C HAPTER 3: M AIN THREATS OR PRESSURES TO B IODIVERSITY IN THE L AO PDR As stated above, biodiversity is globally recognized as a foundation of healthy ecosystems (Laurila-Plant, et al., 2015). Much of the Lao PDR’s biodiversity is conserved under Protected Areas, which is are determined for the purpose of conservation and protection of Flora and Fauna species, forestry eco-systems & natural values, as well as history, culture, tourism, environment, education, and science scientific research (Lao PDR, 2015).
As mentioned earlier, there are currently 24 National Protected Areas (NPAs) or National Biodiversity and Conservation Areas (NBCAs), covering almost 3.7 million hectares, or more than 15 % of the country’s land area. Biodiversity in the Lao PDR, however, remains exposed to several threats which have led to a decline in most of the country's flora and fauna numbers, including the extinction of several species. Between 1998 and 2010, there were over 74 Globally Threatened species on by the IUCN Red List 4 for Lao PDR, consisting of 20 plants, 5 amphibians, 38 mammals, and 11 retiles.
Nevertheless, the records from 1998 – 2015 present over 100 Globally Threatened species (see annex 06 ) on the IUCN Red List (including 41 plants, 9 amphibians, 25 birds, 45 mammals, and 17 reptiles) found in Lao PDR, and an additional 68 Globally Near-Threatened (NT) species. It can be seen that both flora and fauna in the Lao PDR have been are consistently threatened, and the number of threatened species has increased for over time. Threats to biodiversity are numerous and human activities are responsible for most of them. It seems that over- exploitation, agriculture expansion, and infrastructure development are the top 3 three pressures to biodiversity in the Lao PDR (Ounchith, 2015).
Moreover, biodiversity loss is caused by both direct and indirect drivers. Direct drivers are often the result of development, particularly from private sector activities such as agriculture expansion, forest extraction, mining, infrastructure and construction of hydro dams. This study also presents that, behind these direct drivers of biodiversity loss, there are a number of indirect drivers that interact in complex ways to cause human-induced changes in biodiversity such as demographic changes, as well as economic, socio-political, cultural and religious factors (see Figure 7). 4 http://www.iucnredlist.org 15