Government of the Lao PDR
Department of Forestry
The Lao PDR’s Department of Forestry is a division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry with the mandate to manage, protect, develop, and use the forest, forest land, forest resources, and forest processing industry and non-timber forest products in the country to ensure sustainability.
Department of Forest Inspection
The Department of Forest Inspection is another section of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Its role is to provide support directly to the Ministry regarding inspection of forestry resources, investigation and prosecution of forest law violators and confiscation of illegal wildlife and forest products, as well as oversight of the law on aquatic and forest wildlife, criminal law, and regulations related to forestry in order to ensure the efficiency of law enforcement.
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH
GIZ’s Protection and Sustainable Use of Forest Ecosystems and Biodiversity (ProFEB) project promotes inclusive multi-stakeholder processes for the sustainable use of forest resources and the protection of biodiversity in 1) setting up the legal-institutional framework for the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade - Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA) between Laos and the EU, 2) strengthening the institutional and technical capacities for the transboundary World Heritage nomination of Hin Nam No National Park of Laos in partnership with Vietnam, 3) supporting the establishment of the Environmental Education and Awareness Laos (EEAL) Alliance and developing the requisite organisational and professional capacities for carrying out effective environmental education and awareness measures of its members, and 4) improving the cooperation between the Lao Government, ODA partners and local people for combatting effectively illegal wildlife trade.
Non-Governmental Organizations
Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife
Lao Conservation Trust for Wildlife is a multi-species rescue, conservation, and educational nonprofit; uniquely placed to address the crisis driving the rapid decline of many endangered species in the Lao PDR. The organization offers a 24/7 national wildlife rescue hotline and carries out rehabilitation work and advocacy efforts. With around 70 Lao staff, the team is proud to be based in this beautiful and unique country.
Wildlife Conservation Society
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) is an international non-governmental organization established in 1895 and headquartered in New York City. WCS has commitments to save wildlife and natural landscapes in more than 60 nations. WCS has amassed the biological knowledge, cultural understanding, and partnerships to ensure that vibrant, wild places and wildlife thrive alongside local communities. Its vision is that the unique ecosystems of the Lao PDR thrive indefinitely and are valued by the people of Lao PDR and the world for their biodiversity, natural beauty, and the services they provide to humanity. WCS supports that vision through protection and improved management of biodiversity values by building the capacity of government and local stakeholders, improves management of wildlife and wild places, engages communities, improves responses to wildlife health and combats illegal wildlife trade.
World Wide Fund for Nature
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) has worked to support conservation in the Lao PDR since the late 1980s, and was granted permission by the Lao government to officially establish an office in 2001. Today, with its main operations in Vientiane Capital, WWF-Laos has field offices in Savannakhet, Champasak, Salavan, and Xekong Provinces. WWF-Laos works with the government to focus on three main areas, including forest, wildlife, and freshwater management and conservation. WWF’s mission is “To stop the degradation of the planet’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.”