Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry just made a reminder to all economic land concession companies in Cambodia that the companies must not make any sub-contracts with other companies for gaining any profits; otherwise the state will cancel those contracts quickly.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Global forest loss reached 46 million acres in 2014
Global forest loss amounted to 18.7 million hectares (46 million acres) in 2014, a decline of about 9 percent relative to 2013 and 20 percent compared to 2012, according to data released today by a team of researchers from the University of Maryland and Google. Researchers pointed out some notable hotspots, including spikes in forest loss in the Mekong region, especially Cambodia, for rubber plantations.
Multilateral Development Banks and Safeguards
Independent evaluations at multilateral development banks (MDBs) have called for a reform of the system of safeguards that they use to deflect potential damages to communities and the environment associated with the investments they finance. Without such mitigation, roads can harm habitats, dams displace communities and slum rebuilding hurt livelihoods.
Vietnam: Can Tho’s IZs attract $1.96b
Industrial zones (IZs) in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Can Tho have 220 projects in operation, with total registered investment capital of some US$1.96 billion.
Lao Authorities Pick New Company to Complete Road Upgrade Project
Government authorities in Laos have selected a new company to upgrade a major thoroughfare in the capital Vientiane, after the firm submitted an estimate that was lower than one quoted by a Chinese company believed to have ties to the country’s national leaders.
Q&A: River exploitation reaches alarming level
Over-exploitation of rivers has caused a great deal of damage. Dr. Dao Trong Tu, director of the Centre for Sustainable Water Resources and Climate Change, tells Ha Noi Moi (New Ha Noi) newspaper, in a Q&A.
Tak residents vow to fight relocation plans
Tak residents have refused to relocate after authorities declared state land in the province’s special economic zone (SEZ) must be taken back from encroachers to pave the way for new city planning projects.
Coal power projects to be delayed
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 11 coal-fired power plants was signed between the Ministry of Electric Power (MOEP) and local and international private companies in 2010, and other new coal power projects are also in the planning stage.
In Laos’ economic zone, a casino and illicit trade beckon in ‘lawless playground’
Critics say the zone has instead become a mecca of gambling, prostitution and illicit trade, raising questions about the spillover effects of China’s growing economic clout beyond its borders.
Laos intends to set up two nuclear facilities with Rosatom assistance
power-technology.com Laos is in talks with Russian State atomic energy corporation Rosatom to set up nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the country. The Southeast Asian country, one of the global leaders for hydropower, intends to set up two nuclear power units of VVER-type, with a capacity of 1000MW-1200MW each. Laos is located at the centre […]