The impacts of sand mining make Southeast Asia’s food system less resilient and make farmers in the region more vulnerable to the impacts of both climate change and shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic.
Category: Mekong
COVID-19: Why saving our forests can help stop the next pandemic
“Pandemic risk is linked to habitat loss and exploitation of wildlife. Spillover of zoonotic viruses is more common than we realise and is happening at a rate that is faster than ever,
Air pollution clearing up in Southeast Asia
Through the crisis, we have had a glimpse of what life can be like with more breathable air. But turning this into a daily reality can only be achieved by enforcing air quality standards and rapidly reducing fossil fuels.
Mekong nations face growing threat to food security amid claims China’s dams exacerbate effects of drought
Farmers are especially hard hit because when the water level falls, they have to buy more fuel for water pumps so their costs increase at the worst time. This is driving farmers from their rice fields.
China’s Control of the Mekong
Whether through its own dams or the financing and construction of dams in other countries, China is largely in the driver’s seat when it comes to the Mekong.
Special Report: Overcoming threats to the Mekong’s forests and people
Five countries strive to meet the challenge of forest governance. This special report covers progress, problems and promising solutions.
Superbugs in livestock might kill more than the Covid-19, alerts NGO
The main zones are dangerously close to Thailand: the northeast of India, the northeast of China and the Red River delta in Vietnam.
Traders are stockpiling ivory, rhino horns in SEA
Wildlife traders have stockpiled large quantities of ivory in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia because of difficulties in transporting it to China due to Covid-19 travel restrictions and border closings.
New UN initiative to reduce plastic pollution from ASEAN cities
Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand and Da Nang, Viet Nam are among the cities to participate in the ‘Closing the Loop’ project that supports governments to address plastic waste pollution and leakages into the marine environment.
Roving bandits and looted coastlines: How the global appetite for sand is fuelling a crisis
Scientists have also confirmed river bank instability from sand mining in the Mekong, Yangtze and other large rivers. Sand dredging impacts river flow, erosion levels and aquatic habitats.