“Attacks by the military on Indigenous peoples and environmental defenders means that the forests are at risk – and for this reason we want to say to the world ‘this coup doesn’t just affect our country, but the future of the globe.’”
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
The challenge of water management in Thailand
The recent centralized water planning restructuring has not been desirable. It ignores core principles of integrated water resources management, which require local participatory planning and action based on local knowledges and understanding of water-related issues, the agency mostly just focuses on mega-projects.
Could China’s coal call clean Cambodia?
The Chinese announcement may impact coal projects that have not closed finance and started construction — this includes the 700MW coal project in Koh Kong province and the deal with Laos to import 2,400MW of coal power and the powerlines through Prey Veng province.
Vietnam bids to woo Cambodia, Laos from China
Vietnamese authorities are increasingly concerned about developments on China and Laos’ stretches of the shared Mekong River. But Vietnam and Thailand, another historic ally of Laos, have so far failed to persuade the Vientiane government to rethink its impact on the Mekong.
Military coup overshadows Sweden’s work in Myanmar
Today no form of aid goes to the state or any state institutions but instead exclusively to civil society organizations.
Gold mining venture in Cambodia starts seeing returns
Ministry of Mines and Energy director-general for Mineral Resources Ung Dipola described the progress at the Okvau mine as a “source of pride” for the government and all the stakeholders, and it showed the untapped potential in the mining sector in Cambodia, which he termed a “sovannaphum”, or golden land.
Ministry reports illegal land grabs in Bokor National Park
Authorities have identified 201 cases of illegal land encroachment, involving more than 619 hectares, in Preah Monivong (Bokor) National Park from July 3 last year to July 31 this year.
Drones may help replant forests—if enough seeds take root
In Myanmar, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, drones have been used to help plant mangrove trees, a potentially impactful development, since trees planted near the equator capture more carbon than those planted elsewhere.
Sino-Thai rail line back on track
The Thai government has paid more than 179 billion baht for the construction project which is divided into 14 contracts whereas the Chinese government is responsible for overseeing design and construction work, supplying the railway signalling systems and train carriages, and training personnel.
Dams fail but still vital
Ban Kaeng Sila village in Khon Kaen’s Ubon Ratana district is just one kilometre away from Ubolratana Dam, the largest irrigation dam in the Northeast.. But local farmers had to endure severe drought for three years between 2018 to 2020, as the dam’s reservoir dried.