Story | 03 Mar, 2017
Hopeful signs in campaign against wildlife trafficking
As the consumerism-oriented economy has increased globally, so too has the demand for wildlife products. In the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, wildlife trafficking is severely threatening many vulnerable species, including Asian big cats, African elephants, rhinos and pangolins.
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 | 27 Feb, 2017
Local communities empowered to protect nature in Viet Nam
Da Nang City, the third largest city in Viet Nam, is taking important initiatives to protect nature. Known as the most livable city in Viet Nam, Da Nang is remarkable not only for its policy to become an environmental city by 2020 but also for the fact that its local communities also take a …
Story | 22 Feb, 2017
Ancient irrigation tanks in the dry zone of Sri Lanka play a vital role in economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects in the country. There are about 14,000 small tanks and 13,000 anicuts, feeding an extent of about 246,000 hectares, approximately 39% of the total irrigable area.
Story | 22 Feb, 2017
The World Wetlands Day is celebrated every year on 2 February. This day marks the date of the adoption of the Convention on Wetlands on 2 February 1971, in the Iranian city of Ramsar on the shores of the Caspian Sea.
Story | 08 Feb, 2017
In January 2017, Antonio H. Benjamin became the first Chair of the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law to ever visit Vietnam. WCEL membership has great potential to grow and the IUCN Vietnam Country Office in Hanoi provides great opportunities for increased cooperation. Additionally, the…
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.