Story | 26 Apr, 2017
Working together to build MPAs for long-term marine resources management
Our oceans, coasts and wetlands are crucial for our survival. Mangrove forests, for example, sequester massive amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and protect coastal communities from cyclone storm surges, while coastal wetlands and coral reefs provide breeding and nesting grounds for…
Story | 05 Apr, 2017
CEPF launches two new calls for proposals in Indo-Burma hotspot
The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) has launched a call for proposals for projects in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, Viet Nam and parts of Southern China. A separate call for proposals for projects in Myanmar has also been issued simultaneously.
Press release | 03 Apr, 2017
Enhancing regional cooperation to protect and restore Indo-Burma wetlands
The importance of regional cooperation took centre stage at the first Steering Committee meeting and inception workshop for the Indo-Burma Ramsar Regional Initiative (IBRRI), held on 29 and 30 March in Bangkok, Thailand.
Blog | 21 Mar, 2017
Blog: Bangladesh has 268 wild elephants. What does it mean to us?
On this year’s International Day of Forests (21 March), the Government of Bangladesh has unveiled two new publications on Asian Elephants in the country. These books reveal the latest estimates of Bangladesh’s elephants along with their distribution, routes, and corridors. Haseeb Md. Irfanullah…
Story | 02 Mar, 2017
Significant development of the Mekong triggers study of conservation priorities
The Mekong, which runs through six countries – Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam – is of fundamental cultural, ecological and economic importance to the entire Mekong region. What stands to be gained from the river’s development for economic purposes is as great as the…
Story | 28 Feb, 2017
Biodiversity and sustainable development goals in Lao PDR: Capitalising on coordinated efforts
IUCN and the Lao National Mekong Committee Secretariat (LNMCS), under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and MONRE co-organised a workshop on 17 February 2017 to facilitate discussions on the modalities and arrangements for…
Story | 06 Feb, 2017
Botanical Garden in Lao PDR: Generating awareness for biodiversity conservation
After seven years of preparations, the Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden in Luang Prabang, Lao PDR opened to the public last month. The jungle of regrowth which almost obliterated the garden has given way to an extensive series of medicinal plants, lotus-filled ponds, bamboo and palm trees and a…
Story | 02 Feb, 2017
On the occasion of World Wetlands Day on February 2, IUCN is announcing the launch of a regional project to enhance the resilience of wetlands in Lower Mekong countries. Funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation,…
Story | 02 Feb, 2017
MFF/FAO joint report: New low-cost mechanism for investing in mangrove protection and restoration
Mangroves for the Future (MFF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have designed a new low-cost mechanism that enables investors to promote mangrove conservation and restoration through provision of funding to local communities.
Story | 20 Jan, 2017
Adopting a wetland management committee in the Gulf of Mottama
A National Wetland Management Committee was successfully established at the "Pre-Consultation and Forming a Wetlands Management Committee Workshop”, jointly organised by HELVETAS, Network Activities Group (NAG), Biodiversity And Nature Conservation Association (BANCA) and IUCN on 23 November…