On the road through Laos’ devastated forest heritage
In a guest blog today, EIA is pleased to present an extract from Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent‘s new book A Short Ride in the Jungle: The Ho Chi Minh Trail by Motorcycle
- Areas of work:
- Campaigns:
In a guest blog today, EIA is pleased to present an extract from Antonia Bolingbroke-Kent‘s new book A Short Ride in the Jungle: The Ho Chi Minh Trail by Motorcycle
Vixay Keosavang is one of the most ruthless and prolific wildlife criminals operating in South-East Asia today. Some call him the “Pablo Escobar of animal trafficking” in Laos, the tiny one-party communist state bordered by Myanmar, China, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam that continues to harbour him
Alongside significant trade and abundant forests, some reports have estimated as much as US$17 billion dollars' worth of illegal trade flows from the East Asia Pacific region, with the Mekong particularly susceptible because of poor forest governance, weak regulation, corruption and porous border controls
Concerted action to combat climate change remains elusive, the illegal wildlife trade is booming and exploitation of natural resources such as forests far exceeds capacity to regenerate. One underlying cause for this disconnect is the failure to adequately implement and enforce laws designed to protect the environment
The annual festive break is once more upon us and a new year is just around the corner – and on behalf of everybody here at EIA’s London HQ, I’d like to wish all of our supporters everywhere season’s greetings and all best wishes for a peaceful and productive 2014
Technology doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and its use depends on people with commitment, motivation, context and the means to best protect our intimately-bound habitats and ecosystems