The Government of Lao PDR adopted the new Decree on Protected Areas (PAs) on June 20th 2023, marking a major milestone for biodiversity protection in Lao PDR. Turning Protected Area Policies into reality requires dissemination and clear understanding by practitioners.
Lao PDR’s 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. The legal framework and policies to regulate and protect the forestry sector in Laos are set to fulfil Lao PDR’s international commitments under Multilateral Environmental Agreements.
The Protected Areas Decree Dissemination Workshop for the northern region was co-chaired by Director of Oudomxay Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office, Phimmasene Khounsilivong, Deputy Director General of Department of Legislation, Ministry of Justice, Somboune Vongphachan, and Deputy Director of Protected Areas Management Division, Department of Forestry, Bounpone Phouttha-Amath. Bringing together over 70 practitioners from 8 provinces in the Northen region from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ministry of National Resources and Environmental, the Department of Forestry, the National Park, and Protected Area Management Unit. The DDG Somboune Vongphachan, stressed “this workshop is is an important milestone for the implementation of this key legislation.”
After three years in the making, this decree raises the standard, priority, and profile of PAs to align with national goals and meet international standards. Communities living in surrounding villages will be engaged in the co-management of the PAs through the ‘Forest Development Village’ approach with the aim to balance benefits between people and nature. Furthermore, the updated decree clarifies eligible PA use categories - for public, family, customary and business benefits - which entail the rights and responsibilities of users. This decree looks also carefully into balancing conservation with development aiming at applying the ‘Mitigation Hierarchy’ for business use to avoid or mitigate negative investment impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services to achieve no net loss, or net gain. The decree will facilitate partnerships to sustainably finance the management of protected areas in Lao PDR.
“WCS worked hand in hand with the Lao government, protected area practitioners and key stakeholders to develop and disseminate this important national legislation. This decree is a big bold step for biodiversity protection in Lao PDR ensuring better management and governance of the biodiversity-rich zones in Laos. We are very proud to have been able to contribute to it within the framework of the AFD and EU financed ECILL project. We look forward to continuing to work closely with the Lao government and all PA stakeholders to ensure its successful implementation following the rule of law for the benefits of nature and people of Lao PDR”, said Mrs. Manoly Sisavanh, Deputy Country Director of WCS Lao PDR.