Environment and natural resources
Government probing logging claims
The Ministry of Environment is investigating collusion between state officials and timber traders in the country’s east, Environment Minister Say Sam Al said on May 11, three days after a report exposed industrial-scale illegal logging backed by Vietnamese traders in Ratanakkiri province. The minister’s comments ...
Mineral exploration permits offered for protected Prey Lang
One of four new mining exploration permits, advertised publicly this week, is within the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary map, coordinates reveal, sparking concern among activists and community members about the strength of the forest’s recently-acquired protected status. In the first public tender of fresh exploration ...
Wildlife charity land dispute rumbles on
Villagers representing 200 families embroiled in a land dispute with a wildlife charity have written to Koh Kong provincial hall asking for permission to farm on 500 hectares near where they live. The residents were awarded land certificates for their homes in Thma Baing district ...
Dugongs face extinction in Thailand
Dugongs in Thailand’s waters face extinction unless their habitat and food sources are protected, according to a recent study. One of the most gentle marine mammals, dugongs are facing a serious threat as recent research by the Marine and Coastal Resources Department showed that only ...
Illegal meat confiscated
Koh Kong provincial authorities, in collaboration with the Wildlife Alliance, on Tuesday confiscated 50 kilos of illegal game meat as well as several wild animals that were still alive. The animals were released in Botum Sakor National Park while the confiscated meat was buried. Agriculture ...
Experts warn of environmental incidents as only 10% of urban waste water treated
Untreated or improperly treated waste water from treatment plants may lead to eutrophication, which causes algae blooms in rivers and lakes, leading to pollution, but also causing serious environmental incidents. According to the Vietnam Water Supply and Drainage Association, by the end of 2016, Vietnam treated ...
Mass fish deaths occur in Kien Giang
Residents Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang have discovered a large number of fish deaths on water surface along seashores of Kien Luong district and town of Ha Tien since May 7th. Director of the Kien Giang’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Nguyen ...
Outrage over Mekong EIA process
Local activists and academics are angry that Chinese officials and companies working on the Mekong River Navigation Channel Improvement Project will be the decision maker on an Environmental Impact Assessment of the project. The TEAM Group of Companies, a Thai consultancy hired by the Chinese state-owned company, met ...
NA debates amendments to law on electricity
Despite the draft amendment to the Law on Electricity being approved, numerous issues have been relayed to the drafting sub-committee for improvement following comments and recommendations from National Assembly members. Electricity project authorisation, impact compensation or resettlement, and project concessions were some of the topics ...
Calls to halt ‘reforestation’ plan
Fourteen community representatives speaking for thousands of families on May 9 petitioned the South Korean Embassy, Environment Ministry and Forestry Administration to halt the expansion of a controversial “reforestation” project by a Korean company situated between the protected Prey Lang forest and Mekong River. Their petition ...
