Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Laos reinforces protected forest area management

Laos reinforces protected forest area management

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Under an updated protected forest area decree, Laos’ Department of Forestry is developing partnerships to sustainably finance and improve planning in coordination with local communities. VIENTIANE TIMES

Laos reinforces protected forest area management

Under an updated protected forest area decree, Laos’ Department of Forestry is developing partnerships to sustainably finance and improve planning in coordination with local communities.

These are remaining obstacles for Laos’ forestry management and must be addressed to achieve long-term sustainable development for biodiversity conservation in protected areas.

From June 23-July 2, the department convened a consultation meeting to revise the Protected Area Decree following previous technical consultations with national and international agencies in Laos.

The consultation was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Prime Minister’s Office, with the Wildlife Conservation Society acting as technical partner, and supported under a partnership between the EU and the French Agency for Development (AFD).

Based on the promulgation of the Forestry Law in 2019 and Laos’ renewed sustainable and green growth priorities and international commitments, the draft decree proposes changes for effective and modern protected area management, which has seen previous challenges.

The updated decree will promote a landscape management approach for better planning and coordination with other sectors, local communities, and the private sector to achieve long-term sustainable development and management of biodiversity.

The decree has been revised to empower protected area institutions with improved authority and institutional setup and will clearly describe the rights and obligations of guardian villages.

It will also facilitate partnerships to sustainably finance the management of protected areas.

Bounpone Sengthong, director-general of the department, recognised the progress made over the past three decades by the government and the conservation community towards setting up the protected area system in Laos since its establishment in 1993.

Today, the number of protected areas has increased from 18 to 24, of which five have been categorised as a National Park (IUCN Category II) for stricter protection.

However, Laos’ biodiversity is currently under threat due to climate change, illegal wildlife trade, hunting and poaching coupled with high rates of deforestation causing fragmentation and loss of habitats.

A strong regulatory framework such as the revised Protected Area Decree is a step forward in safeguarding Laos’ rich biodiverse landscapes for both people and nature.

VIENTIANE TIMES/ASIA NEWS NETWORK

MOST VIEWED

  • 12th Cambodia int’l film festival to see return of Hollywood star

    Phnom Penh is set to come alive with the magic of cinema as the highly anticipated 12th Cambodia International Film Festival (CIFF) takes centre stage. Boasting an impressive line-up of 188 films from 23 countries, including captivating shorts, feature films, documentaries and animation, the festival promises an

  • Bareknuckle champion wants Kun Khmer fighter

    Dave Leduc, who is the current openweight Lethwei boxing champion in Myanmar, has announced that he will travel to Cambodia this year to challenge SEA Games gold medallist Prum Samnang any time that is convenient, after their planned match later this month in Slovakia was

  • Struggling Battambang artist dreams of staging full-scale gallery exhibition

    Leav Kimchhoth, a 55-year-old artist from Battambang province, is a familiar face to locals and tourists alike on the streets of the riverside in Phnom Penh. The one-armed painter and illustrator often hawks his work near the night market on weekends and public holidays. He

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • New Law on Taxation comes into effect

    Cambodia has enacted the eagerly-awaited new Law on Taxation, which aims to improve the national tax regime’s compliance with present and future international standards and economic conditions; encourage accountability, effectiveness and transparency in the collection process; and promote investment in the Kingdom. King Norodom

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication