Flow modification, loss of wetlands, deterioration of habitats, pressure on the fishing industry and limited sharing of development information worries the four countries that are part of the Mekong River Commission (MRC).
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Cambodia Faces Possible Food Crisis: ‘Water But No Fish’
Growing population and changes to the Tonle Sap’s unusual seasonal rise and fall, are contributing declines in fish catches. Other contributing factors include dam construction and indiscriminate, often illegal fishing practices.
Environmental damage caused by China-Myanmar oil pipeline not addressed
“The gas pipeline has destroyed springs and other water sources but the local people do not understand this.” Officials remain silent.
ADB supports economic diversification and inclusive growth in Cambodia
On Friday the ADB endorsed a new 5-year country partnership strategy (CPS) that lays out the institution’s support for Cambodia’s goal of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2030.
Dutch foundation launches project to tackle river plastic pollution
The Mekong River in Vietnam is next in line to test a new high-tech, trash-eating barge that intercepts plastic and other waste before reaching the sea.
Coffee, gibbons – and how one saves the other
The Asho Chin community, has practiced slash-and-burn farming for generations. The deep-seated tradition has caused deforestation, endangering the Western Hoolock Gibbons living in the area. Now they are planting coffee.
Growing gap between richest and poorest Thais
Thailand is the country with the widest income inequality in ASEAN and one of the four worst performers on a world chart which included Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Egypt.
Cambodia’s energy security woes
Fifty percent of Cambodia’s population had electricity in 2016. By 2019, 80 percent of households were connected to the grid. The challenge now are rural areas where certain remote areas have almost no electricity.
Saving Sharks
Everyone has a good understanding of the famous great white sharks, but what about those species that rarely cross our human paths? There are many globally endangered species, and some of them can only be found in our local waters.