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  Both Con Cuong agencies had previously relied on an outdated map, which severely restricted the effectiveness of overall forest management practices including harvesting, plantation and planning activities.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…

Joint Statement: LOWER MEKONG INITIATIVE FOURTH REGIONAL WORKING GROUP MEETING — Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam (April 25-26, 2013)

On 25-26 April, 2013, senior representatives of the Lower Mekong Basin countries, namely Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, and the United States gathered in Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam, for the Fourth Regional Working Group Meeting of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI).  Members of the six delegations reviewed progress on the LMI…

NEWS: Vietnam Joins ASEAN-US Dialogue

WASHINGTON D.C. - A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh attended the 26th ASEAN-US Dialogue in Washington on May 2-3, which focused on orientations and measures to promote the two sides’ cooperation.At the meeting, the two sides highly valued positive progress of the bilateral cooperation in different areas such as politics-security, economics,…

NEWS: U.S. and Vietnam Cooperate in Promoting Lower Mekong Initiative

 (VOV) -Vietnam and the U.S. are set to promote the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) at a seminar jointly held by the Vietnamese Embassy and the U.S. Department of State in Washington on May 1.In his speech, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Vinh highlighted LMI contributions to boosting the relations between the U.S.…

NEWS: U.S. to Boost Cooperation under Lower Mekong Initiative

The U.S. will give priority to promoting cooperation with the Lower Mekong basin through its continued efforts to boost the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI), a US official said.U.S. Acting Assistant Secretary of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Joseph Yun made the statement at a seminar that discussed measures to expand cooperation under the LMI framework…