WWF - Conservation and environmental news from Laos

WWF รายงานล่าสุดพื้นที่ป่าลดลง เร่งสร้างพื้นที่สีเขียวในอนุภาคลุ่มน้ำโขง

2013-05-02

กรุงเทพ ประเทศไทย – 2 พฤษภาคม 2556 -- อนุภาคลุ่มน้ำโขงในเอเชียตะวันออกเฉียงใต้ สุ่มเสี่ยงที่จะสูญเสียพื้นที่ป่ามากกว่าหนึ่งในสามภายในสองทศวรรษ หากรัฐบาลในอนุภาคนี้ไม่สามารถเพิ่มการปกป้อง ให้คุณค่า และฟื้นทุนธรรมชาติ รวมทั้งเปิดรับการเติบโตสีเขียว นี่คือคำเตือนในรายงานฉบับใหม่ของ WWF
การวิเคราะห์ของ WWF เผยให้เห็นถึงพื้นที่ป่าธรรมชาติในอนุภาคลุ่มแม่น้ำโขงที่มีอยู่ราว 637 ล้านเฮคเตอร์ (3,981,250,000 ไร่) หรือเกินครึ่งหนึ่งของที่ดินทั่วอนุภาคอยู่เล็กน้อย แต่คาดว่าจะสูญเสียพื้นที่ป่าไปอย่างรวดเร็ว หากอัตราการทำลายป่ายังคงอยู่ในระดับนี้ ระหว่างปี 2516 ถึง 2552 ประเทศทั้ง 5 ประเทศในลุ่มแม่น้ำโขงสูญเสียพื้นที่ป่าไปราวๆหนึ่งในสามของผืนป่าที่เหลือทั้งหมด ในช่วงเวลาดังกล่าว กัมพูชาเสียพื้นที่ป่าไปร้อยละ 22 ของพื้นที่ป่าที่บันทึกไว้ได้ในปี 2516 ลาวและพม่าสูญเสียป่าไปร้อยละ 24 ส่วนไทย และเวียดนามสูญเสียป่าไปร้อยละ 42
พื้นที่บริเวณกว้างใหญ่ที่เชื่อมต่อกับป่าผืนหลักก็ลดลงอย่างมากทั่วภูมิภาค จากร้อยละ 70 ในปี 2516 เหลือร้อยละ 20 ในปี 2552 ป่าผืนหลักคือพื้นที่ป่าอย่างน้อย 3.2 ตารางกิโลเมตรที่ไม่ถูกรบกวน แต่หากแนวโน้มยังคงเป็นเช่นนี้ WWF คาดการณ์ว่า ภายในปี 2573 อนุภาคลุ่มน้ำโขงจะมีพื้นที่ป่าที่ให้ที่อาศัย และให้ประชากรสัตว์ป่าหลากหลายดำรงชีวิตได้อย่างยั่งยืนเหลือ เพียงร้อยละ 14
"ตอนนี้ประเทศลุ่มน้ำโขงกำลังอยู่บนทางแยก" ปีเตอร์ คัทเตอร์ ผู้จัดการฝ่ายอนุรักษ์ภูมิประเทศ WWF อนุภาคลุ่มน้ำโขงกล่าว "ทางหนึ่งนำไปสู่การลดลงของความหลากหลายทางชีวภาพและวิถีชีวิต แต่หากมีการจัดการทรัพยากรธรรมชาติอย่างรับผิด ชอบแล้ว ภูมิภาคนี้จะสามารถเดินสู่หนทางที่จะสร้างความอุดมสมบูรณ์และอนาคตที่มั่งคั่งให้แก่ประชาชนของพวกเขา"
ในรายงาน "ระบบนิเวศในลุ่มแม่น้ำโขง : อดีตที่ผ่านมา สถานะปัจจุบัน และอนาคตที่จะเป็นไป" มีการวิเคราะห์ถึงสถานะในปัจจุบันและความเป็นไปได้ในอนาคตของป่าผืนสำคัญในภูมิภาค รวมทั้งระบบนิเวศน้ำจืด รวมถึงสัตว์ที่เสี่ยงจะสูญพันธุ์ ที่อาศัยในระบบนิเวศนั้น
ในรายงานเสนอภาพความน่าจะเป็นของระบบนิเวศในภูมิภาค 2 รูปแบบ รูปแบบหนึ่งเป็นความคาดการณ์ถึงสิ่งที่จะเกิดขึ้นภายในปี 2573 ภายใต้แบบจำลองการเติบโตแบบไม่ยั่งยืน ในกรณีที่การทำลายป่าและความเสื่อมโทรมตลอดทศวรรษที่ผ่านมายังคงเกิดขึ้นต่อเนื่อง ส่วนความเป็นไปได้อีกรูปแบบหนึ่งอยู่บนสมมติฐานที่ว่าอัตราการตัดไม้ลดลงร้อยละ 50 และให้มีอนาคตที่มีพื้นฐานการเติบโตสีเขียว ภายใต้การคาดการณ์ถึงความเป็นไปได้ในรูปแบบเศรษฐกิจสีเขียว ป่าผืนหลักที่มีอยู่ในปี 2552 ทั่วทั้ง 5 ประเทศลุ่มน้ำโขง จะยังคงอยู่เช่นเดิม
"วิถีแห่งเศรษฐกิจสีเขียวเป็นทางเลือกทางรอดในอนาคตสำหรับลุ่มน้ำโขง" คัทเตอร์กล่าวเสริม "ผู้นำในภูมิภาคได้ให้คำมั่นแล้วว่า การเติบโตของเศรษฐกิจอย่างแข็งแกร่งนั้น ไปด้วยกันกับระบบนิเวศที่สมบูรณ์และให้ประโยชน์ แต่ตอนนี้จำเป็นจะ ต้องมีการตอบสนองที่รวดเร็วและมีประสิทธิภาพ เพื่อหลีกเลี่ยงไม่ให้สภาพแวดล้อมเสื่อมโทรมอย่างถาวร"

รายงานให้น้ำหนักกับโครงการก่อสร้างเขื่อนไซยะบุรี ในฐานะปัจจัยคุกคามหลักต่อความสมบูรณ์และการใช้ประโยชน์ จากลุ่มน้ำโขงและพื้นที่สามเหลี่ยมปากแม่น้ำ ลำน้ำโขงเป็นที่มาของระบบนิเวศน้ำจืดที่โดดเด่นแต่เชื่อมโยงกัน 13 ระบบ แต่โครงการที่เป็นที่วิพากษ์วิจารณ์อย่างโครงการไซยะบุรีจะตัดขาดแม่น้ำโขงตอนล่างจากลำน้ำสายหลัก ปิดกั้นเส้นทางอพยพของปลาและการไหลของตะกอนแม่น้ำ ซึ่งจะสร้างผลกระทบที่เป็นหายนะต่อวิถีชีวิตและความมั่นคงทางอาหารของประชากร 60 ล้านคน
รายงานยังแสดงรายละเอียดการลดลงจำนวนมากของสัตว์สัญลักษณ์หลายสายพันธุ์ในภูมิภาค ไม่ว่าจะเป็นเสือ ช้างเอเชีย โลมาอิรวดี และสัตว์ประจำถิ่น ความอยู่รอดของสัตว์หลายสายพันธุ์นี้ในลุ่มแม่น้ำโขงขึ้นอยู่กับระบบการบริหารจัดการพื้นที่อนุรักษ์อย่างมีประสิทธิภาพ ซึ่งนับตั้งแต่ช่วงปี 2513 เป็นต้นมาจะมีการขยายเขตพื้นที่อนุรักษ์เพิ่มขึ้นอีกมาก แต่หลายแห่งก็มีการบริหารจัดการที่ไม่ดีนัก
"เขตอนุรักษ์หลายแห่งเป็นแค่ชื่อ" คัทเตอร์กล่าวเพิ่มเติม "กระทั่งเขตอนุรักษ์ที่มีการดูแลค่อนข้างดียังตกอยู่ภายใต้การคุกคาม จากกลุ่มลักลอบล่าสัตว์และตัดไม้ ส่วนเขตอนุรักษ์อื่นๆก็ถูกปรับลดพื้นที่โดยรัฐบาลที่กระตือรือร้นให้สัมปทานกับบริษัทเหมือง แร่หรือเจ้าของกิจการเพาะปลูกเพื่อเงิน"
แม้จะมีการจดบันทึกความเสื่อมโทรมของระบบนิเวศตลอดช่วง 50 ปีที่ผ่านมา และในรายงานยังเน้นให้เห็นว่า พื้นที่นี้ยังคงมี ทรัพยากรธรรมชาติที่อุดมสมบูรณ์ และให้มูลค่านิเวศบริการสูงที่สุดแห่งหนึ่งของโลก ไม่ว่าจะเป็นอาหาร น้ำ และเส้นใย ความร่ำรวยทางธรรมชาติในแถบลุ่มน้ำโขงนั้น มอบโอกาสสำคัญแก่การพัฒนาอย่างยั่งยืน และ WWF เชื่อว่า การสร้างเศรษฐกิจสีเขียวนั้นอยู่ไม่ไกลเกินเอื้อม
"หากพิจารณาจากมรดกทางชีววิทยาส่วนใหญ่ในภูมิภาค และระบบนิเวศที่เอื้ออำนวยที่มีอยู่ตามภูมิประเทศข้ามพรมแดนแล้ว การร่วมมือในภูมิภาคถือเป็นสิ่งสำคัญอย่างยิ่ง" คัทเตอร์กล่าวสรุป "การเพิ่มและการลงทุนเพื่อความยั่งยืนมากขึ้น เพื่อให้ระบบนิเวศที่เหลืออยู่ยังคงความสมบูรณ์ จะต้องเป็นความจำเป็นอันดับแรกทั้งในระดับพื้นที่ ระดับประเทศ และภูมิภาค"
หมายเหตุ:
· ดาวน์โหลดรายงานฉบับเต็มได้ที่ http://awsassets.panda.org/downloads/greater_mekong_ecosystems_report_020513.pdf

In the Mekong, science – not guesswork – must prevail บทบาทของไทย กับอนาคตบนเส้นด้ายของแม่น้ำโขง

2012-11-30

บทบาทของไทย กับอนาคตบนเส้นด้ายของแม่น้ำโขง -

จิม ลิป ผู้อำนวยการใหญ่ WWF เขียนจดหมายเปิดผนึกทวงถามรัฐบาลในภูมิภาคลุ่มน้ำโขง รวมทั้งผู้นำทางฝั่งยุโรปและอเมริกาที่เงียบเฉยต่อโครงการก่อสร้างเขื่อนไซยะบุรี ที่รัฐบาลลาวประกาศเดินหน้าเต็มตัวเมื่อต้นเดือนพ.ย.ที่ผ่านมา

จิมบอกว่าเดิมพันครั้งนี้คืออนาคตของคนในลุ่มน้ำโขงตอนล่างราว60ล้านคน ซึ่งร้อยละ80 พึ่งพาทรัพยากรธรรมชาติโดยตรงจากสายเลือดหลักเส้นนี้ หากเขื่อนไซยะบุรีสร้างได้ เขื่อนที่อยู่ในแผนอีกกว่า 10 แห่งก็อาจจะเกิดขึ้นตามมา และนั่นจะส่งผลกระทบอย่างใหญ่หลวงต่อความมั่งคงด้านอาหารและวิถีชีวิตของผู้คนในภูมิภาค

เขื่อนไซยะบุรีเป็นบททดสอบสำคัญถึงหัวใจของ 'การพัฒนาอย่างยั่งยืน' ที่่บรรดารัฐบาลและองค์กรที่สนับสนุนการพัฒนาพร่ำพูดถึง ประเทศในลุ่มน้ำโขงตอนล่างมีโอกาสที่จะพิสูจน์แนวคิดดังกล่าวโดยการพิจารณาอย่างรอบคอบถึงสมดุลระหว่างความมั่งคงด้านอาหาร น้ำ และพลังงาน ที่ไม่จำเป็นต้องคุกคามทำลายระบบนิเวศที่เป็นรากฐานสำคัญของทุกสิ่ง

ประเทศไทยในฐานะผู้นำในภูมิภาคมีบทบาทสำคัญยิ่งต่อการพัฒนาโครงการเขื่อนไซยะบุรี เพราะประเทศไทยเป็นผู้รับซื้อไฟฟ้าหลัก และธนาคารของไทยอย่างน้อยสี่แห่งยังแสดงเจตจำนงค์ที่จะสนับสนุนเงินกู้ให้โครงการก่อสร้างเขื่อนไซยะบุรี แม้อาจจะมีผลกระทบด้านสังคมและสิ่งแวดล้อมที่สูงมาก

WWF ขอเรียกร้องให้ประเทศไทยแสดงบทบาทที่ชัดเจนและรับผิดชอบต่อการพัฒนาพลังงานในลุ่มน้ำโขงตอนล่าง โดยการยกเลิกข้อตกลงท่ีจะรับซื้อพลังงานจากโครงการจนกว่าโครงการนี้จะได้รับการเห็นชอบจากคณะกรรมาธิการแม่น้ำโขง และขอเรียกร้องให้ธนาคารในประเทศไทยล้มเลิกเจตนารมณ์ที่จะให้เงินกู้กับโครงการที่ยังเป็นที่ถกเถียงอย่างกว้างขวาง
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The Xayaburi dam would be the first dam on the lower Mekong mainstream, and could well open the way for 10 more dams currently proposed. It threatens economic development prospects and basic food security for 60 million people, 80 percent of whom depend directly on the river for their food and livelihoods.

WWF International Director General Jim Leape

With the livelihoods of 60 million people on the line, science – not guesswork – must prevail.

On November 7, the government of Laos held a ground-breaking ceremony to launch construction of the Xayaburi dam. If built, this massive dam would be the first dam on the lower Mekong mainstream, and could well open the way for 10 more dams currently proposed. It threatens economic development prospects and basic food security for 60 million people, 80 percent of whom depend directly on the river for their food and livelihoods.

The fish that migrate up and down the free-flowing lower Mekong are the principal source of protein for those 60 million people, and are the basis for a fishing industry with an estimated value as high as $7.6 billion annually. And the river's natural flooding cycles feed agriculture that brings in another $4.6 billion. So the stakes are high.

The governments of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam have acknowledged the need for additional research into the unique functioning of the lower Mekong. In December 2011, the Mekong River Commission agreed to conduct further studies on the effects of the Xayaburi dam and 10 other proposed mainstream dams. To date, no studies have been conducted, leaving significant questions unanswered about how mainstream dams will affect migratory fish populations and the flow of sediment that nourishes farmland downstream.

These are not merely questions for biologists and hydrologists. They are questions for ministers of agriculture, health and finance. They are questions for banks and donors, including Australia, the European Union and the US, which have invested an estimated $1 billion in development aid in Laos and downstream countries over the past 25 years. Economic growth gained at the expense of food security is no development victory.

The curious lack of opposition to the Xayaburi dam at the recent Asia-Europe Meeting or the East Asia Summit could be read as tacit support for the project. This would call into question European and U.S. rhetoric about sustainable development. Support, whether tacit or explicit, for a project this risky and blatantly shortsighted is incompatible with an agenda that promotes food security, economic opportunity, energy access and a stable climate.

Indeed, the Xayaburi dam is a crucial test case. Are recent discussions about the trade-offs required to achieve food, water and energy security just talk? Or are governments and investors willing to go beyond buzzwords like "nexus thinking" where it truly matters? The nations of the lower Mekong have an opportunity to turn concept into reality by taking a balanced approach to meeting food, water and energy needs, while conserving the natural resources that underpin all of these.

As a regional leader, Thailand also plays an important role. Thailand is slated to be the prime consumer of the electricity produced, and at least four Thai banks have expressed their interest in providing loans to the project, despite the acute environmental and social costs, and the uncertainties surrounding the financial return of the project. WWF calls on Thailand to act responsibly and cancel its power purchase agreement until there is regional consensus on dams.

On complex issues of conservation and poverty-reduction, "clearly right" answers are rare. This is one of the few instances when all the governments and scientists have agreed: It's too risky to build a dam across the lower Mekong. There's too much we don't know, and the stakes are too high.

If the project goes ahead, the history of the lower Mekong will be divided into before and after Xayaburi. This will set the precedent, making it harder to oppose the 10 additional proposed dams. How many times must we look back in hindsight before we understand the magnitude and permanence of such decisions?

The groundbreaking ceremony at Xayaburi might make the dam seem like a fait accompli. On the contrary. There is still time to reconsider. There are options to develop hydropower along Mekong tributaries – options that research shows would have far less impact on migratory fish, and therefore food security and livelihoods. Let's listen to the science and chart a sustainable path for development along the lower Mekong.

Poaching still biggest threat to recovery of world's tiger populations

2012-11-23

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Serious gaps in protection are leaving tigers exposed to poachers, a new WWF study says, but this could be reversed if more investments are made in staff, equipment, and training programs for rangers that are working to protect the scattered populations of the endangered species in the wild.

WWF released the findings today to mark the 2nd anniversary of the historic St. Petersburg Tiger Summit, a high-level meeting hosted by the Russian Government and World Bank that saw 13 tiger range governments pledge to double wild tiger numbers from the current 3,200 to 6,000 plus by 2022 (TX2).

Covering 135 critical areas within the 12 landscapes where WWF currently supports tiger conservation, the survey found many of the sites remain poorly managed and under-resourced and therefore remain highly vulnerable to poachers.

"Poaching continues to be the single-most immediate threat to the survival of the tiger in the wild and also the greatest barrier to achieving the TX2 goal," said Mike Baltzer, leader of WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative. "If we don't work as fast as possible towards ending poaching in these places then we cannot trust that these last remaining populations of tigers, and their prey, are safe for longer term recovery of this endangered species."

The survey also shows that the same sites are in danger of becoming "paper parks", i.e.
parks that are legally protected but are not being actively managed and protected on the ground.

Although 90% of the sites surveyed are legally protected, less than half have protection-specific management plans (with the exception of Russia). Across South and Southeast Asia only 12% of sites had the full number of planned staff in place and over 50% were not trained or equipped to an adequate level.

"The report shows that while important government commitments have been made, and much action has been accelerated, we are still far from what is needed to establish the very basics of tiger recovery," Baltzer added.

Moving forward: six ways to increase tiger numbers

The survey examined six key elements related to effective management and protection against poaching: legal protection status, protection management, effective patrolling, intelligence networks, arrests and prosecutions as well as training and resources for field staff.

Investments in these areas are needed to not only achieve Zero Poaching, but to demonstrate to that the commitments made at the Summit are being actively pursued and are evident in the increased efforts to protect tigers. WWF is committed to Zero Poaching and will use the survey results to help identify gaps for future investments.

Global Tiger Recovery Program and Cards4Tigers

The 2010 Tiger Summit, governments also endorsed the Global Tiger Recovery Programme, an amalgamation of national tiger conservation actions and global targets towards meeting the TX2 goal. As a follow-up to the Tiger Summit, government officials met during the 2nd Asian Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation conducted in Bhutan in October 2012, where they committed to taking immediate and specific action over the next year to strengthen protection.

Since the Tiger Summit, WWF has been working with governments, NGOs and private partners to find ways to improve the effectiveness of ranger patrols through the development of law enforcement monitoring systems across Asia, training teams and key stakeholders in the latest methods in patrolling, prevention and conservation. WWF is presently supporting protection field staff and rangers through the Tigers Alive Initiative's "Cards4Tigers"

For more information contact:

Chris Chaplin, Media Relations Manger, WWF International, +86 139 117 474 72, cchaplin@wwf.sg

Laos pushes ahead with Mekong dam and risks destroying the region's lifeblood

2012-11-06

Gland, Switzerland – The Lao government's determination to plow ahead with construction of the controversial US$3.5-billion Xayaburi hydropower dam in northern Laos puts the mighty Mekong River's spectacular biodiversity, rich fisheries and livelihoods - vital to nearly 60 million people - in grave danger, warns WWF.

Despite fierce opposition from neighbouring countries, and some concerns raised this week by delegates attending the Asia-Europe Summit (ASEM 9) in the Lao capital, Vientiane, Laos' Deputy Minister of Energy and Mining, Mr Viraphonh Viravong, announced that Laos will hold a ground-breaking ceremony at the dam site on Wednesday, 7 November. Mr. Viravong also told a group of journalists, "It [Xayaburi dam] has been assessed, it has been discussed the last two years. We have addressed most of the concerns."

Criticism of the Xayaburi project has been mounting over the past year, with concerns centred on the serious gaps in data and failures to fully account for the impacts of the dam, particularly concerning fisheries and sediment flows.

"Laos appears to be recklessly intent on forging ahead with construction before the agreed impact studies have been completed," said Dr Li Lifeng, Director of WWF's Freshwater Programme.

"If the region's governments fail now to reaffirm their concerns on Xayaburi, they risk resting the future of the Mekong on flawed analysis and gaps in critical data that could have dire consequences for millions of people living in the Mekong River basin."

In June 2010, Thailand's electricity utility, EGAT, signed an initial agreement with Ch. Karnchang to purchase over 95 per cent of the Xayaburi dam's electricity, and at least four Thai banks have expressed their interest in providing loans to the project, despite the acute environmental and social costs, and the uncertainties surrounding the financial return of the project.

"Thailand has a huge stake in the project and should not turn a blind eye to the potentially devastating consequences the project will wreak on their neighbours, and their own people," added Li. "Thailand must take responsibility and join calls to stop the dam construction and cancel its power purchase agreement until there is regional consensus to build the dam."

Laos' actions fly in the face of the decision last December by Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam to delay building the dam on the Mekong mainstream pending further studies on the sustainable management of the Mekong River, including impacts from mainstream hydropower development projects. However, no timeline has yet been set for when the further studies will be completed.

Fisheries and sediment impacts

A recent review of the dam development identified uncertainties and weaknesses with the proposed fish passes, and confirmed the Xayaburi project will block part of the sediment flow and that important gaps in knowledge concerning the sediment aspects remain.

The Lao government and Ch. Karnchang agreed to spend an additional US$100 million on modifications to the dam design in an attempt to mitigate the adverse impacts, but experts warn this will fail to solve the problems given the remaining gaps in key data and science, and the clear risks associated with using unproven technologies.

"Laos expects its neighbours to trust that the clear risks associated with this project will somehow be resolved while construction moves ahead," added Li. "In pushing ahead with their Mekong dam experiment, Laos is jeopardizing the sustainability of one of the world's great river systems, and all future transboundary cooperation."

An important precedent for 10 other dams

As the first dam project to enter the Mekong River Commission's (MRC) formal consultation process, the Xayaburi project will set an important precedent for 10 other dams proposed for the lower mainstream of the river.

"The Asia-Europe meeting brought together about 50 Asian and European leaders in Laos this week under an umbrella of "Friends for Peace, Partners for Prosperity." But few voices of concern were raised about a project set to spread instability throughout the region and undermine development goals. The international community must not remain silent on Xayaburi," added Li.

WWF urges Mekong ministers to defer a decision on the dam for 10 years to ensure critical data can be gathered and a decision can be reached using sound science and analysis. WWF advises lower Mekong countries considering hydropower projects to prioritise dams on some Mekong tributaries that are easier to assess and are considered to have a much lower impact and risk.

About the mighty Mekong

TEDxWWF talk by WWF-Greater Mekong Interim Representative, Stuart Chapman, on hydropower development on the Mekong River.

Smart Use of Aquatic Resources About to Launch in Siphandone

2012-10-03

Vientiane, 3 October: WWF-Laos and Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DLF) promote the smart use of natural resources in Siphandone islands by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Pakse, Champasak Province concerning the Management and Sustainable Use of Fisheries and Aquatic Natural Resources in 4000 islands – Siphandone.

The four-year project, funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the WWF Network, will be implemented by WWF-Laos in collaboration with DLF and Champasak Provincial Agriculture and Forest Office in the largest wetland in Southern Lao Landscape, Siphandone, within Khong and Mounlapamok Districts.

This project aims to improve the local livelihoods that mostly rely heavily on fisheries and aquatic natural resources in Siphandone by engaging local communities and other beneficiaries with management and sustainable use of resources.

"At the end of the day we hope the developed management plan for the priority wetland site, Siphandone, of global significance along the Mekong River will be approved and implemented", said the Country Director of WWF-Laos, Somphone Bouasavanh. "This will not only be smart use of resources, but also help save the Mekong icons, Irrawaddy dolphin, which currently recorded only 6 threatened individuals left in the trans-boundary pool within Siphandon."

In 2011, this small and isolated group of river dolphins, which drew about 20,000 tourists to Siphandone islands and generated income to local communities who live around the site, the boat owners, restaurants, hotels and guesthouses for instance, are now threatened by gillnets. From January to April this year WWF recorded almost 200 gillnets floating close to the dolphin pool.

"This project will strengthen and improve the system of monitoring river-related activities in the area and will define regulation for fisheries and aquatic natural resources to support law enforcement in order to ensure sustainability in the Siphandone," said the Director General of Department of Livestock and Fisheries, Dr Bounkhouang Khambounheung.

The project also aims to diversify local livelihoods and enhance environmental awareness in order to strengthen communities' capacity to adapt to continuously changing environmental conditions. This is to support local communities to establish the community fisheries organizations that will establish, and manage the fish conservation zones. These zones will allow fish and aquatic species to breed and increase the number of population.

This project will ensure at least 700 households, who rely heavily on aquatic natural resources, fisheries for instance, to benefit from complementary income activities.

Laos' last chance to save last 6 river dolphins

2012-09-27

Gland, Switzerland – A tiny population of six river dolphins, isolated in a deep pool in the Mekong River on the border between Laos and Cambodia, will not survive long unless Laos takes immediate action to ban gillnet fishing in the dolphin's range on their side of the border, warns WWF.

According to a new WWF report, Last chance for dolphins in Laos, more than 30 river dolphins have died since 1991 in and around the trans-boundary pool, with gillnets set by local fishers identified as the main cause. From January to April this year, WWF recorded over 100 separate gillnets in and around the deep pool area and as many as 188 on one occasion.

Cambodia recently enacted a law banning gillnet fishing in the entire pool and nearby areas on their side of the border. In Laos gillnet fishing is banned only in the deepest areas of the pool on their side of the border. While the dolphins are known to reside in the 1km² trans-boundary pool in the dry season they range more widely in the surrounding 5km² area in the wet season.

"Six river dolphins are swimming the gauntlet every day as they risk entanglement and death in the many floating walls of nets," said Gerry Ryan, Technical Advisor with WWF-Cambodia and author of the report. "Laos must immediately ban gillnets from the entire trans-boundary pool area on their side of the border, throughout the whole year, or face losing the country's last river dolphins."

Freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins are critically endangered in the Mekong River, where their numbers have dwindled to around 85 individuals restricted to a 190km stretch of the Mekong mainstream between southern Laos and north-east Cambodia.

As many as 40 - 50 dolphins are believed to have once used the trans-boundary pool, with numbers falling to around 25 in the 1990s. The six dolphins inhabiting the trans-boundary pool are now believed to be an isolated sub-population, and do not move further up or down Mekong mainstem.

While dolphin numbers are shrinking, dolphin-watching tourism to the area is booming. Last year about 20,000 tourists are estimated to have visited the trans-boundary dolphins, with dolphin-watching tours from one of the two main sites in Laos more than doubling since 2008. In Cambodia, visitors to one of the two main dolphin-watching sites have increased nearly thirty-fold since 2005.

"Dolphins are a major tourist attraction and contributor to growth," said Ryan. "Dolphin-watching tourism brings in much needed income to local communities that otherwise rely heavily on fisheries for subsistence and income. It is clear that saving the dolphins also means smart development."

The river dolphins not only bring tangible livelihood benefits, they are also an important indicator of the health and effective management of the freshwater ecosystem, and their decline in numbers may reflect a declining trend in the broader ecosystem, which is heavily relied on by local communities.

"The loss of the river dolphins would not only greatly diminish Laos' biodiversity, it would suggest a potentially devastating decline in the health of the entire river ecosystem, and likely declines in other species too," said Ryan. "If Laos loses its remaining river dolphins it risks losing so much more."

While gillnets represent the most immediate threat to the survival of the six dolphins, coordinated cross-border action is also needed to end illegal fishing and the use of explosives in the area, regulate boat traffic transiting the deep pool, and cancel the proposed large concrete pier and ramp at Anlung Cheuteal, one of Cambodia's main sites for dolphin-watching.

"The pressures on this tiny population of river dolphins are immense, but as long as they survive there is hope," said Ryan. "Urgent and strict protection efforts are needed to keep hope for the survival of this elusive icon of the Mekong River alive, without it hope will fade very fast."

For further information:

Chris Chaplin, Media Manager, WWF International, +86 13911747472, cchaplin@wwf.sg

Sarah Bladen, Communications Director, WWF-Greater Mekong, mob: +84 1224 223 760 sarah.bladen@wwfgreatermekong.org

Strengthening Capacity for Xesap NPA staff

2012-09-15

Vientiane 14 September: WWF-Laos held a training for staff of Xesap National Protected Area (Xe Sap NPA) on Global Positioning System (GPS) and camera trap skills. The training aims to strengthen the staff's capacity to use the devices to monitor wildlife and human practices in Xesap NPA focal areas.

WWF-Laos provided 17 GPS devices and 29 camera traps to Xesap NPA for CarBi Project implementation over the last few months with the purpose of monitoring the practices in the focal area and collecting GPS data in the park. CarBi Project is funded by KfW.

"Important data regarding human activities, forest cover, and NPA and village boundaries in and around the NPA is not yet consistently documented", said Dr Khammone Luangsakda, CarBi Project Manager, WWF-Laos. "We have ready-to-use devices, and we have to properly train staff about how to use these devices so that we can get the most accurate information from the field. This will lead to appropriate management solutions for Xesap NPA", added Dr Luangsakda.

The training course was held in Ta-ouy District, Salavan Province, from the 4-13 of September. The course consisted of two parts - in-class training and in-the-field practice. The trainer taught 13 trainees, from Ta-ouy, Samouy, and Kalum Districts along with Salavan and Sekong provincial staff, how to use and record the data on the GPS devices. Trainees were also exposed to the appropriate techniques for setting up camera traps in order to get the best visual footage of the existing wildlife.

"Previous biodiversity surveys in Xesap NPA indicate globally significant populations of Chestnut-eared Laughing thrush (Garrulax konkakinhensis) and Black-crowned Barwing (Actinodura sodangorum), two globally threatened endemic birds previously believed to be restricted to central Vietnam. The team will apply these newly acquired techniques when conducting camera trapping in October this year in Ta-ouy District, hopefully identifying more endemic species." Dr Luangsakda further explained.

"This training provides us interesting and useful techniques that we can apply to the project activities. Camera trapping can particularly help to visualize the wildlife activities in the Xesap NPA", said Mr. Phetlaty Keodethvongsak, Ta-ouy District Agriculture and Forestry Officer, Xesap NPA.

"It is very difficult to access many parts of the remote Xesap NPA, especially in Kalum District, where we can only access the NPA through the Vietnam border. By using this new camera trapping technology, we can consistently collect data while keeping an eye on the wildlife and human activities inside the NPA in order to help conserve biodiversity", expressed Mr. Sengphachan Sanasomeboun, Xesap NPA unit assistant, Sekong Province.

CarBi Starting to Gear up for Xe Sap NPA

2012-09-05

Vientiane, 31 August: WWF-Laos provides vehicles to Xe Sap National Protected Area (NPA), which located in Salavan and Sekong Provinces, for CarBi project implementation in the 3-year project lifespan.

CarBi project, which signed off last year by WWF-Laos and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), is the largest and most ambitious project in the history of WWF in the Greater Mekong region.

The KfW funded CarBi project aims at halting deforestation, through forest protection and sustainable use of forest resources, and preserving the unique species diversity.

The CarBi project is transboundary, being implemented in four nature reserves and national protected areas in two countries, Laos and Vietnam.

The CarBi project recently received 9 pickup trucks and 13 motorcycles from WWF-Laos to aid in project implementation. "The Pick-up trucks will speed up the work we run and help to cover all the focal points in Xe Sap NPA, because the NPA is very large and remote", said Dr. Khammone Luangsakda, Xe Sap NPA Project Manager, WWF-Laos

"Xe Sap NPA in Sekong province – Kalum District, is very difficult to access, most of the time we have to access through Vietnam border. Therefore these vehicles will ease the work and increase more quality of the work", said Keophayline Ngonephetsy, Sekong Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office, Sekong Provincial CarBi Project Director.

Rice cultivation, livestock and Non-Timber Forest Products are main sources of income of communities around the Xe Sap NPA bialai (Anoetochilus lyue), malva nuts (Scaphium macropodum) for instance. The collection of malva nuts can in some years generate thousands USD for communities.

"Some illegal and over-exploiting practices are occurring and disturbing the NPA. Most of the time our teams are not in time once we are informed about illegal poachers and harvesters. These vehicles will help solve the lateness," said Phoulithath Kaignavongsa, Head of Salavan Forest Resource Division, and Salavan Provincial CarBi Project Director.

These vehicles are to use for the Xe Sap NPA's CarBi Project activities only. To ease and shorten the distance of the work, and increase more quality of the work are the key purposes of having these vehicles.

"After the successful completion of the project, the vehicles will be handed over to the people of Laos, under the stewardship of the Lao government, in order to facilitate further sustainable management of natural resources in and around Xe Sap National Protected Area", said Mr. Micah Ingalls, Conservation Programme Manager, WWF-Laos.

Mekong dams could rob millions of their primary protein source

2012-08-27

Stockholm — Hydropower dams planned for the lower mainstem of the Mekong River could decimate fish populations and with them the primary source of protein for 60 million people. The impact of the dams would extend far beyond the river, as people turn to agriculture to replace lost calories, protein and micronutrients, according to a new study by WWF and the Australian National University.

There are 11 planned dam projects on the Mekong mainstem, and another 77 dams planned in the basin by 2030. The study, "Dams on the Mekong River: Lost fish protein and the implications for land and water resources", looked at two scenarios: replacement of lost fish protein directly attributable to the proposed 11 mainstem dams, and replacement of the net loss in fish protein due to the impact of all 88 proposed dam developments.

If all 11 planned mainstem dams were built, the fish supply would be cut by 16 per cent, with an estimated financial loss of US$476 million a year, according to the study. If all 88 projects were completed, the fish supply could fall 37.8 per cent.

Study co-author Stuart Orr, freshwater manager at WWF International, says policymakers often fail to recognize the crucial role of inland fisheries in meeting food security. "The Mekong countries are striving for economic growth, and they see hydropower as a driver of that growth. But they must first fully understand and take into account the true economic and social value of a free-flowing Mekong," says Orr.

The lower Mekong, flowing through Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam, is renowned for its biological diversity, with more than 850 freshwater fish species. These fish are fundamental to diets and economies in the region, with 80 per cent of the 60 million inhabitants relying directly on the river for their food and livelihoods.

The report also looks at the effects on land and water as people are forced to shift to cows, pigs, poultry and other sources to meet their protein requirements. On top of 1,350km2 of land lost to dam reservoirs, the countries would need a minimum of 4,863km2 of new pasture land to replace fish protein with livestock. The high end of the estimate if all dams were built is 24,188km2 – a 63 per cent increase in land dedicated to livestock.

Water requirements would jump on average between 6 and 17 per cent. But these averages mask the considerably higher figures for Cambodia and Laos. Under scenario one, with 11 dams on the mainstem, Cambodia would need to dedicate an additional 29-64 per cent more water to agriculture and livestock; Laos' water footprint would increase by 12-24 per cent. Under the second scenario, with all 88 dams, these numbers shift dramatically, with an increase of 42-150 per cent for Cambodia and 18-56 per cent for Laos.

"Policymakers in the region need to ask themselves where they are going to find this additional land and water," says Orr. "The Mekong demonstrates the links between water, food and energy. If governments put the emphasis on energy, there are very real consequences for food and water – and therefore people."

The report, published in the journal Global Environmental Change and presented during World Water Week in Stockholm, comes at a critical time in the debate over hydropower development in the region. Construction work appears to be moving ahead on the controversial Xayaburi dam in Laos, despite a decision by the intergovernmental Mekong River Commission to halt the project pending further studies. It would be the first of the planned dams to span the lower Mekong mainstem.

"We hope this study can help fill some of the knowledge gaps about the effects of the proposed dams," says co-author Dr Jamie Pittock from the Crawford School of Public Policy in the Australia National University.

WWF urges the lower Mekong countries to defer a decision on the mainstem Mekong dams for 10 years to ensure critical data can be gathered and a decision can be reached using sound science and analysis. WWF further advises lower Mekong countries considering hydropower projects to prioritize dams on some Mekong tributaries that are easier to assess and are considered to have a much lower impact and risk.

For editors: An abstract of the study, with the option to download the full text, is available here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2012.06.002
Citation as follows: Orr, S., et al., Dams on the Mekong River: Lost fish protein and the implications for land and water resources. Global Environmental Change (2012)

For further information:
Gretchen Lyons, Communications Manager. +41 79 916 0136 glyons@wwfint.org

About WWF
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with more than 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. WWF's mission is to stop the degradation of the Earth's natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature, by conserving the world's biological diversity, ensuring that the use of renewable natural resources is sustainable, and promoting the reduction of pollution and wasteful consumption.

Sustainability: Environment, Economy and Livelihoods

2012-08-20

Vientiane 17 August: With the funding from IKEA, WWF and NAFRI signed a MoU for phase III of the project Sustainable rattan production and harvesting. The signing was done by Mr Somphone Bouasavanh, WWF-Laos's Country Director and Mr. Sisavang Vonghachack, Deputy Director of NAFRI. The MoU is for 2012 to 2015 for Bolikhamxay and Sekong Provinces in order to ensure sustainable management of rattan forests, protect the environment and improve the livelihoods.

WWF, NAFRI, and the provincial and district counterparts have been implementing the rattan project since 2006 in Vientiane, Bolikhamxay and Sekong provinces.

"After the two first phases of developing best practices for the rattan supply chain and rattan forest management and establishing market links, we are now focusing on expanding the FSC certified areas and strengthening the sustainable rattan supply chain", said Somphone Bouasavanh, WWF-Laos's Country Director.

This three-year project will ensure sustainable management of 20,000 ha of rattan forest in two districts, Khamkeut and Bolikhan in Bolikhamxay Province and two districts, Lamam and Thateng in Sekong Provinces.

Bolikhamxay Province, where most of the activities take place, is very rich in term of commercial rattan species. 11 commercial rattan species, for example Calamus solitarius, C. poilanei, C. gracilis and C. palustris are today used in the project area in Bolikamxay, explained Mr Bouasavanh.

By 2014 20,000 ha of sustainable managed rattan forests will be FSC certified and able to supply 200 tonnes of commercial rattan canes. The harvested rattan will be processed by local communities and exported by CoC certified manufacturers to the market in Europe.

"This creates jobs and generates income for local communities who mostly rely heavily on natural resources", added Ms Bouavanh Phachomphonh WWF-Laos's Rattan Project Manager.

This project will also increase the knowledge of the rattan density, ecology, and conservation amongst partners and communities, said Mr Bansa Thammavong, NAFRI's National Project Coordinator. It is to secure the support from national policy that promote the sustainable rattan management and production, added Mr Thammavong.

Through the project lifespan the team in Laos works in collaboration with WWF's rattan teams in Cambodia, Vietnam and Indonesia who also are funded by IKEA. The expected outputs are to keep the existing FSC rattan forests and to extend to other areas; to increase the annual income of communities with 10 per cent; to secure support from the national policy that will secure legality of the rattan supply chain and the incentive to invest in sustainable rattan harvest and production.

Global Tiger Day - spare a thought for tiger prey too!

2012-07-29

As tiger range countries today celebrate Global Tiger Day, WWF is urging the governments to raise efforts to work towards Zero Poaching of tiger prey as well as tigers.

With wild tiger numbers as low as 3,200, direct, targeted poaching of tigers is the most immediate danger for the species today. However, a serious contributing factor to the plight of the tiger is the widespread decline of its forest larder – the deer, wild pigs and wild cattle such as the Gaur.

One tiger needs to eat the equivalent of a medium size deer every week to survive and without adequate food, the tiger population declines very fast. Too many forests of Asia are classed as 'empty forests" – the trees are there but the animals are gone. Anti-poaching efforts therefore must be targeted at protecting both the tiger and its prey.

Poachers very often focus on tiger prey rather than tigers themselves. Prey animals are sought by local poachers to supply the local food market. Many of these prey species are also highly endangered and often neglected by conservation efforts. Yet, they can also benefit from the extra protection given to the tiger.

Open publication - Free publishing - More conservation

"Without protecting the tiger's prey from poaching and forest degradation, achieving the target of doubling wild tiger numbers by 2022 is impossible," said Mike Baltzer, Leader of WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative. "The survival of the prey is key to the survival of the tiger."

Tackling poaching requires high levels of professionally managed security. But if the local community is against the park or the tigers, then the continued efforts of the poachers will overwhelm even the best-trained, motivated rangers who are at the frontline protecting tigers.

A long-term WWF project in southern Thailand, working intensively with the local communities living around Kuiburi National Park, has reduced poaching by four-fold and doubled tiger prey population. The project clearly demonstrates that when local communities are well mobilized, they can be a very powerful and essential force against poaching.

Working towards Zero Poaching requires serious government intervention. The WWF Wildlife Crime Scorecard released on Monday reported that more than 200 tiger carcasses are being seized from illegal trade each year and that most countries were very far from providing protection against poaching and illegal wildlife trade, particularly those countries like China and Vietnam, where illegal traders know there is a strong demand for tiger-based products.

WWF is today releasing a short film "Confessions of an ex-poacher" that highlights the destructive trade. Interviews with two former poachers turned tiger protectors give insights into this illicit world that drives forests to become lucrative hunting grounds for poachers and making tigers their livelihoods. The film also discusses steps needed to stem out poaching in the heartland areas of forests where tigers breed. One of these is to provide those at the frontlines protecting tigers – rangers, protected area officials and local communities – with the right tools to eradicate poaching.

Local communities and protected area staff, particularly rangers or specialized enforcement officers, are the frontline against poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Rangers put their life on the line everyday to keep wild tigers and their prey safe. They are critical in achieving Zero Poaching, yet are not always fully appreciated for their important role. WWF will be launching a special action on International Rangers Day on 31 July to honour these unsung heroes.

Elsewhere, WWF offices in tiger range countries are also joining governments and civil society in a range of Global Tiger Day celebratory events.

Bhutan: A special community event will be held in line with the theme of this year's Global Tiger Day – "Tiger and community co-existing in harmony for mutual survival". It will be held in Trongsa in central Bhutan, with a community that has been working on tiger conservation. There will be a skid presented by the community and a poster competition for students.

China: WWF will launch a pilot deer reintroduction programme in Wangqing Nature Reserve in northeast China, at a site where tracks of both the Amur tiger and the Amur leopard have been discovered frequently. This is part of a bigger tiger conservation programme aimed at recovering tiger prey density and restoring the habitat. A special launch ceremony will be held with officials, representatives from partner organizations and media in attendance.

Nepal: A series of public service announcements will be launched to promote awareness of the need to stop wildlife trade. There will also be a formal declaration of the results of the tiger count conducted in Bardia National Park earlier in the year. WWF will also hold an art competition for students in the Terai Arc region.

For further information:

Soh-Koon Chng, WWF Tigers Alive Initiative, +65 9772 2552, skchng@wwf.org.my

Laos in game of high stakes as it pushes ahead with Xayaburi dam construction

2012-07-24

Hanoi, Vietnam – Construction work is marching ahead at the Xayaburi dam site in northern Laos and risks making a mockery of the decision last December by Mekong countries to delay building the dam on the Mekong mainstream pending further studies on the impacts of the controversial project, warns WWF.

An international delegation of ambassadors, donors and NGOs, including WWF, attended a meeting with the Laos government last week to listen to presentations about the project and inspect the dam site at Xayaburi. The meeting followed mounting concerns and protests about land clearing and construction work underway at the site.

"While Laos' decision to host a visit to the dam site is positive, it's clear construction is advancing," said Dr. Jian-hua Meng, WWF's Sustainable Hydropower Specialist. "According to Mr. Viraphonh Viravong, Laos' Vice-Minister of Energy and Mines, a coffer dam - used to divert the river's flow away from the in-river construction site - will be built by the end of this year. This will be the first direct intervention in the riverbed, and will mark a milestone in the ongoing dam construction."

"Now is the critical time for the region's governments to take a strong stance on Xayaburi to make their concerns heard loud and clear."

According to Mr. Viravong and Ch Karnchang, the Thai developer of the $US3.8 billion project, the dam is going ahead as per their initial plan, with any alterations to be carried out as the build progresses.

The site visit followed mixed messages about the status of the dam. Laos' Foreign Minister confirmed at a recent meeting hosted by US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, that the project was suspended, while Ch Karnchang's chairman, Aswin Kongsiri, claimed they had scheduled time for possible delays but expected to finish on target in 2020.

"Laos is hoping neighbouring governments will be won over by their verbal commitments to mitigate the dam's impacts before they fully understand what the impacts will be," added Dr. Meng.

The delegation visiting the site heard presentations from Pöyry, the Finnish water consulting firm advising Laos on the dam engineering. Pöyry reported that complementary studies were underway and would be on-going until the end of 2012, and concluded that the project will have no unacceptable negative effects.

"Laos expects its neighbours to take a dangerous leap of faith and trust that the risks associated with this project will somehow be resolved while construction moves ahead," added Dr. Meng. "This dubious approach not only pre-empts the conclusions of the on-going studies, but clearly contravenes international best practice."

Pöyry drew heavy criticism last year when they advised Laos that the Xayaburi project should go ahead despite their own review stating that additional baseline data on biology, ecology and livelihood restoration is needed, as well as improved knowledge concerning the proposed passes for migrating fish. More than 700 species of fish ply the Mekong's water, including the iconic and endangered Mekong giant catfish.

"Resting the future of the Mekong on flawed analysis and gaps in critical data could have dire consequences for the livelihoods of millions of people living in the Mekong river basin," added Dr. Meng. "Relying on Poyry's discredited research is simply not the responsible way forward."

Delegates visiting the site also heard a presentation from Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR), a French company that Laos hired to provide further analysis. CNR had issued a report describing possible ways to pass sediment through the dam. However, the report is based largely on theory that has never been used successfully in the Mekong region and CNR themselves conclude that further data needs to be collected to confirm the feasibility.

"Large amounts of sand essential to maintaining balance in the ecosystem and the integrity of the Mekong delta needs to pass through the dam," added Dr. Meng. "This represents a major challenge for the dam project."

The Lower Mekong, one of the world's last large untamed stretches of river, supports nearly 60 million people with its rich fisheries. In order for migratory fish to move up and down the river they would need swim through the dam via the proposed fish passages.

"Nowhere in the tropics has a successful fish passage been built for a dam the size of Xayaburi," said Dr. Eric Baran of the World Fish Centre in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. "It is unreasonable to assume that the proposed fish passage options will be efficient when they are neither based on successful experience in a similar context nor on a study of the local species."

As the first dam project to enter the Mekong River Commission's (MRC) formal consultation process, the Xayaburi dam will test the MRC's effectiveness, and the consensus decision reached by Ministers will set an important precedent for 10 other dams proposed for the lower mainstream of the river.

"The four Mekong countries should jointly reach a decision on a go or no go for Xayaburi that is based on sound science and not on optimistic speculations," concluded Dr. Meng.

WWF urges Ministers to defer a decision on the dam for 10 years to ensure critical data can be gathered and a decision can be reached using sound science and analysis. WWF advises lower Mekong countries considering hydropower projects to prioritise dams on some Mekong tributaries that are easier to assess and are considered to have a much lower impact and risk.

For further information: Sarah Bladen, Communications Director, WWF-Greater Mekong, tel: +844 37193049 ext 164. mobile: +84 1224 223 760 sarah.bladen@wwfgreatermekong.org

Downloads: Download photos from WWF's visit the Xayaburi dam site. http://www.mediafire.com/?h7eiwe09kht5y Please credit: © Marc Goichot / WWF-Greater Mekong

Surveys reveal Xe Sap NPA supports Annamite endemic biodiversity

2012-07-02

Biodiversity surveys of Xe Sap NPA, southern Laos, the first intensive surveys within the protected area since the late 1990s, have revealed that the site supports a characteristic suite of Greater Annamite endemic birds and plants. A large population of the conifer Pinus dalatensis (IUCN classified as Data Deficient) which dominates hill evergreen forest in large sections of western Xe Sap NPA above 1,000-masl was recorded. This restricted range Annamite endemic species was previously only known from central and southern Vietnam and one other site in Laos (Phou Ak in Nakai Nam Theun NPA).

A number of encounters with Chestnut-eared Laughingthrush Garrulax konkakinhensis and Black-crowned Barwing Actinodura sodangorum, two globally threatened endemic birds previously believed to be restricted to central Vietnam, suggest that Xe Sap NPA may support the largest global populations of these species. The globally threatened Impressed Tortoise Manouria impressa, typical of montane forest throughout south-east Asia, was also recorded and Xe Sap may be globally significant for this species.

Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have recently demonstrated that Annamite forest leeches can be used to detect mammals living in tropical forests by analyzing the genetic make up of the blood inside the leeches. In May 2012 the CarBi project held a 4-day training workshop for Hue and Quang Nam forest guards (40 forest guards and team leaders) in Vietnam on how to collect leeches during law enforcement patros.

The CarBi project is now organizing landscape-wide collection of leeches from suitable forest habitat in the Hue and Quang Nam Saola Reserves (Vietnam) and in Xe Sap NPA (Laos). In May two members of the IUCN Saola Working Group, visited eastern Xe Sap NPA and collected more than 600 leeches. Both felt that the relatively undisturbed forests of eastern Kaleum district are suitable for the elusive Saola and hope that the species' unique genetic fingerprint will be in some of the collected leeches.

Collected leeches will be sent, in August, to the University of Copenhagen, Denmark for genetic analysis that will paint a picture of the mammal community in this unique part of the world. It is hoped that this work will also help to detect the critically endangered Saola and thus influence protected area management and law enforcement activities by the CarBi project and its government partners.

Collecting leeches in protected areas in order to try and understand the status of Saola and other endangered mammal species within the landscape, is now acknowledged as a potential strategy for detecting the presence of species which would previously be extremely difficult to prove, said Mr. Fanie Bekker, the Trans Boundary Director for CarBi.

According to Bekker, alternative solutions had to be found to ensure that cost-effective and scientifically robust technology is applied to detect rare animals in this extremely challenging environment. It is believed that this progressive partnership between the scientists and WWF's CarBi Programme, will provide robust evidence that Saola is still present in CarBi's project areas said Dr Thomas Gray of WWF's regional conservation programme.

WWF's CarBi Project strengthens local authorities' capacity on wildlife survey

2012-06-28

Hue, Vietnam 25 May 2012: WWF's CarBi project arranged a training course for local authority and forest guards of Hue and Quang Nam Saola Nature Reserve. The trainees followed learning methodologies on conducting wildlife surveys, identifying important key species like red-shanked douc, white-cheeked crested gibbons, Asiatic black bears, sun bears, and tigers, in the classroom and practice in the field.

CarBi project and its partners have been implementing activities since middle last year in Xe Sap NPA in Laos, and in Saola Nature Reserves in Hue, and in Quang Nam, and in Bac Ma National Park in Vietnam to sustain natural resources and its service for local economy and their livelihoods.

"One of our objectives is to help build local capacity on survey techniques that they can use in the fieldwork", said Fanie Bekker, the Transboundary Director, WWF's CarBi project. "These people are really our champions on the ground, and without them, we will not be able to make a significant difference in biodiversity conservation, and the livelihoods it protects and enhances", he added.

There are 40 forest guards and team leaders, government staff members from Hue SNR and from Quang Nam Saola NR. These 40 men will apply this newly gained skills towards better wildlife survey techniques, recording, analising, and monitoring. This will lead to the improved management of the Saola Nature Reserves, and will also reconfirm the importance of the strong partnership between WWF's CarBi and the relevant Vietnam government staff, confirmed Bekker.

Serow released from a snare trap in Saola Nature Reserve, Hue, Vietnam

2012-05-29

On 10 March 2012, forest guards patrolling the Saola nature reserve in Thua Thien Hue Province, Vietnam, found a serow, a species of goat-antelope, trapped in a snare set by poachers. The guards caught on camera their successful efforts to release the animal.

The guards worked for 30 minutes to remove the wire snare from the serow's front leg. After successfully removing the snare, the guards gave the animal a gentle prod and it sprang up and disappeared into the forest.

There are six species of serow, with the Mainland Serow (Capricornis milneedwardsii) native to China and Southeast Asia. The Mainland serow is quite large and has been known to grow to be six feet long and three feet high at the shoulder, and an adult typically weighs over 150 kg. The Mainland Serow is territorial and lives alone or in small groups. It usually stays in a small area of only a few square miles where it grazes on grass, shoots and leaves from along beaten paths. It is most active at dawn and dusk, and spends the rest of the day in thick vegetation.

There is little direct information on the status of the serow species. However, the Mainland Serow it is probably declining due to hunting for food and medicine, and so it is listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List because it is believed to be in significant decline.

The Saola nature reserve forest guard team removed more than 8,000 snares and 90 illegal hunting and logging camps during a six month period last year. A wide range of animals were released from the snares, including grey-shanked douc langurs, serows, big-headed turtles, ferret badgers and wild pigs.

Management approaches in the reserve, which is home to the critically endangered saola, include an innovative forest guard model, management information system (MIST) and law enforcement activities that aim to tackle rampant poaching and illegal trade in wildlife.

Saola still a mystery 20 years after its spectacular debut

2012-05-21

Two decades after the sensational discovery of a new ungulate species called the saola, this rare animal remains as mysterious and elusive as ever.

WWF, the Saola Working Group (SWG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) warn the species is sliding towards extinction because of intensive hunting pressure and poor reserve management.

A cousin of cattle but recalling an antelope in appearance, the saola was discovered in 1992 by a joint team from Vietnam's Ministry of Forestry and WWF surveying the forests of Vu Quang, near Vietnam's border with Laos. The team found a skull with unusual long, straight horns in a hunter's home and knew it was something extraordinary. The find proved to be the first large mammal new to science in more than 50 years and one of the most spectacular zoological discoveries of the 20th century.

Twenty years on, little is still known about the saola's ecology or behaviour. In 2010, villagers in the central Laos province of Bolikhamxay captured a saola, but the animal died several days later. Prior to that, the last confirmed record of a saola in the wild was in 1999 from camera-trap photos in Bolikhamxay.

"Saola are extremely secretive and very seldom seen," said Nick Cox, Manager of WWF-Greater Mekong's Species Programme. "While they inhabit a very restricted range, there is still no reported sighting of a saola in the wild by a scientist, and the handful of saola that have been taken into captivity have not survived."

The difficulty in detecting the animal has prevented scientists from making a precise population estimate. "If things are good, there may be a couple of hundred saola out there," said William Robichaud, Coordinator of the Saola Working Group. "If things are bad, the population could now be down in the tens."

Greatest threat comes from illegal hunting

While development is encroaching in the saola's forest habitat, the greatest threat comes from illegal hunting. Saola are caught in wire snares set by hunters to catch other animals, such as sambar deer, muntjac deer and civets, which are largely destined for the lucrative wildlife trade, driven by traditional medicine demand in China and restaurant and food markets in Vietnam and Laos.

"Paradoxically, the saola seems to be one of the few vertebrates in the Annamites without a high price on its head," added Robichaud. "Saola are caught largely as bycatch – like the tuna and dolphin scenario."

Since the discovery of the saola, Vietnam and Laos have established a network of protected areas in the animal's core range and some reserves are pursuing innovative approaches to tackle rampant poaching. In the Saola Nature Reserve in Vietnam's Thua Thien Hue Province, a new approach to forest guard co-management, supported by WWF, is delivering good results. Since February 2011, the newly established team of forest guards patrolling the reserve have removed more than 12,500 snares and close to 200 illegal hunting and logging camps.

"The establishment of critical reserves by the governments of Vietnam and Laos is to be commended," said Dr. Barney Long, Asian species expert for WWF-US. "However, without increasing efforts to adopt new approaches to manage the protection of saola habitat through targeted snare removal, these protected areas will be little more than lines drawn on a map."

"If hunting levels can be significantly reduced, we are optimistic about the species' prospects," said Chris Hallam, WCS-Laos' Conservation Planning Advisor. "This will require funds for more patrol boots on the ground in saola areas, developing positive incentives for its conservation, and ultimately reducing consumer demand for wildlife meat and products."

Efforts to save the saola have reached a greater level of urgency since another of Vietnam's iconic species, the Vietnamese Javan rhino, was confirmed extinct in 2011 after the battle to save the last individual was lost to poachers.

"The saola has made it to its twentieth anniversary, but it won't have many more anniversaries unless urgent action is taken," added Hallam.

An icon for biodiversity in the Annamite mountain range

The saola is an icon for biodiversity in the Annamite mountain range that runs along the border of Vietnam and Laos. This biodiversity hotspot boasts an incredible diversity of rare species, with many found nowhere else on the planet. In addition to the discovery of the saola, two new species of deer, the large-antlered muntjac and the Truong Son muntjac, were uncovered in the Annamite's rugged, evergreen forests in 1994 and 1997 respectively.

"The lack of significant demand for saola in the wildlife trade gives great hope for its conservation," said Robichaud. "But we still need to act. One of the rarest and most distinctive large animals in the world has been quietly slipping toward extinction through complacency."

For further information:
Sarah Bladen, Communications Director, WWF-Greater Mekong, t +844 37193049, sarah.bladen@wwfgreatermekong.org

Evaluation of the effectiveness of freshwater protected areas

2012-05-15

Fish is a vital diet source for Lao particularly local communities who mostly rely on the natural resources. WWF – Laos and FishBio in collaboration with its counterparts are evaluating the contribution from Fish Conservation Zones in Nam Kading River, Bolikhamxay Province to the abundance and diversity of aquatic resources in the river.

With the support from Department of Livestock and Fisheries (DLF), Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO), and District Agriculture and Forestry Office (DAFO), WWF has been establishing the FCZs for over 150 sites in the mainstream Mekong River and a number of its major tributaries by working closely with the communities to select the locations, agree on the management regulations – including Dos and Don'ts with the rate of fining if there is some one breaking the regulations – and these regulations then get approved by the relevant district governor and become a bye-law.

Fish Conservation Zones (FCZs) are a community based fishery management with WWF and government in support, which has been implemented in 7 provinces across the country since 2006. FCZs help protect fish from the use of illegal fishing gears and overfishing to ensure food security by providing safety habitat for fish throughout the year.

In May 2012, WWF, FishBio, PAFO, DAFO and communities have started the activity by capturing fish, marking them with floy tags for 1,000 individuals and returning them back to the same sites. Communities, PAFO, DAFO, WWF, and FishBio staff will collect the data of fish recaptured individually by communities outside the FCZ.

Colour-coded markers may be located at regular distance intervals from the conservation zone to aid fishers in determining location of capture relative to protected area.

In addition to consultation with villagers, posters have been located near fishing areas to inform fishers and encourage them to participate in the study. A small reward of 3,000 kip will be given for return of tags. Village fishers will be instructed to note details about capture of marked individuals.

This activity is to assess the impact of FCZs on fish population and fisher livelihoods and quantify the emigration of species from the FCZs. This aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the FCZs for augmenting fish harvests and to improve fisheries co-management by strengthening local capacity through transfer of technology, in parallel with conservation and livelihood improvement activities. The project will enhance conservation of critical habitats for freshwater biodiversity protection and restoration, including broodstock and spawning ground management, and enable more sustainable use of these resources.

Wild tigers remain vulnerable to poaching in most protected areas

2012-05-12

A recent preliminary assessment of 63 legally protected areas in seven tiger range countries shows that only 22, or 35%, maintain WWF's minimum standards of protection. This indicates that the areas set up to protect tigers and other threatened species are not necessarily the refuge they are designed to be, says WWF.

"Poaching is the most immediate threat to tigers and protected areas are the first line of defence against poaching," says Mike Baltzer, Leader of WWF's Tigers Alive Initiative. "If this preliminary assessment reflects the full situation on-the-ground, then protected areas are not functioning as an effective safe haven for tigers. Without places tigers can be safer from poaching, there is no hope to meet the target of more than 6,000 tigers by 2022."

In November 2010 at the "Tiger Summit" in St. Petersburg hosted by the Government of Russia and the World Bank, the 13 Tiger Range Governments and partners committed to doubling the number of wild tigers by 2022. From 15-17 May 2012, they will meet again to assess progress and plan the next steps.

Poaching of tigers, to meet consumer demand for their body parts and products, is now the main factor reversing the gains made by governments, donors and other partners working towards the 2022 goal. The meeting in New Delhi next week provides a perfect opportunity for the 13 countries to immediately launch an elevated operation to improve the protection of sites critical to tigers and take deliberate action towards Zero Poaching.

WWF's internal preliminary assessment covered 84 locations, 63 of which are legally protected areas, in seven of the 12 countries where WWF currently works on tiger conservation. Scientists, researchers and managers working in the field, have determined these sites to be critical for wild tiger population growth.

Each site was evaluated on three critical factors for protecting tigers: the number of protected area staff, the use of law enforcement monitoring tools, and whether the park was officially protected by law. Data for the assessment was collected from published sources and through a survey of WWF field staff and managers of the sites wherever available.

Results from the assessment showed that staff and WWF field personnel from 41 of the 63 protected areas, or 65%, feel there are not enough staff to protect those areas and achieve Zero Poaching. One example is Malaysia's Royal Belum State Park, critical for the survival of the Malayan tiger and where considerable poaching activity has been documented. Although occupying an area of over 1,000 km2, the park only has 17 enforcement staff. In contrast, protected areas such as Kaziranga National Park in India, with approximately 800 enforcement staff for about 860 km2, have been able to stem poaching activity. In Nepal, 2011 was recently celebrated as a Zero Poaching year for rhinos, which was largely attributed to the increase of range posts across several protected areas from 7 to 51.

The assessment also indicated that only 18 of the protected areas surveyed, or 29%, are currently using computer-based, law enforcement monitoring systems to help them manage their sites more effectively; the majority still rely on manual analysis. The number using computer technology should increase as two new systems, MSTrIPES and SMART, are rolled out in many protected areas in the next few months.

"Clearly, a large number of areas important for tigers urgently need increased investment in protection and enforcement," said Mr. Craig Bruce, WWF's expert on enforcement and protection of wild tigers. "Tiger range governments should immediately and dramatically increase their commitment and investment in securing these sites. They should ensure there are sufficient, effective and dedicated enforcement teams on the ground, working towards Zero Poaching."

WWF has identified three actions tiger range governments can take immediately to launch an elevated operation towards Zero Poaching. These include identifying and delineating the most important sites requiring good protection from poaching, and ensuring these sites have sufficient numbers of enforcement staff who are well trained to monitor and improve their effectiveness by using monitoring systems. WWF also suggests that the police and judiciary need to help to ensure strict punishment on poaching and to actively engage local communities living adjacent to important tiger conservation areas.

For further information:

Soh-Koon Chng, Tigers Alive Initiative, +65 9772 2552, skchng@wwf.org.my

U.S. Embassy Supports WWF Efforts to Track the Mekong Giant Catfish

2012-04-23

Vientiane, Laos – WWF, with an environmental grant from the U.S. Embassy, is undertaking a new study to determine the viability of tagging and satellite tracking the enigmatic and iconic Mekong giant catfish, and other migratory species found in the Mekong River.

While the Mekong giant catfish can reach three metres in length and weigh up to 350kg, very little is known about this river titan. It is hoped a successful tagging programme will reveal how far this long distance swimmer travels during its migration, and what it consumes to reach such massive proportions.

"While very little is known about the movements of the Mekong giant catfish, what is known is that their future is uncertain." said Dr Victor Cowling, Landscape Manager with WWF-Laos "If we can learn more about the habits and behavior of the catfish, we stand a better chance of protecting this endangered species, and the river it inhabits."

The WWF feasibility study, funded by the U.S. Embassy and carried out during a 6 month period, will determine whether pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) can be used to track Mekong giant catfish. For this study other large migratory species of catfish will be tagged. PSATs are mainly used to track the movements of large, migratory marine animals, and have never before been used in rivers.

A PSAT is equipped with a means to transmit data via satellite. Though the data is physically stored on the PSAT, its major advantage is that it does not have to be physically retrieved for the data to be available. Location, depth, and temperature data held in the PSAT can be used to answer questions about migratory patterns, seasonal feeding movements and daily habits.

"Current scientific information suggests the Mekong giant catfish migrate from the Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia up the Mekong River to spawn in northern Thailand and Laos," added Dr Cowling. "If the study shows that this technology has the potential to successfully track these river giants, we hope to strengthen scientific knowledge of this elusive species and reveal its secrets."

Four out of the world's top ten giant freshwater fish species can be found in the Mekong River which flows through Cambodia, China, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. More giants inhabit this mighty river than any other on Earth.

A century ago the Mekong giant catfish was found to inhabit the entire length of the river from Vietnam to southern China. Today, the population is in decline with scientists estimating that numbers have plummeted by 90 per cent in just two decades. A combination of infrastructure development, habitat destruction and overharvesting is quickly eroding populations of this extraordinary species.

"Without the ability to move up and down rivers, the fish have fewer opportunities to breed," added Dr Cowling. "Currently, the lower Mekong remains free-flowing, which presents a rare opportunity for the conservation of these species. But the clock is ticking."

The results of the WWF feasibility study will be available in September 2012. If PSATs are shown to be successful in tracking the Mekong giant Catfish, it is hoped a tagging programme can be established in 2013.

Unifying commitment for the critically endangered Mekong dolphins

2012-01-12

Kratie, Cambodia – The Commission for Dolphin Conservation and Development of Mekong River Dolphin Ecotourism Zone (Dolphin Commission), the Fisheries Administration of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and WWF have jointly declared their commitment to work together to develop a strategy by April 2012 for collaborative conservation of Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River of Cambodia, including the dolphins in transboundary pool at Cambodia-Lao PDR border.

On January 12, the three parties signed the Kratie Declaration on the Conservation of Mekong River Irrawaddy Dolphins after three days of meetings with national and international dolphin experts to discuss urgent conservation actions for critically endangered Mekong River Irrawaddy dolphins.

The Irrawaddy dolphin is one of 58 endangered aquatic species in Cambodia and fully protected under Cambodian Law. The Mekong River sub-population of Irrawaddy dolphins is red-listed as Critically Endangered, the highest International level of concern, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

"It is essential for all of us to think carefully about how to conserve the remaining dolphins. Today is an important step toward building a collaborative effort to prevent the extinction of this animal in the Mekong," said H.E. Touch Seang Tana, Chairman of the Commission for Dolphin Conservation and Development of Mekong River Dolphin Ecotourism Zone, in his opening statement at the meeting.

Irrawaddy dolphins are an important part of Cambodia's natural heritage and part of the rich biodiversity of the Mekong River that must be protected for the enjoyment and benefit of future generations. But despite strong efforts to conserve this sub-population by the Dolphin Commission, the Fisheries Administration, and WWF, and a possible decline in the mortality rate in recent years, the population is small and in imminent danger of extinction.

"It is my hope and expectation that the Dolphin Commission, the Fisheries Administration, and WWF will get a clearer understanding of the status of this population and causes of calf mortality," said H.E. Dr. Nao Thuok, Director General of the Fisheries Administration.

"The Mekong dolphin is globally important as one of only two remaining species of freshwater dolphin in Asia. The disappearance of such a revered Mekong species would be a tragic loss," said Mr Brian Smith, Director, Wildlife Conservation Society, and the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group.

The Mekong River sub-population of Irrawaddy dolphins has been declining since the mid 1970s. The latest population estimate by the Fisheries Administration and WWF suggests fewer than 100 adult individuals remain in the river.

The panel of national and international experts put forward key recommendations for immediate conservation actions including: use new technology and methods to improve understanding of dolphin behaviour, population status, and causes of mortality; minimize or eliminate gillnet related mortality through effective law enforcement and monitoring; and more direct involvement of local communities in dolphin conservation.

"It will take a strong and comprehensive effort to save this iconic species from extinction and increase its population in the Mekong. This will require close collaboration among all stakeholders, especially the Fisheries Administration, the Dolphin Commission, and WWF," said Mr. Seng Teak, Director of WWF-Cambodia.

Participants in the meeting included representatives from the Commission for Dolphin Conservation and Development of Mekong River Dolphin Ecotourism Zone, the Fisheries Administration, Kratie and Stung Treng provincial fisheries authorities, Institut Pasteur du Cambodge, provincial authorities from Kratie and Stung Treng Provinces, Erasmus University in the Netherlands, Institute of Cetacean Research in Japan, JICA, the U.S. Marine Mammal Commission, the Marine Mammal Center, California, University of North Carolina, Tokyo National Science Museum University De Las Palmas De Gran Canaria of Spain, the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, IUCN, the Wildlife Conservation Society, WWF, and the Zoological Society of London.