Biodiversity Facts

The content of this biodiversity profile is still draft. The text below has been prepared by SCBD and remains subject to final approval by the Party concerned.

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is located in the centre of the Indo-Chinese Peninsula, bordering on China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Myanmar. Approximately 80% of its 236,800 km2 landmass is mountainous although it has some floodplains along the Mekong River and its tributaries. About one-third of the country has a slope of over 30%, while two-thirds of the rest of the country has slopes between 20-30%. There are five different types of eco-regions in Laos: Annamite Range Moist Forests, Indochina Dry Forests, Northern Indochina Sub-tropical Moist Forests, Mekong River and its catchment. More than 40% of its landmass is covered by forests.

The biodiversity of fauna in Lao PDR is comprised of 166 species of reptiles and amphibians, 700 birds, 90 bats and over 247 mammals. The Mekong River and its tributaries alone are reported to contain approximately 500 species of indigenous fish. In addition, there are an estimated 8-11,000 species of flowering plants. The country’s economy depends mainly on natural resources; therefore the sustainable use of Lao PDR’s biodiversity may be one of the keys means for poverty reduction in the country. However, the increasing population in rural areas relies heavily on biodiversity resources, which has led to pressures over the past few years.

The major threat to biodiversity is the shift in cultivation practices from villagers living near National Biodiversity Conservation Areas (NBCAs) across their borders. It is estimated that 90% of these shifting cultivation activities are carried out by people living in the immediate vicinity of protected areas; 70% of Non-Timber Forest Products are sold by residents inside the protected areas and 30% who enter are from outside the NBCAs.

Another major threat is wildlife harvesting for food done by 70% of the local residents living in or near to the protected areas and 30% by outsiders. Both local and provincial residents use lands inside some of the NBCAs for grazing livestock. This has led to increased human-wildlife conflict and some instances of tiger predation on livestock.

Other threats include hydropower development, mining, infrastructure development and land use change.