Lao PDR

Millennium Development Goal 7

Ensure Environmental Sustainability

The recent increase in economic activities linked to the country's natural resources has had an impact on environmental quality.

Given the limited diversification of the Lao economy, forests, while being a critical component of the ecosystem, also remain an important source of livelihoods. Lao PDR's forest resources, which once covered about 70 percent of total land area, had declined to 42 percent by 2002. Widespread soil erosion resulting from the loss of forest cover, especially in the uplands, and shorter fallow periods lead to declining agricultural productivity.

Hunting, illegal trade and gathering in addition to the loss of habitat is having a detrimental effect on Lao PDR's wildlife. In light of the extensive loss of forest cover in the past decades estimated at 134,000 p.a., an order was issued by the Prime Minister in 2007 enacting clearer and stricter measures to control logging and wood business. Continued attention will be given to ensuring that the necessary exploitation of the country's natural resource base is done in a sustainable manner.

Although Lao PDR is a minor contributor to climate change, climate change at global and regional levels may have significant impact on the country. Lao PDR's contributions to greenhouse gas emissions were mainly related to widespread use of fuel wood and swidden agriculture, or slash-and-burn farming.

The conservation and sustainable management of agricultural biodiversity can play a role in adapting to the effects of climate change. Global and regional climate change scenarios and their impact on the people of Lao PDR should be considered.

With total surface water of more than 55,000 m3 on an annual per-capita basis, Lao PDR has the highest percapita water supply in Asia . Hydropower generation, which has been developed to less than 8 percent of its estimated national potential, is an important contributor to the country's economic stability. There are Government plans to exploit this potential further to generate muchneeded additional revenues.

However, given the country's dependence on the Mekong River for its resources - the River is a major source of fish for human consumption and a key transport route - strengthened attention will be required to ensure that the expansion does not negatively impact the livelihoods of the people and the revenue generating capacity of the country in relation to fisheries and riparian transport.

In line with targets of the NSEDP, Lao PDR has made good progress on expanding access to safe water and sanitation over the last decade. The proportion of people with access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation increased significantly during the period 1990-2007.

Access to safe drinking water is more widespread than access to basic sanitation, although performance across provinces is varied. Access in rural areas is determined by location: More remote provinces and those with fewer roads are likely to have lower coverage. Safe water access is worse during the dry season because of the lack of rainwater, and access for poor households is about 10 to 15 percentage points below access for non-poor households.

Meeting the targets:
The Government has enacted a wide array of legislation, regulations and action plans for environmental conservation and protection, including in other sectors such as health. The Environmental Protection Law 1999, supported by its Implementing Decree 2002, is the principal environmental legislation. It includes measures for the protection, mitigation and restoration of the environment, as well as guidelines for environmental management and monitoring.

The Prime Minister's Decree on Health Impact Policy was enacted in 2007 to safeguard public health. National Environmental Health Action Plans are being drafted to provide multisectoral collaboration and cooperation on environment and health programmes in the country.

The capacity of various institutions to implement and enforce environmental regulations, as well as environmental action plans, needs strengthening. In addition, awareness needs to be increased among the public of the correlation of environmental protection and public health.

The Forestry Law was amended in 2007 to strengthen sustainable management of forests, and the Wildlife Law also was enacted to provide a stronger legal framework for biodiversity conservation. Implementation and enforcement of these laws are essential for meeting the targets. In addition to continuous donor support, reaching the safe water and sanitation targets will require decentralized delivery models through community participation and cost sharing.

See indicators for MDG 7

Update from the 2010 UNDP report Beyond the Midpoint: Achieving the Millennium Development Goals:

Lack of quantitative targets on the environment has made effective monitoring problematic. But logging in Lao PDR, including illegal logging, could have serious repercussions for the environment and for climate change. The government remains committed, however, to raising forest cover from 29 percent currently to 50 percent by 2015, and is receiving support from UNDP and FAO in sustainable forestry management.