Environment and natural resources
Water resources
Worries in Laos and Thailand as upstream dams drain Mekong River
Low water levels and a lack of sediment have affected the ecosystem and people’s livelihoods. Experts say the dams make the impact of periodic droughts in the Mekong basin worse and rob the river of the “pulse effect” that spreads water and nutrients that support ...
RFA
New Reports Highlight Impacts of Human and Environmental Incursions in Mekong
The two reports entitled “Status and Trends of Fish Abundance and Diversity in the Lower Mekong Basin during 2007–2018” (FADM) and “Social Impact Monitoring and Vulnerability Assessment 2018” (SIMVA) found that households continue to rely on water resources that are increasingly under pressures. Both reports ...
Laotian Times
Harnessing Technology to Manage Flood, Drought Risks in Lower Mekong Basin
Earlier this year the MRC and Korea Development Institute (KDI) launched a joint research project under the 2020-2021 Knowledge Sharing Programme (KSP). The project aims to demonstrate how high-tech solutions can support Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam minimize the impact of flood and ...
Laotian Times
Laos to build large hybrid floating solar project
The Lao government and shareholders in Nam Theun 2 hydropower plant have agreed to develop Nam Theun 2-Solar, which is claimed to be the world’s largest hybrid floating solar project.With an installed capacity of 240 megawatt peak (MWp), the solar project will be built on ...
River border patrols beefed up in Champassak, Savannakhet
Border patrols on the Mekong River are being stepped up in Champassak and Savannakhet provinces to prevent people entering Laos illegally from Thailand, after these provinces recorded a spike in Covid-19 infections. Laos has seen a spike in imported cases of Covid-19 since the start of ...
Times Reporters
Australia, Germany, Switzerland to provide nearly USD13 m to improve Mekong’s overall state
Australia, Germany, and Switzerland on Jun 24 committed nearly USD13 million in funding to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to assist Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Viet Nam to respond to pressing challenges while safeguarding the ecological function of the Mekong River and improving people’s ...
KPL
Fishermen call for river pollution to be addressed
Members of a large fishing community in Naxab village, Naxaithong district, Vientiane, are appealing to authorities to address the problem of farms dumping animal waste in the Khon River, which they say is creating a threat to fishing.The polluted river affects some 1,648 people who ...
Times Reporters
MRC to monitor Mekong flow with French support
The French Government granted EUR 1.5 million to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to monitor rainfall and river flow in order to better understand flow changes and the corresponding impacts on development projects. New funding will continue to improve and expand its network for better ...
Times Reporters
Eight die in pleasure boat capsize on Sunday
Eight people drowned when a pleasure boat capsized on Sunday morning during a trip on Nam Ngum Lake – a popular tourist spot in Vientiane province, which borders on the capital Vientiane. The boat was carrying 39 people and capsized at about 9 am after ...
Times Reporters
Japan helps advance MRC capacity in addressing Mekong flood issues
The government of Japan last Friday granted USD2.9 million to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to implement its new strategic plan, seeking to promote responsible development in the region.The Mekong River and its tributaries support nearly 70 million people in the Lower Mekong Basin, providing ...
KPL
