Environment and natural resources
Unclean air: Study finds pollution at dangerous level in Ho Chi Minh City's new urban areas
A new study from Ho Chi Minh City’s environment department has found an increase in dust and toxic gas in many urban areas, warning that motorbike riders can be exposed to major health risks. According to local media, the environment observation and analysis center measured the ...
Ministry puts brakes on Pailin dump plans
Cambodia’s Ministry of Environment has called on local authorities in Pailin province to find a new location for a 34-hectare dumpsite currently planned for a protected forest. Environment Minister Say Sam Al, who led a team to inspect the site on 3 October, wrote to Pailin Governor ...
Lao officials investigate massive increase in illegal logging
A leaked report by an international environmental group revealing huge increases in illegal logging in Laos with an implication of government collusion has prompted officials in the small Southeast Asian nation to take action to examine discrepancies in timber export and import figures with China ...
With ASEAN integration come more threats to natural resources
Toek Vannara, director of the NGO Forum, discusses the likely environmental problems Cambodia and other countries could face if they do not act to protect their natural resources. Keep reading ...
Haze eases across Thailand's southern provinces
The haze from wildfires in Indonesia drifting into Thailand has generally improved in the southern provinces due to recent rain and strong winds. Chatchai Promlert, chief of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said the level of dust particles measuring less than 10 micrometres, or PM10, had dropped ...
Cambodia fully backs establishment of Lancang-Mekong mechanism: official
Advisor to the Cambodian government Sok Siphanna said 26 October that Cambodia fully supported the establishment of the Lancang-Mekong River Dialogue and Cooperation Mechanism. Keep reading ...
Locals told to move from waterfall site
Preah Sihanouk provincial authorities have told residents around the Kbal Chhay waterfalls to leave the area or risk being ejected, amid concern over pollution of the popular tourist attraction. Keep reading ...
Southeast Asia may see rise in dengue fever cases as strong El Nino unfolds
Higher temperatures in Asia, including those during a strong El Niño cycle, can drive up the incidence of dengue fever, a group of international researchers has found. For the first time, researchers have been able to review the big picture of dengue epidemics on a continental ...
Ho Chi Minh City smog to hang for another month
The smog covering Ho Chi Minh City since early this month will continue until at least the end of November when Indonesia is expected to put out its forest fires, an expert has said. After lifting for a while, the thick haze is back over many ...
ASEAN chokes on haze crisis
ASEAN leaders must seek an opportunity from the worsening haze crisis to tackle the problem at its roots and show the way to sustainable development. The smoke haze and accompanying pollutants that have blanketed several countries in the region is primarily caused by the burning of forest ...
