2.2 C HANGES IN N ATIONAL P ROTECTED A REAS S YSTEM The system of National Protected Areas (NPAs) in the Lao PDR was legally established in 1993 and was officially termed the National Biodiversity Conservation Areas (NBCAs) through the Prime Minister’s (PM) Decree 164. Moreover, the decree of Protected Areas (no. 134/G) determining principles, regulations and standards related to the establishment, allocation, protection, development, utilization and inspection of Protected Areas was published on 13 May, 2015 (Lao PDR, 2015).
The objective of this decree is to promote the sustainability of these Protected Areas in terms of environment protection, watershed protection, prevention from erosion, protection of soil quality, protection of strategic zones for national defense & security, adaptation and reduction of the impacts of climate change, contributing to the improvement of the living conditions for people of all ethnic groups, and developing the national socio-economy. Four levels of Protected Areas 3 are also classified in the decree of Protected Areas.
Much of the Lao PDR’s biodiversity conserved under Protected Areas is determined for the purpose of conservation and protection of flora and fauna species, forestry eco-systems and natural values, history, culture, tourism, environment, education, and scientific research (Lao PDR, 2015). There are currently 24 National Protected Areas, covering almost 3.7 million hectares, or more than 15 % of the country’s land area (Figure: 3). Figure 3 shows that the total area of National Protected Areas has increased. Twenty-one National Biodiversity and Conservation Areas (NBCAs) or National Protected Areas (NPAs) plus two corridors were established before 2010.
Later, Phousabodh – PoungChong was declared in 2011, then two more areas were established in 2012 (Annex: 1). Locations of the NBCAs are shown in Figure 4 (NPAs map). Additionally, another 0.9 million hectares have been designated as Protection or Conservation Forests at the provincial and district levels, bringing the total land area which is under some kind of protection to more than 18% of the total area of the country. 3 1)National Protected Areas; 2) Provincial and Capital City Protected Areas; 3) District and Municipality Protected Areas; 4) Village Protected Areas 11