IUCN - Mekong Water Dialogues

Transboundary Fish Trade Study Presented at the Mekong Environmental Symposium

2013-05-16

IUCN Lao PDR recently put together a team of researchers from Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Thailand to conduct a study on employment generation of the fish trade along one of the three major transboundary routes in the region, between Stung Treng, Cambodia; Champassak, Lao PDR; and Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand.

"Mekong Days"

2013-05-11

Robert Mather, Head of IUCN Southeast Asia Group, was in Washington, DC for the U.S. debut of the film “MEKONG”, which examines the issues of hydropower development and its impact on Mekong citizens' lives. IUCN, Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD), Challenge Programme for Food and Water (CPWF), and the Goethe Institute set up the debut of the film during the DC Environmental Film Fest, and also planned related “Mekong Days” -- several days of events held over 22-27th March 2013, highlighting issues related to the Mekong, including panels at the Goethe Institute and the Woodrow Wilson Center in which Robert participated.

New publication from IUCN Lao PDR : “Review of Statutory and Customary Law in the Xe Champhone Ramsar Site, Lao PDR - Implications for a rights-based approach to conservation”

2013-04-26

IUCN’s research into rights-based approaches (RBAs) to reduce poverty and benefit conservation has been focused on the development of tools to better inform conservation strategies.

Empowering women fishers in Sekong River Basin

2013-04-24

IUCN Lao PDR held a Mekong Water Dialogue workshop in Attapeu, southern Lao PDR on 7 February 2013. The objective of the workshop was to gather information about the participation of women fishers in community-managed fisheries in the Sekong River basin. The overall purpose of this initiative was to help stakeholders in making informed decisions to promote gender integration into overall fisheries related policy planning and implementation.

Protecting Wetlands is Protecting Sources of Water

2013-04-08

Koh Kong, Cambodia, 23 and 24 February - More than 500 people gathered to celebrate the World Wetlands’ Day in Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary (PKWS) in Koh Kong, which is home to the largest mangrove forests in Cambodia.

Mekong Days in Washington

2013-03-22

The Mekong Region is a massive ecosystem that is the lifeline for more than 60 million people across six countries. In the Lower Mekong Basin, it provides fish to more people than any other river in the world. More than 150 hydropower dams are currently planned, under construction, or commissioned for the Mekong and its tributaries. If constructed, the dams will radically alter the basin’s hydrology, ecology and, consequently, the lives of millions who depend upon it. How can these seemingly opposite demands be met?

Thai civil society discussed principles of natural resources and environmental laws

2013-03-07

Bangkok, 22 February 2013 - Representatives from academia, non-governmental organisations, legal experts and members of the Law Reform Commission of Thailand (LRCT) met to develop a legal reform framework for the integration of laws relating to land, natural resources and the environment l. The meeting was organized by the LRCT, IUCN's Mekong Water Dialogues (MWD), the Asia Foundation and Assembly for the Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources as part of Development.

Management Plan of the Beung Kiat Ngong Ramsar Site

2013-03-04

In September 2010, the Beung Kiat Ngong Wetland, in Champassak Province, Lao PDR was formally recognized as one of the 2 Ramsar sites in the country.

After Xayaburi, it's time for some 'hydro-diplomacy'

2013-02-05

The groundbreaking ceremony for the Xayaburi dam in Laos on Nov 7 marked the symbolic end to a long and contentious international campaign to delay the dam's construction until further studies into its potential trans-boundary impacts were complete.

IUCN job opportunity - Head of Asia Communications

2013-01-16

IUCN Asia Regional Office is looking for a Head of Asia Communications. The position holder will be based in Bangkok, Thailand, and expected to start on the 1st April 2013. Application deadline is the 7th February 2013.

Mekong film watched by the Mekong River

2013-01-03

On the 7-8 December 2012, MWD joinned the Chiang Khan Short Films Festival organised by Thai Public Broadcasting Service (Thai PBS). This aimed to present key pressing issues in the Chiang Khan community through the form of short films and to encourage wider public debates.

IUCN presented awards to winners of Goethe-Institut' SEADocs

2013-01-01

SEADocs – The Southeast Asian Student Documentary Award is a competition to encourage the art of documentary filmmaking in the region as a platform to engage with pressing social and environmental issues.

Policy barriers to cleaner environment in Viet Nam

2012-12-29

Since 2008, IUCN has cooperated with the Vietnam Institute of Human Rights (VIHR), one of 10 or so institutions that make up the Ho Chi Minh Political Academy on a range of environmental governance projects. IUCN’s interest in working with the VIHR lies primarily in the fact that every year it trains 500-700 government officials who need to pass in order to get promoted. In a one party state that regards independent action by non-state actors with suspicion, such cooperation offers the opportunity to broaden the knowledge and (hopefully) change the attitudes of Vietnam’s future leaders.

Training journalists in the Mekong Delta

2012-12-28

On December 5-7, IUCN Viet Nam organized a media training course the water resources management issues in Mekong Delta for 15 journalists. It was held in Dong Thap Province and included a field trip to Sa Rai Town, Tan Hong District, Dong Thap Province. The course was supported by the IUCN-coordinated Mekong Water Dialogues (MWD) and U.N. Democracy Fund (UNDEF).

Community Water Dialogues: Creating a platform for community participation in flood and water Management

2012-12-21

Over the next year the Thailand National Working Group (NWG), Mekong Water Dialogues will be conducting Community Water Dialogues (CWD) throughout Thailand. CWD will establish a platform for local communities to contribute to flood and water management in Thailand.

Losing the Thai Water onion: A community’s fight to stop dredging and protect their ecosystem

2012-12-21

On the 12 of December 2012, the Thailand National Working Group, Mekong Water Dialogues, visited Ranong Province in the South of Thailand to talk to local communities and to witness, first hand, the impacts of dredging on the local ecosystem and communities.

Community Water Dialogues: the impacts of dredging in Ranong Province, Thailand

2012-12-21

On the 13 of December 2012, IUCN and the Mekong Water Dialogues financially and technically supported the first Community Water Dialogues (CWD) in Ranong Province, Thailand. The CWD in Ranong focused on the impacts of dredging on local communities and environment.

The last 2012 Mekong film screening

2012-12-17

Wednesday 19th December, 2012
12.30pm to 16.30pm
Vairoj Imtip Room, Chalermprakiat Building
Kasetsart University, Bang-Khaen Campus, Bangkok

Job Vacancy: Communications Officer at IUCN Cambodia

2012-12-13

IUCN, International Union of Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, Cambodia Project Office in Phnom Penh seeks to recruit a self-motivated and competent staff for the position of Communications Officer, Directly reporting to Senior Programme Officer, IUCN Cambodia Office and additionally to Programme Coordinator Vietnam, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

Mekong River Development Needs Greater Transparency

2012-11-27

New film “Mekong” explores the dynamics of hyrdropower up and down one of the world’s great rivers and takes a balanced views of sensitive’ topics.