WCS in Lao PDR

With a high level of biodiversity, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic has some of the most significant forest areas remaining in Southeast Asia. However, the combined loss of forest cover (estimated at nearly 55%) and over-exploitation of many species threatens much of Lao’s wildlife. Numerous rare or endemic animal species are present, including globally significant large mammals such as the Saola and Giant Muntjac. Active conservation efforts that integrate wildlife research and management with education and advancement for local people are crucial. The WCS program in Lao PDR implements fourteen projects at field sites nationwide.

The Human Aspect
Nearly two-thirds of the Lao population live in rural areas and practice swidden agriculture. Many rely on wildlife as a source of animal protein or as a means to meet economic needs. WCS works with these rural communities to evaluate and reduce the cause and effects of wildlife over-harvesting. In urban centers, WCS collaborates with the Lao government to increase public awareness concerning the problems with wildlife trade. An education and outreach program has been developed for primary and university level students, park rangers, and wildlife managers, and aims to teach the principles and methods of biodiversity conservation.

Threats
The greatest threats to wildlife in Lao PDR are the domestic and international trade of wildlife and unsustainable harvest of wildlife for subsistence consumption. While loss of habitat poses an additional strain on remaining wildlife populations, persistent over-harvesting of species is having devastating results. The ecology and distribution of the animals facing the greatest threat are poorly understood. Therefore, their role in the forest ecosystem and the consequence of their depletion on forest ecology is difficult to predict.

WCS Activities
The activities and projects of the WCS-Lao PDR program fit within three strategies: research, site-based conservation, and capacity-building. Scientific research is at the foundation of our work in Lao PDR and primarily assesses the causes and effects of wildlife loss, habit destruction, and human-animal conflict. The results from these studies are then used to design and test the effectiveness of our conservation strategies in the field. As an example, we are currently monitoring wildlife and threat indicators in the Nam Ha National Protected Area to measure the success of our conservation programs. Recently, the provincial and central government invited WCS to work in Bolikhamxay Province to assist in creating provincial institutions to manage the immense diversity of flora and fauna found there. Bolikhamxay Province harbors some of the most globally significant biodiversity in Southeast Asia, and it contains the largest block of uninhabited montane forest in Lao PDR.  Our goal is to provide education and training for provincial based personnel, and to create a sense of respect and pride for Lao’s environmental wealth. WCS also places a great deal of emphasis on capacity building, i.e. increasing a person or group of people’s ability to do a particular task, such as park management or village land use planning. Provincial/landscape based capacity building will help individuals to gain new skills, but its localization will also allow for greater efficiency in program management. Only through educating and empowering local people can long-term conservation objectives be met and sustained.

Important Next Steps
• To gain a better understanding of the conservation needs of endangered species and their habitats.
• To design and test effectiveness of field strategies to reduce threats and achieve measurable conservation of key species and landscapes in the northern Annamites (Bolikhamxay Province).
• To evaluate the impact of wildlife hunting and trade and provide recommendations for sustainable use and policy.
• To increase public awareness and knowledge of the value of biodiversity, its threats, and actions that will conserve wildlife and natural areas in Lao PDR.
• To incorporate biodiversity conservation principles and methods into university curriculum.