Supporting Vietnam’s National REDD+ Fund

With support from the USAID-funded LEAF program, the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) organized a national consultation workshop in Hanoi on August 27 to discuss the establishment of a National REDD+ Fund.  Over 70 participants representing government departments, international donors and provinces implementing REDD+ discussed the design of a proposed National Fund, including aspects related…

NEWS: Mekong Region’s Innovators Welcome U.S. Support

(VOV) -Officials and stakeholders have gathered at an August 29 meeting in Ho Chi Minh City to discuss methods of supporting the Lower Mekong sub-region’s young technological innovators.The event, jointly held by the U.S. State Department and the Vietnamese branch of IDG ASEAN, involved government and private sector representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and…

TIGERS@Mekong Strategy Meeting Held in Ho Chi Minh City

Thursday saw a one-day strategy meeting on an initiative to promote tech entrepreneurship kick off in Ho Chi Minh City, where government representatives and stakeholders convened to discuss ways to support young innovators in the tech sector in the Lower Mekong sub-region.The event, co-hosted by the US Department of State and IDG ASEAN, attracted government…

Press Release: Embassy Hanoi Hosts First-ever Model East Asia Summit

The U.S. Embassy in Hanoi hosted the first-ever Model East Asia Summit (Model EAS) for 33 high school and university students at the Embassy’s American Center on August 16, 2013.  Based on the popular American extracurricular activity Model United Nations, the Model EAS program allows students to exchange ideas on policy issues that are relevant…

New Mapping and Remote Sensing Training Improves Sustainable Forest Management in Vietnam

In collaboration with the Con Cuong Forestry Company and Con Cuong Protection Forest Management Board, LEAF recently finalized a new and modernized forest cover and classification map.  Both Con Cuong agencies had previously relied on an outdated map, which severely restricted the effectiveness of overall forest management practices including harvesting, plantation and planning activities.  Dr.…

Rebalance to Asia III: Protecting the Environment and Ensuring Food and Water Security in East Asia and the Pacific

Testimony of Gregory Beck, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia, U.S. Agency for International Development before Foreign Relations Committee East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee“Rebalance to Asia III: Protecting the Environment and Ensuring Food and Water Security in East Asia and the Pacific”Chairman Cardin, Senator Rubio, and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank you for the…

NEWS: Vietnam Attends Lower Mekong Meetings

A Vietnamese delegation led by Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attended the Ministerial Meeting of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) and the Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) Ministerial Meeting in Brunei on July 1.Under the theme “Opportunities and Challenges on Connectivity and Environment”, the LMI meeting discussed challenges to regional development and proposals for…

Joint Statement: Sixth LMI Ministerial Meeting

On July 1, 2013, the Foreign Ministers of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, and the U.S. Secretary of State and the Secretary-General of ASEAN met in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam for the 6th Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting.Ministers endorsed LMI as a forum through which to address complex, transnational development…

Fact Sheet: 2013 U.S. Engagement in the Lower Mekong Initiative

On July 1, Secretary of State John Kerry led the United States’ delegation to the Sixth Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Ministerial Meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. LMI is the region’s only forum for addressing cross-border development and policy challenges facing the five Lower Mekong partner countries. LMI holds three official events and many…

Intensified Fake Medicine Surveillance in the Mekong

As part of its efforts to address quality problems with antimalarial medicines in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), the Promoting the Quality of Medicines, implemented by the United States Pharmacopeia Convention, and its local partners have intensified their retail outlet surveillance activities in areas of suspicion of selling illegal, unregistered, and fake medicines as well…

Media Note: Lower Mekong Initiative and Friends of the Lower Mekong Senior Officials Meetings in Brunei Darussalam

Senior officials from the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) and Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) member states met in separate meetings May 23 in Bandar Seri Begawan on the margins of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Regional Forum Senior Officials Meeting (ARF SOM). The members of LMI are Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam,…

NEWS: Carbon Stock Assessment and Emissions Inventory in Asian Mangroves: Field Training for Scientists and Government Agency Staff

Trang, Thailand - Forested wetlands - including mangroves, peat swamps, cypress domes, and related ecosystems - are thought to hold some of the highest carbon densities among terrestrial (soil and vegetation) systems. In the Indo-Pacific region, mangroves cover as much as 6.8 million hectares, or approximately 40 percent of world's total, and it is estimated…