(KPL) Forest cover of the Lao PDR has climbed from 40% in 2012 to 58% of the land area of the country last year, according to Mr Sousad Xayakoummane, Director of Department of Forestry, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The forest cover in the Lao PDR dramatically decreased to less than 40 per cent in the 1990s and there had been no change in this trend until 2016.
In 1940, the forest cover in the Lao PDR was 70% of the land area.
The government has an ambitious plan to restore forest cover to 70 % of the country's terrain by 2020, a seminar held in Vientiane was told on Monday.
The meeting also saw the presence of Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Minister of Agricultural and Forestry Lien Thikeo, deputy provincial governors, and representatives of relevant sectors.
“In recent years, the government and local authorities have focused on sustainable forest resource protection by issuing policies, laws and regulations,” said Mr Sonexay Siphandone.
In 2000, the government issued a decree on commercial tree plantation and environmental protection allowing the allocation of tree plantation areas and land concession activities, ownership of farmed trees, and credit policy, tax exemption and reduction.
“The implementation of the policies and strategies over the past years has been yet to be satisfactory as there has continued to be impacts on forestry and forest resources and forest area has been decreased,” said Mr Sousad.
He attributed the reduction of the forest cover over the past decades to improper and unplanned use of forest areas, deforestation, slash-and-burn-cultivation practices, especially by local people in mountainous areas.
KPL
