- by Adis Isangkura
In Thailand, more than 80 forest reserves have been declared national parks - about 13% of the country's land area. Besides serving a vital conservation role, these parks provide valuable recreational and educational opportunities for Thais and foreign tourists. Unfortunately, many Thai parks are under threat due to encroachment by…
- by Ma. Eugenia Bennagen, Ramyleo Pelayo
In March 1996, the Philippines experienced one of its most serious industrial pollution accidents. The incident involved the Marcopper Mining Corporation which has been carrying out open- pit copper mining since the 1970s. When the company finished one of its operations in Marinduque, it plugged the old pit with concrete…
- by Jeevika Weerahewa
The purpose of the study is to assess the impact of tariff reductions on imported potatoes on farmers, consumers and the environment. Potato cultivation employs about 25,000 farmers in Sri Lanka, so has received substantial government support over the last decade. It would be significantly affected by tariff reductions proposed…
- by Orapan Nabangchang
One of the most active debates in the field of conservation is about whether people should be allowed to live and work within the boundaries of nature reserves.� A new piece of research from Thailand has investigated this question in the context of one of the country's most important protected…
- by Maribec Campos, Blanquita Pantoja, Nerlita Manalili, Marideth Bravo
Declining fish stocks is a major environmental problem all around the world - one that is jeopardizing the livelihoods of many coastal communities.� For policy makers dealing with this problem, the most pressing challenge is to design regulations that balance the needs of conservation with those of the fishing communities.…
- by Le Quang Thong, Nguyen Anh Ngoc
In Vietnam, as in many other rapidly-developing countries in Southeast Asia, industrial estates have sprung up to provide the infrastructure that factories need.� Such estates can reduce the environmental impact of the industries they support, by providing central wastewater pollution control facilities. Since there are economies of scale in wastewater…
- by Jing Cao
For many scientists, global warming is the most important environmental challenge we face. However, many developing country governments are taking a� wait and see attitude to the problem.� This is primarily because international agreements on the issue currently focus on action by developed countries. Many politicians also see global warming…
- by Loreta S. Rufo, Carlito M. Rufo, Jr.
This report provides information on the environmental and economic impact of a marine protected area in Danao Bay, in the Philippines. It looks at how the biodiversity in the reserve has improved thanks to the protection it has been given. It also investigates how much of this biodiversity 'spills out'…
- by Nguyen Huu Dung, Tran Chi Thien, Nguyen Van Hong, Nguyen Thi Loc, Dang Van Minh, Trinh Dinh Thau, Huynh Thi Le Nguyen, Nguyen Tan Phong, Thai Thanh Son
Like many developing countries, Vietnam promotes the use of agro-chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides) to boost agricultural production. As many countries have found, however, farmers often misuse these chemicals, applying them excessively or in ineffective ways. The results are damages to the health of farmers, consumers and the ecosystem, and often…
- by Nguyen Huu Dung, Tran Thi Thanh Dung
The study looked at how agrochemicals affect both the profitability and the health of rice farmers in the Mekong Delta. Its main conclusion was that misuse of pesticide is harming farmers' well being and saddling them with health costs of over 90,000 VND each per rice crop. It also shows…
- by Du Yaping
The study carried out an original study to estimate visitors' willingness to pay (WTP) for improvements to the water quality of East Lake in Wuhan, China. It compared the findings with the results of similar studies in other parts of the world to see how close the results were and…
- by Zhang Shiqiu, Duan Yanxin
An overhaul of China's complicated electricity pricing system and the introduction of 'polluter-pays' levies for generators could help to resolve the environmental and health problems caused by the country's power stations. The study looked at the Mawan Electricity Plant in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province. It found that the economic cost of…
- by Asuncion B. de Guzman
Across Southeast Asia, fishermen are finding it harder and harder to land the catches they need. Overfishing, habitat destruction and marine pollution have significantly damaged fish stocks and fish breeding grounds throughout the region. In an attempt to reverse this decline, many countries have set up marine protected areas (MPAs).…
- by Rodelio F Subade
With a longer coastline than the united States and a multitude of islands to its name, the Philippines faces more challenges than most in protecting its marine environment. Major problems such as overfishing currently threaten both the rich biodiversity of its seas and the livelihoods of fishermen and those who…
- by Sideth Muong
Across Southeast Asia, consumers and scientist are increasingly concerned about the chemical contamination of food. From cancer-causing agents in cow's milk to pesticide residues on fruit, tainted food is a major environmental problem. In Phnom Penh, this is a particularly worrying, since a large percentage of the city's vegetables are…
- by Sunil Chandrasiri
The city of Colombo is gradually being choked to death by motor traffic and urgently needs to implement a raft of economic measures to curb emissions. This is the verdict of a study that has attracted the attention of local policymakers. The study looked at the growth of traffic in…
- by Fan Zhang
One of the most pressing environmental problems facing Asia's cities is a lack of effective wastewater treatment. In particular, urban areas in China, which have experienced very rapid industrialization, are facing a pollution crisis as water-borne wastes pour relatively unchecked into rivers and lakes. To find solutions to this problem,…
- by Selliah Thiruchelvam, S. Pathmarajah
Salination is a major problem for agriculture in many parts of the world. However, this study from Sri Lanka has shown that the involving farmers in preventative measures can provide a cost-effective solution. The study looked at one of the largest irrigation schemes in Southeast Asia. The study concluded that…
- by Margaret M Calderon, Leni D Camacho
Water supply is an on-going challenge for many countries across Southeast Asia. One of the key issues relating to this challenge is the protection of watersheds. Many of these vital areas are heavily deforested with a large area converted to apiculture and other land uses. Their capacity to provide a…
- by Pham Khanh Nam, Tran Vo Hung Son
Providing a high-quality water supply to all sectors of society is one of the most pressing and difficult challenge facing cities across Southeast Asia. Water supply is an expensive proposition in low income countries and often tradeoffs have to be made among such attributes as purity, reliability of delivery, private…
- by Zenaida M Sumalde
Waste disposal is a massive problem across Southeast Asia. In the Philippines, the central government legislated the R.A. 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, that authorizes local government units (LGUs) to take charge of the management of solid waste management programs in their respective area of…
- by Catherine Frances J. Corpuz
Metro Manila, like many cities in Southeast Asia, is badly affected by poor air quality. Legislation has failed to combat the problem due to inadequate regulatory enforcement and industry's cavalier attitude towards pollution. However a recent economic study has found that a solution to this crisis could be provided by…
- by Cyril Bogahawatte
Sri Lanka, like many countries in Southeast Asia, is battling deforestation. However, this study has found that the country's current forest conservation strategy could gain vital grass-roots support, provided it is carried out pragmatically and with full regard for local people's needs. The study looked at conservation efforts in Sri…
- by Churai Tapvong
Take a boat along Bangkok's famous Chao Phraya River and it doesn't take an expert to realize that it is seriously polluted with sewage and practically biologically dead. As part of a general drive to do something about this problem, a recent study has found that the residents are willing…
- by Junlian Zhang
In many parts of Southeast Asia, farming, industry, commerce and urban communities compete for dwindling water supplies. Some countries have tried to deal with this problem and share water efficiently and fairly by using tradable water use quotas. Such systems have not, however, been easy to implement. This study from…