have been a number of positive initiatives including Provincial regulations on biodiversity conservation corridors, and the adoption of forest and land use planning, allocation and Management (FALUPAM), as well as Agro-biodiversity being integrated in the Uplands Development Strategy and 5 year plans of PAFOS, and DAFOs. There are a number of initiatives in place which promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, including those which support livelihood development of local people around protected areas, and land use titling.
Steps which have promoted organic agriculture, regulations around the timber trade and mining industries, NTFP management, as well as better water resource management have also promoted the use of natural resources in a sustainable way. The GoL has implemented a number of actions to improve forest management, forest law enforcement, and improved protected area management throughout the country, while important steps have been made to conduct research into fish species and fisheries which have informed fishery management practices and aimed at preventing fishery declines.
Guidance on the sustainable management and development of the forest sector in line with national policies has resulted in 51 Production Forest Areas that now have detailed management plans, while village forest management and community forestry has been improved with many examples of the establishment of forest management committees and community-based patrolling of community forests. Steps have been made to maintain water quality, protect ecosystems, and minimize pollution for the country’s important water basins, while guidelines have been written to avoid negative socio- economic and environmental impacts at local, national, and regional levels.
Research has identified current invasive plant and animal species that are posing threats to natural and agricultural landscapes, and control measures and activities for some of these species have been formulated. Research is being developed which focus on risks and impacts of pesticide use in agriculture. Integrated Pest Management has also been trialled in parts of the country with the view to optimize the use of local biodiversity, including natural pest enemies, organic fertilizers, and bio- insecticides. Efforts have been made to classify the status of the Lao PDR’s threatened wildlife and plant species (e.g.
the creation of Lao PDR’s IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and the evaluation of the SE Asia Red List of Plant Species) and a number of important wildlife surveys and population status assessments have taken place. Biodiversity monitoring technologies have been adopted to improve the science base and identify threats and trends, and to prioritize protection and restoration v