Story | 22 May, 2017
Tapping into sustainable tourism to safeguard biodiversity
As the sun rises and the flooded forests of Cambodia’s Stung Seng wildlife sanctuary come alive with the chattering and whooping of endangered monkeys with their elegant silvery-grey fur, fishermen from the Phat Sanday commune make their way towards the lake to set their nets for the day.
Story | 21 May, 2017
Banning vs. legalise and regulate in forest management
Two years ago, on a field survey in Bac Kan Province in Viet Nam, we heard about a farmer who needed 30 stamps to get a permit to harvest a single Styrax tonkinensis tree that was growing on his land. Even though the tree was on land that was designated as plantation forest and the farmer had a…
Story | 15 Mar, 2017
Training tour guides on the beauty of nature in Ha Long Bay
“The beauty of Ha Long Bay lies in its unique geographical, landscape, biodiversity and cultural-historical values. Currently, its biodiversity values are poorly known and tourists need more information on this issue. We lack knowledge to turn these values into better products and experiences…
Story | 10 Mar, 2017
Ecosystem services for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction – a ‘win-win’ approach
Nadi, Fiji, 10 March 2017 (IUCN) – The increasing incidence and severity of disasters are leaving more people vulnerable each year. The Oceania region is particularly prone to disasters with cyclones, floods, droughts and other natural hazards such as earthquakes and tsunamis causing widespread…
Story | 05 Jan, 2017
Rethinking inclusive sustainable coastal tourism in Cox's Bazar
Home to a golden sand beach, towering cliffs, amazing surf, rare conch shells and colorful pagodas, Cox’s Bazar should long ago have been on the map as a popular tourist destination. Yet, little is known about this fascinating fishing port located in the South Asian nation of Bangladesh.
Story | 08 Aug, 2016
Ha Long Bay decision: Polystyrene banned and must be replaced
The Ha Long City People’s Committee officially announced last week the decision to ban the usage of polystyrene in floating villages and fishing activities around the Ha Long Bay World Heritage Site.
Story | 19 Jul, 2016
Viet Nam: Ha Long-Cat Ba Alliance third leadership committee meeting
On July 6, IUCN organised the semi-annual Leadership Committee meeting of the USAID-funded Ha Long-Cat Ba Alliance (HLCBA) at the Vinpearl Ha Long Resort on Reu Island in Ha Long Bay. The 66 participants included senior officials from the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Ministry of…
Story | 12 Jul, 2016
Tackling Ha Long Bay’s polystyrene plague
From a distance, the scattered beaches of Vietnam’s iconic Ha Long Bay appear pristine. But as you get closer you realize that the picturesque World Heritage Site is engaged in a battle to prevent itself from drowning in trash.
Story | 05 Jul, 2016
Tourism and sustainable financing of community fisheries in Kampong Phluk
In early June, IUCN and FACT organized a regular monthly meeting with the community fisheries (CFi) committee and commune council in Kampong Phluk, 25 km from Siem Reap, one of three sites where the EU-funded project to strengthen management of fish conservation areas (FCAs) is intervening in…
Story | 30 Jun, 2016
Action for a green Ha Long: Volunteers unite to clean-up bay
As part of the USAID-funded Ha Long-Cat Ba Alliance (HLCBA), a clean-up day was organized by IUCN and Au Co Cruises on June 14 in Ha Long Bay with over 100 volunteers from across Viet Nam.