Thailand and Myanmar have urged protection of human rights and prevention of environmental impacts – after Thai entrepreneurs were reported to have carried out abusive and environmentally damaging acts in neighbouring countries. Some 27 Thai non-government groups and the Dawei Development Association, a ...
Fight against garbage in the ocean starts at individual level: Greenpeace
Solutions to the massive garbage “islands” floating off Thailand start at the individual level, but government policy and regulation is also needed, officials and environmentalists have said. Earlier this month, pictures of large amounts of garbage floating in the sea spread on social networks and sparked ...
Govt orders further action to regulate timber industry, combat illegal logging
The government has entrusted a taskforce committee to take further action to strictly regulate wood processing businesses and clamp down on illegal logging after learning that issues continue to exist. The assignment was made after the cabinet was briefed at the government monthly meeting for ...
Gov’t gets heat for ivory decision
Cambodia, home to a number of large ivory busts in recent years, has rejected calls to destroy its stockpiles – the preferred method internationally for dealing with the seized contraband – with government officials saying they plan to exhibit it instead. Prime Minister Hun Sen ...
Unusually strong tides erode coastal land
Hundred metres of land along rivers and coastlines have been destroyed by unusually strong winds and waves, combined with rising tides in the southernmost province of Cà Mau. According to the provincial Agriculture and Rural Development Department, waves and rising tides have caused severe land ...
