Paying people to protect forests can be an effective way to tackle deforestation and climate change, but only if there is good governance of natural resources, says a study conducted by the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED).

bauxite mining Vietnam opens door to China Vietnam has invited a Chinese company to mine a massive bauxite reserve beneath its Central Highlands, despite growing opposition to mining and a deep-rooted suspicion of China. Deputy Industry Minister Le Duong Quang said the state-owned Vietnam National Coal would go ahead with a US $460 million venture with a subsidiary of China

A circus elephant has become a poster pachyderm against poaching of his endangered Asian species, capturing the hearts of many Vietnamese after an old wound caused by a trap flared up.

"It is the largest Baghair sold in the city market in last 15 years. We bought it at Tk500 a kg and sold up to Tk800," said Haider Ali, the seller of the fish. Even the fish traders of the market wanted a share of this rare fish, he added.

As the world was focusing on swine flu, or H1N1, this past week, there were worrisome developments with respect to bird flu, H5N1

Vietnam is pressing ahead with efforts to lure Chinese mining firms despite facing at home an increasingly bold environmental lobby and a deep-seated suspicion of the country's larger, more prosperous northern neighbor.

The economic impact of climate change on four of south-east Asia's biggest nations will be 2.5 times more severe than the global average by 2100 if carbon emissions continue at their current level, the Asian Development Bank warns in a new study.