Mekong - U.S. Partnership
U.S. and Thailand Plan Cooperative Activities under Global Climate Program
On October 10, more than 30 officials from 10 Thailand government agencies met with counterparts from seven U.S. Government agencies and programs under the Enhancing Capacity for Low Emission Development Strategies (EC-LEDS) initiative. EC-LEDS is a global U.S. Government program that supports the efforts of more than 20 partner countries to accelerate sustainable, climate-resilient economic…
Strengthening National Forest Monitoring Systems Across Asia
From October 15-17, the USAID-funded Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests (LEAF) program partnered with UN-REDD and SilvaCarbon to host the 4th UN-REDD Regional Lessons Learned Workshop on National Forest Monitoring Systems (NFMS) for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+). NFMS enable countries to collect information required to provide measurable, reportable and verifiable estimates…
Poachers Beware! Elite Wildlife Ranger Team Graduates
On October 16, Thailand’s new elite wildlife ranger team, the “King of Tigers,” graduated from the groundbreaking 8-week intensive tactical training course to combat crimes against nature. The graduates are now tasked with enforcing Thailand’s laws pertaining to environmental crime including poaching, wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, and illegal fishing.The King of Tigers is Thailand’s first…
Radio Show in Cambodia’s Malaria Zone
The Control and Prevention of Malaria Project collaborates with Media One, a local media organization, to implement a package of radio call-in show activities. A Village Fairs activity is organized at public places in malaria endemic areas. This interactive activity provides an entertaining and educational opportunity for participants to listen and then respond to the…
USAID Receives ‘Friend of Thailand’s Climate’ Award from the Royal Thai Government
At Thailand’s first Climate Change Adaptation Expo held in Bangkok, USAID’s Regional Environment Office (REO) received the “Friend of Thailand’s Climate” award. The three-day ‘Thailand Climate Change Adaptation’ Expo, held during September 26-28, was organized by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) in order to build awareness of climate change…
ASEAN Legislators Discuss Ways to Support ASEAN-Wildlife Enforcement Network
With the ASEAN Economic Community coming into effect in just over a year, the need for proper national regulatory frameworks to combat wildlife crime is becoming increasingly urgent. Borders throughout ASEAN suffer from uneven enforcement, loopholes, and weak penalties for perpetrators of wildlife crimes. On September 18-22, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) held its 34th General…
Fellowships Available under the LMI Environment and Water Pillar
The MyCOE / SERVIR Initiative is currently accepting proposals for a seven months fellowship program for undergraduate and graduate students from Lower Mekong countries. Interested students should propose a research project that will provide a lasting impact in addressing challenges in Climate Change, Sustainable Landscapes and/or Watersheds. Proposals are due November 3, 2013. Proposals must also include an outreach component to share results with local…
APEC Stakeholders Highlight Importance of NGOs in Combating Illicit Trade
From September 23-25, anti-corruption authorities, law enforcement agencies, private sector organizations and NGOs met in Bangkok, Thailand for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Pathfinder Dialogue with ASEAN (Association of South East Asia Nations) and the Pacific Islands Forum Partners on Corruption and Illicit Trade. The meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to network and discussed…
USAID Brings Information Technology to Teachers in Rural Laos
The ASEAN-U.S. Technical Assistance and Training Facility (TATF) supported training for 20 Lao English and science teachers. The project collaborated with the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports (MOE) to help rural teachers use information technology in the classroom. Most had never even touched a computer, but all learned to email, access educational materials and…
Fighting Forest Degradation through Watershed Reforestation in Thailand
On September 21, the USAID-funded the Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests (LEAF) program partnered with the Queen Sirikit Botanical Garden and other Thai organizations to plant 15 native species of 5,000 trees on a degraded hillside that was threatening the water supply within the Mae Sa-Kog Ma, a UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Reserve near Chiang Mai…
USAID’s PEER Program Looking for Researchers in LMI Countries
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is exploring new opportunities to use science and technology to meet the world’s development challenges. As part of its science and technology strategy, USAID is supporting various mechanisms to leverage the investments that other U.S. government agencies make in scientific research and training. In this context, USAID,…
Senior U.S. Official Pledges USG Support for Wildlife Law Enforcement
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, William Brownfield who heads the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) paid a visit to ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) and the Thai Government on September 9, 2013 and gave clear and strong support for counter wildlife poaching and trafficking initiatives in Southeast Asia, including those developed under…
