Mekong - U.S. Partnership
Advancing Vietnam’s National REDD+ Fund and Accounting Framework
With support from the USAID-funded Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests (LEAF) project, the Vietnam Administration of Forestry (VNFOREST) organized a technical meeting to discuss the REDD+ Fund proposal and the development of a national REDD+ accounting framework for Vietnam. Fifty participants representing government departments, international donors, and provinces that are implementing REDD+ gathered in Hanoi…
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…
LMI Monthly News Feed – September 2013
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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…
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,…
Ensuring Gender Equality in Climate Change and REDD+ in Lao PDR
From September 9-13, the USAID-funded Lowering Emissions in Asia’s Forests (LEAF) program, in partnership with Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resources Management (WOCAN) and the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) carried out the first training in a regional series to provide state forestry agencies and women constituencies with guidelines and…
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…
ASEAN Youth Volunteers Supporting Conservation Efforts in Malaysia
The ASEAN Youth Volunteer Program (AYVP), jointly funded by ASEAN and the USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia (USAID/RDMA), was officially launched on August 12. The five-week program is providing 100 volunteers with experience in knowledge driven volunteerism and community engagement while developing ASEAN awareness and regional identity. The inaugural program focuses on the theme of environmental conservation.…
Survey Identifies Wildlife Crime Offenders in Vietnam
Since April 2013, Education for Nature-Vietnam (ENV), a partner of the USAID-funded Asia’s Regional Response to Endangered Species Trafficking (ARREST) Program, has surveyed 550 business establishments in Hanoi and found more than 80 violations of wildlife protection laws. During August 19-23, ENV surveyed an additional 233 businesses and found 13 offenses. Most violations were identified…
