A long-running war and COVID-19 muddle development in Kyaukphyu, Myanmar.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Who Cares About Kaavan?
A feel-good story about an elephant has distracted attention from the dire state of the environment in Cambodia.
Việt Nam’s farming land faces challenges
Farming land area in the next few years will not increase, even in areas like the Mekong Delta region or Central Highlands.
Long An to expand high-quality, hi-tech rice farming
The Mekong Delta province of Long An plans to increase its rate of high-quality rice cultivation to 70 -75 percent during 2021 – 2025 from the current 50 percent, according to its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Habitat loss is driving human-elephant conflicts in Thailand
Their status as sacred creatures has not stopped some wild elephants from killing three Buddhist monks in three separate incidents in just a few weeks.
The Fate of Agent Blue, the Arsenic Based Herbicide, Used in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War
It is urgent that elevated arsenic concentrations in water supplies and agricultural products for the 15 million people in the Mekong Delta be identified and mitigated.
China-Laos joint venture of refinery kicks off commercial production
Lao Petroleum & Chemical Co. Ltd (Laopec), a China-Laos joint venture, has launched first phase production of its three million tons/year refinery project in Lao capital Vientiane on Monday.
Alleged gov’t-linked land grabs threaten Cambodia’s Cardamom Mountains
Due to Cardamoms’ remoteness, they had largely been spared the human encroachment that has razed much of the rainforest across the country – until infrastructure development in 2020 opened up the area to loggers, poachers, and others seeking to exploit the region’s forests.
Water issues at the centre of Mekong Delta planning
The region has never faced as many challenges as now including challenges from climate change or pressures from socio-economic development.
Yangon ports now able to receive bigger ships
The improved capacity of the Yangon River is expected to enable more containerised cargo throughput at the port and encourage higher volumes of trade. About 95 percent of Myanmar’s trade is conducted by sea.