China is one of the world's leading users of coal and is therefore faced with serious coal-smoke pollution in urban areas. But pressure is mounting for a solution and this can only intensify following Beijing's successful bid for the 2008 Olympic games. To find just such a solution, this study...

Ancient temples are among Southeast Asia's most important cultural artifacts. They are priceless in terms of their historical and religious importance. They are also vital foreign currency earners as key destinations for tourists. Unfortunately, many temples are in poor condition and...

One of the most difficult challenges facing developing countries is balancing the needs of rural people with the demands of nature conservation. All too often, conflicts occur because local needs are not taken into account in conservation planning. One of the more promising approaches to solving...

The treatment of solid waste is a major priority in countries across Southeast Asia. Economic development and population growth, particularly in the region's mega-cities, have made the challenge more acute. This is particularly true in the Philippines, where the legacy of dangerous open dump...

One of the obstacles many conservation strategies face is the amount of time and money it actually costs for people t o be involved in their implementation - in other words, their "transaction costs" (TCs) . A new study from China has looked at how these costs have affected an innovative...

Across the developing world, governments are grappling with the problem of industrial pollution. A new report from Cambodia looks into a system of pollution levies that would encourage polluting firms to clean up their emissions. This study sets out a series of charges that are projected to...

Tropical forest protection is an area fraught with difficulty. Many approaches backfire because they go against the needs of local people who, rather than get actively involved in forest conservation, exploit the resource because they have no vested interest in doing otherwise. To investigate...

Pollution from power stations is a growing problem in many developing nations. The Philippines is no exception and many people in the country are voicing concerns about the effects on people's health. However, a recent study has shown that, when economic costs and benefits are weighed up, there...

Tourism has helped fuel much of Thailand's rapid growth in recent years. Yet the country is in danger of killing the goose that lays this golden egg. Lack of regulation, coupled with inappropriate development, has meant that many of the country's most important tourist sites are in danger of...

Uncontrolled forest fires are one of the key causes of habitat destruction in Indonesia. The haze they produce causes significant pollution problems for people in the country and in surrounding nations. This study has highlighted the root causes of the fires and assessed a range of potential new...