Lao PDR Highlights Global Value of National Forests on International Day of Forests

Vientiane, 21 March 2026 (KPL) — The Lao People Democratic Republic joins the international community in commemorating the International Day of Forests, reaffirming its strong national commitment to sustainable forest management, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience in line with the Forestry Strategy to 2035 and Vision to 2050.

Forests remain a cornerstone of national development, supporting rural livelihoods, protecting watersheds, and contributing to global climate solutions. The Government of Lao PDR continues to advance its target of increasing forest cover to 70 percent while restoring degraded forest landscapes and strengthening forest governance nationwide.

A central pillar of this effort is the protection and sustainable management of the country’s National Protected Areas, including Nakai–Nam Theun National Park, Hin Nam No National Park, Nam Pui National Park and Nam Et Phou Louey National Park, which represent some of the most globally significant natural landscapes in mainland Southeast Asia. These areas are located within the Annamite Mountain Range and the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot, widely recognized for exceptional biodiversity and high levels of endemism.

These protected areas contribute to global conservation efforts through the protection of globally threatened species, including rare large mammals with extremely limited populations, the maintenance of large-scale intact ecosystems with high ecological integrity, and the preservation of unique ecological processes such as species radiation, climatic refugia, and montane biodiversity evolution.

On this occasion, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Somvang Phimmavong, Director General of the Department of Forestry, emphasized:

“The forests of Lao PDR, particularly our National Protected Areas such as Nakai–Nam Theun, Hin Nam No, and Nam Et Phou Louey, are not only national treasures but also of global significance. These landscapes represent some of the last remaining intact ecosystems in Southeast Asia, hosting globally threatened species and unique ecological processes found nowhere else in the world. Under the Forestry Strategy to 2035 and Vision to 2050, we are committed to safeguarding these irreplaceable natural assets, strengthening law enforcement, and promoting sustainable forest management to ensure that our forests continue to deliver ecological, economic, and social benefits for present and future generations.”

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, through the Department of Forestry and in collaboration with relevant sectors and development partners, continues to strengthen forest monitoring systems, promote village-level forest management, and enhance enforcement actions against illegal logging and wildlife crime.

The Government calls upon all stakeholders to work collectively to protect and restore forests, ensuring that Lao PDR remains a key contributor to global biodiversity conservation and climate action.