On the Mekong, Khon Pi rapids saved – for now

The Interpreter – Just over a year ago, I reported on the uncertain future of the Khon Pi rapids, located near the Thai town of Chiang Khong and lying in the riverbed between Thailand and Laos. At issue was the desire of a Chinese company to blast the rapids and thus open the course of the Mekong for commercial navigation between Southern Yunnan province and the former Lao royal capital of Read More…

MRC story on livelihoods of fishing communities along the Mekong

Khmer Times – The Mekong River Committee (MRC) today released a report on safeguarding livelihoods for fishing communities in Mekong countries, including Cambodia. In this report, MRC has reviewed the community at Dun Ei, a fishing village 180 kilometres northwest of Phnom Penh, where has been making a living through fishing along the Pursat River for generations.In recent years, Read More…

Push to stop plastic in Siem Reap

The Phnom Penh Post – The Ministries of Environment, Education, Youth and Sport, and the Cambodia Rural Students Trust (CRST) have collaborated to implement an environmental care project called Project “R” in Siem Reap province. The project aims to improve the environment and promote plastic reduction by providing 40,000 refillable water bottles for junior high and high school Read More…

Tunnel Work on Laos-China Railway Pollutes Local Waterways

Radio Free Asia – Construction work on a railway project linking Laos with China is filling a creek in Vientiane province and other local waterways with waste released by the boring of tunnels, polluting the water and harming the livelihoods of local residents, sources in Laos say. Water in the Houay Pamom Creek in the area of the Vang Vieng district’s Phahom village, though normally Read More…

‘Houses On The River Will Fall’: Cambodia’s Sand Mining…

NPR – Some 60 million people rely on Southeast Asia's Mekong River for their sustenance. But the Mekong is under threat. While China is building dams that sharply reduce the water flow and sediment downstream, other countries along the river share some of the blame. Cambodia, for instance, is experiencing a building boom that is transforming its capital, Phnom Penh. Sitting at the Read More…

A New Dolphin Calf Spotted in Kratie Province

Cambodian Tribune – A newly born dolphin calf was spotted swimming among other four adult dolphins in Kampi deep pool located in Kampi village, Sambok commune, Chetr Borei district, Kratie province, said WWF-Cambodia in a statement released yesterday. The calf was found three days ago by WWF-Cambodia's Mekong dolphin research team, it said, stressing that this is the third dolphin calf Read More…

Vietnam puts the Mekong’s fate on ASEAN’s agenda

Nikkei – In a nod to green diplomacy, Vietnam is raising the geopolitical stakes over the Mekong River, Southeast Asia's largest body of water, which has dropped to record lows due to a severe drought and construction of large dams. Hanoi has signaled its intent to raise the issue this year as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. By putting the Mekong, which is shared Read More…

Mekong Delta grapples with erosion, subsidence

Vietnam Plus – Erosion and subsidence along canals, rivers and coasts have been severe in many areas in the Mekong Delta and local authorities are struggling to raise funds for works to prevent them. Ca Mau province has around 1,000 such sites along canals as hot weather and drought have caused most canals to dry up, according to the provincial People’s Committee. In Tran Van Thoi Read More…

Mekong pilot program to monitor impact of Lao dams on lower basin

Vn Express – Transboundary environmental impacts of Laos' Xayaburi and Don Sahong dams will be monitored under a two-year program following a call for more data transparency. The Mekong River Commission (MRC) said Monday the pilot program would allow stakeholders to identify practical adaptive management actions and initial measures to mitigate some of the potential impacts from the Read More…

Water supplies dry up as Thailand reels under worst drought in decades

Down to Earth – A shorter-than-normal monsoon, below-average rainfall, and El Nino condition leading to abnormally high temperatures drove Thailand to its worst drought in more than 40 years. A map released by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Earth Observatory on February 15, 2020 showed below-normal subsurface soil moisture in large parts of Read More…