Floods, storms and heat projected to cost SE Asia $34 bln per year

Reuters 23 February 2015 Falling crop yields, damage to infrastructure and heat-related illnesses brought on by climate change could cost the four Southeast Asian countries of the lower Mekong River basin $34 billion per year, researchers say. Southeast Asia is one of the regions hardest hit by the impacts of climate change, such as floods, typhoons, droughts and saltwater intrusion - when Read More…

Forest Trends recasts preservation debate, emphasizes economic…

Washington Times 22 February 2015 Michael Jenkins believes there’s more than one way to hug a tree. The president of the Washington-based nonprofit Forest Trends is trying to recast the long-running debate between developers and environmentalists over how to preserve and profit from the world’s forests. This means emphasizing redefining conservation as something that deals with more Read More…

Nomad life among bee hives

VietNamNet Bridge 21 February 2015 Apiarists usually gather there when thousands of hectares of cajuput forest is in blossom. The immense canopy is where bees come for nectar every day. Each box of bees can provide from five to six liters of honey each time in the blossom season of cajuput trees. The honey extracted from cajuput flowers has a special flavor and a particular aroma which Read More…

Mekong countries, Japan eye new development strategy beyond 2015

Bangkok Post 19 February 2015 The leaders of Japan and five Southeast Asian countries along the Mekong River plan to craft a new strategy in July for Tokyo to contribute to sustainable development of the Mekong region beyond 2015, a senior Japanese official said Thursday. "The leaders of Japan and the Mekong states will assemble to draw up a new strategy that would succeed the 'Tokyo Read More…

Global Warming May Increase Ocean Upwelling and Impact Global…

Science World Report 18 February 2015 Global warming may just increase upwelling in several ocean current systems around the world by the end of this century. The findings could mean some major shifts in marine biodiversity as temperatures climb. Upwelling of colder, nutrient-rich water is a driving force behind marine productivity. This means that increased upwelling could cause a surge Read More…

7 years of change: Documenting the transformation of Cambodia

Asian Correspondent 17 February 2015 With the first beams of sunlight, men and women would set out on wooden longboats, passing the reflection of their stilted homes onto the middle of Boeung Kak, a lake nestled in the heart of Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh. Soon, their hand-made fishing nets would be filled with flapping fish, and their woven baskets would brim with morning glory. Read More…

Oil pollution damaging sea environment

VietNamNet Bridge 17 February 2015 Scientists recently warned that oil pollution is becoming more and more serious. In theory, the 0.1 mg per liter concentration is large enough to kill plankton species and affect larvae of benthic organisms. Meanwhile, in the Hai Phong coastal areas, the oil concentration in water often exceeds the permitted level by 100-300 percent. The latest report Read More…

Rogue ‘Electro-Fishing’ Puts River Dolphins at Risk in Myanmar

National Geographic 17 February 2015 On a pale blue dawn on the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar (Burma), Maung Lay crouched at the front of his canoe, rapping the gunwale with a short stick. He then made a throaty, high-pitched purr, like the ringtone of an old telephone: his call for assistance. On cue, the shiny gray flipper of a dolphin broke the surface and waved—dolphinese for: "We're Read More…

Researchers propose high seas fishing ban

FIS United States 13 February 2015 Closing the high seas to commercial fishing could distribute fisheries income more equitably among the world's maritime nations, according to research from the University of British Columbia (UBC). The analysis of fisheries data indicates that if increased spillover of fish stocks from protected international waters were to boost coastal catches by 18 per Read More…

Vietnamese Youth Embrace Environmental Activism

Voice of America 13 February 2015 Vietnam’s transformation from poverty to a fast growing economy has taken its toll on the environment, but those who will be worst affected - young people - are taking action to change things. The rickety footpath along Long Bien Bridge, one of Hanoi’s most famous landmarks, is lined with people wearing matching T-shirts. They call themselves “The Read More…