Celebrating 25 Years of Action for Biodiversity

One of the main forest policies is to restore forest cover to 70 per cent by the year 2020 [ ] 138 Comprehensive successes with minimizing impacts on biodiversity Lao PDR has been successful in its Biodiversity Management objectives. This includes establishing and man- aging a comprehensive and repre- sentative system of PAs that covers the nation’s biodiversity. Also much progress has been made towards es- tablishing and managing a system of National Biodiversity Conservation Areas and National Protected Areas (NPAs). Accomplishments include an extensive evaluation of the NPA system, approving NPA management plans, creating new NPAs, and creat- ing detailed PA zoning. Two Ramsar sites have been designated. Ex-situ research and conservation is not practiced widely in the Lao PDR. New and existing projects such as Pha Tad Khe Botanical Gardens and the Free the Bears Project, are valuable in terms of direct conservation — wildlife rehabilitation — and have the potential to raise public awareness of biodiversity and conservation. It also encompasses protecting indigenous biodiversity from uncon- trolled introduction and spread of alien species and genetically modi- fied organisms. A number of major accomplishments have been made, such as establishing Biosafety coor- dination committees; the submission of a Biosafety Law to the National Assembly; and improving monitoring of Living modified organisms. The objective of promoting ecolog- ically sustainable management prac- tices for ecotourism has been well implemented in general. Ecotourism training opportunities have expand- ed and more information is available to tourists to encourage them to follow socially and environmentally responsible practices while traveling. Strong efforts have been made to improve forest management, such as assigning forest categories, and expanding production, protection and conservation. A comprehensive policy has been established for forest management, particularly for logging and fuel woods; monitoring of im- pacts of plantations on surrounding ecosystems; and the writing of man- agement plans for a larger number production forests. There have been key achievements in promoting industrial, energy and mining development by minimizing the impacts on biodiversity during the development processes. The achievements include the establish- ment of department divisions to specifically promote environmen- tally responsible investments; and focusing on Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental and Social Impact Assessment. The largest obstacle to overcome in the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plan is the monitoring of environmental impacts of invest- ments and enforcing laws accord- ingly, such as enforcing ‘the polluter pays’ principle. The conservation of biodiversity through ecologically sustainable agri- culture has been supported. Land Use Planning has been aimed at reducing shifting cultivation in selected areas. Also, farmers’ access to credit has increased. T he Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) is one of the most biodiverse countries in Southeast Asia. Discoveries of new and large species are ongoing, with 28 new species discovered in 2014. The great range of biodiversity exists thanks to the Lao PDR’s abundance of forest and water resources, which cover the entire length of the country. National Protected Areas now cover 14.2 per cent of territory, while this increases to around 20.2 per cent of land area with the addition of Provincial Protected Areas and District Protected Areas. Asian cows Blake Lisk on Unsplash Lao People’s Democratic Republic