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Environment Operations Center (GMS EOC) website!

Green Governors Discuss REDD

On Thursday 12 November 2009, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting that was hosted in Singapore, a round table event for progressive Asian Governors was organized by ADB in collaboration with the Singapore-based private sector company Carbon Conservation. [click here for more information]

November issue of GMS-EOC Newsletter is out

As the days get shorter and we approach the end of 2009, the 7th edition of GMS-EOC's newsletter should have arrived in your inbox. In this issue, learn about the first findings of the BCI impact assessment that was carried out in Dong Sua Hao, Lao PDR, the latest initiatives on capacity development within the Working Group on Environment (WGE), and much more. Click the Newsletter Sixth Issue (PDF: 4.75MB | 10 pages) to open the newsletter as a PDF-file and Subscribe to EOC's Newsletter to receive the newsletter.

National Expert Team Builds Criterion Tree

On 28 October 2009, Water Resources and Environment Administration (WREA) conducted a consultation workshop to develop a Spatial Multi Criteria Analysis (SMCA) criterion tree for rubber and sugar cane concessions Facilitated by EOC, a group of national experts from different ministries and agencies including WREA, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, National Land Management Authority (NLMA), Ministry of Information and Culture(MOIC), Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) and Ministry of Industry and Mines (MEM) met. [click here for more information]

Seminar hosted in Bangkok on "Addressing Climate Change in Asia: Impacts on Food, Fuel and People"

Supported by the GMS-EOC, a seminar entitled "Addressing Climate Change in Asia: Impacts on Food, Fuel and People" was hosted on Wednesday 25th of September, at the ADB's Thailand Resident Mission. Designed to inform regional action to promote climate solutions, the seminar was a launch space for 3 studies, commissioned by the ADB, investigating how climate change would impact agriculture, energy security and migration in Asia. [click here for more information]

Workshops on Environmental Safeguards Mechanisms Train Regional Participants

GMS Regional Trading and Environmentally Sustainable Development of Electricity Infrastructure (ADB GMS RETA 6440) organized a four-day training workshop on Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA). The workshop was held 14 - 18 September 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand. GMS-EOC contributed by delivering presentations on Climate Change, New Considerations and Environmental Indicators [click here for more information]

Biodiversity Corridor in Xishuangbanna at the frontier of ecosystem management

The Xishuangbanna Biodiversity Corridor, one of 5 BCI sites in the GMS, has been identified as a leader in achieving its mission of preserving tropical biodiversity at the frontier of in situ ecosystem management.

The Xishuangbanna conservation complex connects nature reserves through a series of corridors; directly promoting the reintroduction of important or valuable native species, focused habitat restoration, assisted migration of species that are vulnerable to climate change, and creative local collaboration with governments, NGOs and indigenous peoples.

The Project was identified in an article of Trends in Plant Sciences, the leading monthly review journal in plant science featuring broad coverage of basic plant science, from molecular biology through to ecology. [click here for the full article] (source: Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden)

New Initiative to Develop Capacity on Integrated Spatial Planning Tools in Lao PDR

WREA, supported by EOC, convened a meeting with representatives from NLMA, MAF-DOF, MPI and WWF to initiate the implementation of "Agricultural suitability assessments using Spatial Multi-Criteria Analysis", a CEP-supported activity. The government delegates were introduced to the methodology and implementation arrangements including the formation of an ad hoc national expert group were discussed and agreed upon. Spatial data collection and expert consultations have commenced and are expected to be completed by the end of October.

Workshop on "Experiences and Challenges in Biodiversity Policy Development in GMS Countries"

A 3-day workshop on Biodiversity Policy Development in the GMS was co-organized by MONRE Viet Nam and the EOC with the aim of: i) sharing the subregion’s experiences and challenges in developing and finalizing biodiversity policy and its implementation; and ii) presenting the activities on biodiversity conservation in GMS countries. The workshop participants were scientists, planners and lawyers from the various state and non-state agencies supporting the development of the biodiversity law in Viet Nam. A trip to the marine protected area of Ha Long was also organized on the third day. [click here for more information]

BCI Beneficiary Feedback Photo Essay

This Photo Essay features the BCI beneficiaries from local communities in Xepian-Dong Hua Sao Biodiversity Corridor, Champasak province, Lao PDR. [Photo Essay | 2.16MB] [PDF: 2.75MB | 30 pages]

15^th Working Group on Environment Annual Meeting

The 15^th Working Group on Environment Annual Meeting was held in Bangkok, Thailand on 2-3 July 2009. The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Ampan Pintukanok, Director, International Cooperation on Natural Resources and Environment of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE) of Thailand, and Mr. Pavit Ramachandran, Environment Specialist (Regional Cooperation), Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Southeast Asia Department of the Asian Development Bank. [click here for more information]

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