Story | 10 Jul, 2016
Flooded forest fires: a major threat to the Tonle Sap
The Tonle Sap is described by Cambodians as the heart of their culture and national economy. Globally, it is known as the heart of Cambodia’s freshwater fisheries, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and one of the most productive wetland areas in the world. The flooded forests and…
Story | 08 Jul, 2016
Drought and illegal fishing in Balot: addressing new challenges
In late June, IUCN met the Balot community protected area (CPA) committee (located in the Boeung Chhmar Ramsar site) to discuss progress with the EU-funded IUCN/FACT project to strengthen community fisheries in three sites in the Tonle Sap. The meeting raised two new challenges: extreme weather…
Story | 07 Jul, 2016
Thai communities share lessons about agricultural and water management practices
Keeping the balance between development and conservation can be a challenge in highly urbanised areas such as Bangkok and nearby provinces. In June, IUCN organised a study visit for community members from Bang Kachao, an area just South of Bangkok, Thailand, to build their capacity on…
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 | 21 Jun, 2016
Blog: Sustainable financing of a Fish Conservation Area in Beoung Periang
In December 2015, as part of a workshop on sustainable financing of fish conservation areas (FCAs), I visited a deep lake in the Tonle Sap called Beoung Periang, located in Chreav commune about 12 km from Siem Reap. The workshop was organised by the Fisheries Action Coalition Team (FACT) and…
Story | 20 Jun, 2016
Empowering women for community and ecosystem resilience
Mangroves for the Future's Small Grants Facility enabled NGO Nabolok Parishad to help local women like Promila Rani establish and run community enterprises that provide alternative and sustainable livelihoods.
Story | 09 Jun, 2016
Gulf of Mottama: Navigating muddy waters
The Gulf of Mottama is one of the world's largest areas of permanently muddy water. Sediment delivery from four major rivers – the Ayeyarwady, Yangon, Sittaung, and Thanlwin – and a 7-meter tidal range that drives currents of up to 3 meters/second, produce constantly changing patterns of…
Story | 09 Jun, 2016
Building confidence and capacity in community fisheries
On May 25, 2016, IUCN and FACT organised a workshop in Siem Reap to discuss the results and implications of 3.5 years of participatory monitoring that includes the collection of quantitative data on fish catch, debt, health, education, and other indicators, and quarterly focus group discussions…
Story | 29 Jan, 2016
Microplastics: A global disaster in the Arctic Ocean
Microplastics pollution in the Arctic and its effects on ecosystems, human health and ice formation and melting are the subject of a newly launched IUCN research project.
Story | 15 Nov, 2015
Report calls on aluminium industry to respect indigenous peoples' rights
Geneva, Switzerland, 16 November 2015 – While global demand for the world’s most popular metal – aluminium – continues to rise, it is critical that the aluminium industry address its environmental and social impacts, particularly in indigenous peoples’ territories, according to new report…