Laos, a green nature to protect
To become aware of the need to preserve nature in Laos, it is necessary to mention some of the most beautiful places to visit. It is obvious when one arrives in the country that the forest, and therefore the trees, occupy a prominent place. This is evidenced by the Bolovens plateau, a place where the lush jungle is home to exceptional waterfalls such as the magnificent Tad Fane and Nam Tad Katamtok waterfalls. Around them, rivers with crystalline waters have shaped their nests. And since the waterfalls are mentioned, how not to stop near the Kuang Si waterfalls. Located near Luang Prabang, the water is turquoise blue and you can swim in a paradisiacal setting, in the middle of a bamboo forest. Now heading to the northwest of Laos and the Bokéo nature reserve, the perfect place to observe the animals that Laos has to protect today: elephants, buffaloes, monkeys, tigers, bears, but also many insects and birds. The reserve was specially developed in 2004 to preserve the virgin forest and its biodiversity. A biodiversity also present in the different national parks of the country. In the north-west of the country, the Nam Ha National Park fascinates by its mountains and numerous rivers which cross a thick jungle. In the Nam Xam National Park, one can be surprised by the beauty of the karstic landscapes, by the deep valleys and gorges and the limestone terraces which are also home to an incredible fauna. It is here that you will meet a large number of Asian elephants, a species that is unfortunately becoming rare. In the south of the country, the Xe Pian National Park is a national protected area which reveals a large wooded park. It is also the habitat of an abundant fauna in its valleys. The Asian black bear and the yellow-cheeked gibbon share the territory and the place is also an ornithological paradise, with species such as the Aries crane, the green peacock, the woolly-necked stork and the red-headed vulture.Threats to the environment
As in many large forest areas around the world, the forests of Laos face many threats. First and foremost is slash-and-burn agriculture. It has been practiced by mountain people and farmers for several centuries, but the downside is that it accelerates soil erosion and pollutes the air. As a result, many wild animals are forced to flee. The government has been trying to eradicate or at least curb the phenomenon, but is facing hostility from the people as an ancestral traditional practice. Laos also exploits mining resources that pollute rivers. The need for development and recourse to the market economy are also accelerating deforestation. Indeed, some trees that are rare species are sometimes exported illegally to Thailand or Vietnam. And the construction of roads by foreign companies, including those from bordering countries, is also at the expense of biodiversity. The highway linking China and Thailand runs through the Nam Ha nature reserve. The construction of large hydroelectric dams, which are favourable to the country's economy, is opening up areas that were once naturally protected, which further reduces the forest. Moreover, dams are constantly making environmental organizations in Laos grind their teeth, as is the case with the Sanakhan dam, which the government wants to build on the Mekong. A total of nine dams are planned to be built on a river that remains vital for a large community of Asians. For the authorities, it is a means of contributing to the country's economic development, notably by exporting electricity to Thailand. But for environmentalists, this excessive construction of dams is damaging the biodiversity of a river that is no less than the second most important aquatic biodiversity after the Amazon.
How do the authorities react?
The Laotian authorities have been quite slowly becoming aware of the need to act to safeguard the environment, by developing laws to combat deforestation and pollution problems. First of all and in order to fight against slash-and-burn agriculture, it has displaced the mountain populations in order to distribute them equitably in the valleys and benefit from plots to cultivate, as is the case in the Vientiane plain in particular. The idea behind this is to develop new forms of agriculture that are more rational and less harmful. Another problem is that many rural communities do not have access to electricity and therefore depend on resources such as oil and wood, which are polluting materials. The government is concerned about this and is seeking to develop green energy in rural villages through the use of solar energy and solar lamps. The latter are rented to some families in remote villages. This is an example of the will to move towards sustainable development, even if it takes time and money to equip everyone.
The development of ecotourism
Although Laos has been less quick to develop tourism compared to its neighbors Vietnam and Thailand, it remains a country that many travelers from around the world seek to discover, because of its mysterious character and an environment conducive to many treks in contact with a wild nature. Laos is home to 100 species of mammals and more than 800 species of birds, endemic species such as the gibbon, the ibis and the Irrawaddy dolphins, all in a natural environment conducive to a close relationship with nature and people who have preserved their ancestral traditions. This new growing industry for the country must be done with reason and that is why the government is banking on the practice of eco-tourism. To protect biodiversity and allow local and remote populations to benefit from income, the authorities have set up a network of 29 protected areas and invite visitors to enjoy a respectful tourism, by accessing the less known spaces and sleeping in the homes of local people, where they share the meal, and by engaging in green tourism practices such as trekking, kayaking or bird watching. Thus, it is clear that although the protection of the environment is a perpetual challenge for developing countries like Laos, the government is not inactive and seeks to protect as much as it can a natural wealth that is priceless.
