Forest cover and Land Use of Lao PDR During 1982, 1992 and 2002 Prepared and Presented by: Mr. Vongdeuane VONGSIHARATH, D.DG Deparment of Land Planning & Development, National Land Mangement Authority Lao PDR

General Information about the Country Location: in the center of Indo-china peninsula: China to the North; Vietnam to the East; Cambodia to the South; Thailand to the West; and Burma to the North-West. Area: 236,800 Square Km Population 5.6 Million (2008)

Forest and Land Characteristic History, Forest cover: in 1940s more than 70%, in 1960s about 60%, in 1982s about 49%, in 1992s about 47%, and in 2002 remains only 41.5%. Land: - regions: North, Central and South; - > 80% is mountainous laying on the North and east near Vietnam ; - Population density: in 1960s about 11 pp/sqKm in pp/sqKm; Water: There is no sea, - main river is Mekong with 14 big tributaries

Objectives and Methodology Objectives The main objectives of the study entail: To Assess the changes of forest cover areas of the whole country during the period from 1992 to 2002 in order to find tendency of status of forest management and use of forest resources in this country; To provide necessary information for formulation of forest strategy, policy and legislation; To draw conclusion and define framework for future forest and land resources management. Methodology The study consists of two steps: Fist step is, Plot Sampling on Satellite Image Map (SIMs) to detect the change of forest cover and land use during 1992 and Second step is, Field Verification in order to identify causes of changes.

Figure 2: The changes of forest and land uses during 1982, 1992 and 2002 Study Results

Results of Study (cont.) Figure 3: Comparison the Rate of Forest Cover and Land Use changes

Results of Study (cont.) Figure 4: Forest Cover and Land Use distribution in Northern Region

Results of Study (Cont.) Figure 5: Forest Cover and Land Use Distribution in Central Region

Results of Study (cont.) Figure 6: Forest Cover and Land Use Distribution in Southern region

Results of Study (Cont.) Figure 7: The Percentage of Shifting Cultivation by Regions

Factors and Causes of Changes Factors Behind Forest Cover and Land Use Changes. External Factors: High demand for wood and Non-forest Product in the market of wood deficient in some counties in the region. Internal Factors Shifting cultivation practices and forest fires are; Unsustainable harvesting of forest products, unsustainable management and use of timber by villagers; Conversion of forest land to permanent agriculture land and infrastructure development; Awareness raising and dissemination of laws and regulations has not fully effective and laws are not strictly enforced. Underlying cause: Widespread poverty and rapid population increase among the rural population. Economic incentives for over harvesting of forest resources: there are too many wood processing plants Governance: Public sector capacity to plan, supervise and control of forest and land development is seriously limited; The legislative and regulatory framework is still in its early stages and as yet incomplete. Lack qualified staff, equipment and fund contribute to implementation of Land and forest allocation

Conclusions The results of the study can draw some conclusion about the forest cover and land use changes of the country and also about the tendencies during the last 20 years (during 1982, 1992 and 2002). The increasing rural population has put more pressure on rural areas by production or collection of food and fuel wood. There is also an increasing demand on construction materials like bamboo and wood. Shifting cultivation remains static for the North, but in the Central and Southern Region it has slightly decreased. The agriculture land has slightly increased all over the country, but especially in the Southern Region. During , Unstocked Area was increased annually about ha in Central and in Southern Regions as an average and the fragmentation of the forest has increased too, therefore the primary reason must be the logging. The local fuel wood, construction material and public for logging are probably the reasons of forest and land degradation. The field check clearly confirmed that these plantations are difficult to identify on Satellite Image Map. These are included in the unctocked area or in the agriculture plantation. The most forested areas are within the National Biodiversity Conservation Areas.

Thank You for attention