Nature in Laos

The country's main natural regions include the Annamite Range, northern highlands, Mekong lowlands, river floodplains, wetlands, karst landscapes, caves and underground rivers. Forest types include Annamite Range Moist Forests, Indochina Dry Forests and Northern Indochina Sub-tropical Moist Forests. The Greater Mekong River connects habitats and supports fisheries, wetlands and local livelihoods. Reported wildlife includes more than 247 mammals, 166 reptiles and amphibians, about 700 birds and 90 bat species. Species of conservation concern include the saola, Northern White-cheeked Gibbon, Red-shanked Douc Langur, Annamite Striped Rabbit, Asian Golden Cat, Large-antlered Muntjac, Asian Elephant, tiger, gaur and hornbills. Hin Nam No contains more than 1,500 vascular plant species, 536 vertebrate species and 10 to 11 primate species. Its 94,121-hectare national park became part of the transnational Phong Nha-Ke Bang–Hin Nam No UNESCO natural heritage site in 2025, whose combined area is 217,447 hectares. The protection system operates at national, provincial, district and village levels. Categories include national parks, natural monuments, wild fauna and flora species conservation areas, historical and cultural conservation forests, and conservation forests for sustainable natural-resource use. Reported totals differ by date and registry: WCS recorded 26 National Protected Areas and 6 national parks in 2024, while the Lao Parks portal lists 25 named National Conservation Areas covering more than 20% of the country. The addition of Nam Mouane–Phou Chomvoy National Park in August 2026 makes the current official registry and reporting date relevant when comparing totals. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, its forestry and protected-area divisions, provincial and district agriculture and forestry offices, provincial and district administrations and village offices share responsibilities with communities, NGOs, researchers and private companies. The main legal basis includes Forestry Law No. 64/NA of 13 June 2019, Government Decree No. 219/GOV of 20 June 2023 on Conservation Forests, the Wildlife Law as amended in 2023, and rules implementing CITES and wildlife-trade controls. Totally Protected Zones generally exclude ordinary use, with exceptions for management, patrols, research and legally approved ecotourism. Controlled Use Zones and buffer zones may permit sustainable non-timber forest products, agriculture or tree use under the applicable plan. Village Use Forests support village and household needs, but natural forest may not be cleared for commercial logging under these rules. Non-timber forest products include plants or plant parts, fruit, seeds, resin, mushrooms, honey and medicinal plants. Lists I to III distinguish products by rarity, threat level, CITES status and growth or use characteristics. Wildlife and aquatic resources follow additional legal rules. Forest ecosystem services, carbon activities, payments for environmental services, research, education and recreation can also form part of the management system. Local communities may work through a Conservation Contract between the management office and village administration, recognition by the District Agriculture and Forestry Office and certification by the district administration. Village Forestry Management Plans, boundary markers, guardian or forest development villages, fire control, encroachment control and livelihood measures connect protection with local practice. Visitors may find trekking, caves, waterfalls, rivers, kayaking, camping, walkways, zip lines, homestays and ecolodges. Entry fees and access conditions are not uniform nationwide. They depend on the park, zone, management plan, local rules and sometimes a project or province. Researchers need prior authorization from the responsible conservation-forest authorities and must submit a written report within 60 days after completing the research. Information access or administrative services may carry fees. Nature-based tourism must take place in a state-designated area and comply with the management plan, law and monitoring requirements. A concession normally requires socioeconomic and ecological assessment, consultation and agreement with affected communities, a feasibility study, an environmental impact assessment, an action plan and benefit-sharing arrangements. Government approval applies to national Conservation Forest concessions, while provincial or district authorities handle concessions within their competence. Afforestation or non-timber forest product concessions exceeding 10,000 hectares may last up to 50 years, with a possible case-by-case extension of up to 30 years. Formal environmental education includes public awareness, school curricula, biodiversity and aquatic or wildlife activities, policy communication, technical training, data collection and monitoring. At village level, practical training may cover boundaries, species signs, fire prevention and encroachment prevention. Nature-related risks include forest fires, tree and wildlife diseases, erosion, degradation of watersheds and wetlands, invasive species and climate change. These ecological risks differ from general disaster emergency management. Major conflicts involve deforestation, habitat fragmentation, illegal wildlife trade, hunting, overuse of natural products, land conversion, infrastructure, energy and mining investment, and tension between tourism, local use, water protection and biodiversity. The mitigation hierarchy addresses such impacts through avoidance, minimization, restoration and, where applicable, offsets, with goals of no net loss or net gain. Forest resources belong to the state, while local use depends on an assigned area and compliance with sustainable-use plans and law. Violations may lead to re-education, warnings, disciplinary action, fines, civil compensation or criminal sentences.