Environment and natural resources
Mekong basin's vanishing fish signal tough times ahead in Cambodia
Tbong sits in the shade of a makeshift stilt hut over the edge of Tonlé Sap lake, surrounded by curious children. “Snake, catfish, elephant fish ” he says, his eyes crinkled against the sun. “Before, a long time ago the lake had a lot of ...
Tigers Extinct in Laos
Are tigers extinct in Laos? That’s the conclusion of a detailed new study that found no evidence wild tigers still exist in the country. What researchers did find during a five-year camera survey of the biodiversity-rich Nam Et-Phou Louey National Protected Area was evidence of snares — lots and ...
John R. Platt
China closes Mekong River stretch
China has declared a 60-kilometre section of Mekong River off-limits to all types of boats indefinitely while rock blasting is undertaken to widen the channel for commercial shipping operations. China announced on Friday that operators of all types of boats should avoid entering the river from ...
Germany offers $2.2 million to cross-border water cooperation
The German government today provided an additional 2 million euro ($2.2 million) to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to increase cross-border water dialogue, cooperation, and support efforts in monitoring trans boundary environmental impacts from Mekong mainstream dams. The funding agreement was made in a signing ceremony ...
Taing Vida
Kingdom welcomes 13 newborn Irrawaddy dolphins in 2019
The Kingdom has welcomed 13 newborn Irrawaddy dolphins in Kratie and Stung Treng provinces so far this year, according to the World Wildlife Fund. WWF yesterday said in a report its research team spotted the latest calf during an expedition to the Kampi dolphin pool in ...
Pech Sotheary
Soc Trang's forest co-management model helps improve locals’ incomes
The co-management model for mangrove forest protection in Soc Trang province has improved livelihoods in local communities and efficiently protects forests. Located south of the Hau River, the southern-most tributary of the Mekong River, Soc Trang has faced the impacts of climate change, including coastal erosion. Human activities ...
Illegal hunting a greater threat to wildlife than forest degradation
The world has long associated plummeting populations of Southeast Asian wildlife with news of forest degradation and poignant images of deforested lands. Recent studies, however, bring to light another human practice that’s been driving the decline of wildlife numbers in these ecosystems. Researchers from the Leibniz ...
From Brazil to Cambodia, Conflicts Flaring Over Land, Water
Conflicts over land and water flared across the world this year amid greater competition for resources and increasing hostility towards farmers and indigenous people, according to two reports published Tuesday. At least 108 people were killed trying to protect their land from encroaching industries in 23 ...
Cross-border cooperation crucial to conserve wildlife
A heavy mist hung over the Mekong River as the first arrest under Thailand’s new Wildlife Preservation and Protection Act took place at Cham Pong Pier, the entry point for the Cham Pong morning market. This market, located in Wiang Kaen district, Chiang Rai province, ...
Mia Signs
‘Death by plastic’ for animals must spur Southeast Asia to tackle waste crisis
The animal is dead. It can be a fish, bird, mammal or reptile. An autopsy is conducted and inevitably reams of plastic are discovered in its stomach. When I wake up every morning, I step into my bathroom and survey the shelves. There are rows of ...
Karim Raslan