Lao People’s Democratic Republic is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, spans approximately 236,800 square kilometers and is bordered by China to the north, Viet Nam to the east, Cambodia to the southeast, Thailand to the west, and Myanmar (Burma) to the northwest. The country boasts a rich cultural diversity with over 49 ethnic groups, including the Lao Loum (Lowland Lao), Lao Theung (Midland Lao), and Lao Sung (Highland Lao). Theravada Buddhism is a cornerstone of Lao’s culture, deeply influencing its tradition and art, as reflected in its traditional music, dance, weaving, and festivals like Pi Mai (Lao New Year) and Boun That Luang. 

The majority of Laotians engage in subsistence agriculture, primarily growing rice, along with maize, cassava, and vegetables, while forestry and fishing also play significant roles in local livelihoods. Tourism is on the rise, with attractions such as Luang Prabang, Vientiane, the Plain of Jars, and Nam Ha National Protected Area. Laos features diverse ecosystems, including tropical rainforests, savannas, and the Mekong River, although its forests are under threat from logging and land conversion. The country is home to approximately 74 globally threatened species, including the Indochinese tiger Panthera tigris corbetti, Asian elephant Elephas maximus, and the critically endangered Asian unicorn saola Pseudoryx nghetinhensis, Clouded Leopard Pardofelis nebulosa, Irrawady dolphin Orcaella brevirostris. It has approximately 21 protected areas and 3 ASEAN Heritage Parks, dedicated to preserving its natural and cultural heritage.

Lao PDR boasts a remarkable diversity of wildlife due to its varied habitats and topography. The country is home to 785 bird species (both resident and migratory birds), 176 amphibian species, 257 species of mammals, and 221 species of reptiles. The flora of Lao is equally diverse, with an estimated 3,000 plant species, including numerous trees, shrubs, and herbs, thriving in the country’s varied ecosystems.

Despite this diversity, Lao has faced significant deforestation over recent decades. Forest cover has declined from around 70% of the total land area in the 1990s to approximately 60% by 2020, reflecting a 10% loss of forested area over the past 30 years. While there have been efforts to counteract this loss through reforestation and afforestation projects, these gains have been relatively modest compared to the overall deforestation.

Deforestation in Lao is fueled by both legal and illegal logging, the expansion of agriculture, and infrastructure development. The conversion of forests for rubber plantations and other crops, along with the growth of agricultural land, leads to significant habitat loss. Infrastructure projects such as roads and dams exacerbate habitat fragmentation and disrupt ecosystems. Additionally, climate change poses a threat by altering rainfall patterns and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, further impacting forests and biodiversity.

The primary drivers of deforestation in Lao include both legal and illegal logging, agricultural expansion, conversion of forested areas for rubber plantations, expansion of agricultural land for crops and livestock, unregulated infrastructure projects that disrupt ecosystems and fragmenting habitats. Moreover, climate change presents an additional threat by disrupting rainfall patterns and increasing the frequency of extreme weather events, which adversely affects forests and biodiversity throughout the country.

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, lacks marine ecosystems and the associated biodiversity of coastal regions. However, its freshwater ecosystems are rich in biodiversity. Lao PDR is home to seven species of freshwater crabs, 10 shrimp species, and 496 fish species, including the Giant Mekong catfish Pangasiandon gigas. Freshwater invertebrates, insects and crustaceans, are present but less studied.

Despite the rich diversity, Lao PDR’s freshwater ecosystems, these environments face severe anthropogenic pressures. Large-scale hydropower projects on the Mekong River and its tributaries disrupt fish migration and alter river flows, threatening aquatic habitats. Overfishing and unsustainable fishing practices have led to declines in key fish populations, impacting local diets and economies. Additionally, deforestation contributes to increased sedimentation in rivers, further harming aquatic habitats. Efforts to mitigate these impacts include promoting sustainable fisheries, conducting environmental impact assessments for hydropower projects, and implementing conservation programs, though balancing development with environmental preservation remains a challenge. To date, about 30 important wetland habitats in the nation have been established, which included the Xi Pian, Nam Ha, Tonle Sap, and Mekong River as key important wetlands. Approximately, wetlands in Lao PDR span up to 1 million hectares (Claridge, 1996).