Govt outlines forestry protection moves to lawmakers

Preserving forests and promoting tree planting across the country are the main aims for amendment of the forestry law, a senior government official has said.
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Dr Lien Thikeo presented a draft amended forestry law for debate at the ongoing National Assembly session in Vientiane yesterday.
The move is in response to the government’s policy aim of a green-growth economy and sustainable development with less dependence on the exploitation of natural resources.

Dr Lien highlighted the need to amend the forestry law, which has been applied for 12 years. The newly amended law, if approved, would serve as an essential legal tool for the management, conservation and inspection of forestry resources.
The previous law, approved in 2007, comprised 12 parts and 130 articles while the new draft amended law consists of 15 parts and 175 articles.
The amendment includes new definitions that clarify forests, forestry ownership and forestry lands better.
In addition, several articles are added to Part II regarding the forestry strategy and Part V related to forestry lands. 
The amendment also takes into account businesses concerning forests, rights and obligations of those using forests and forestry lands, and forestry funds.  
NA member for Khammuan province, Mr Somchay Phetsinuan said it was essential to register and manage the use of chainsaws as part of efforts to crack down on illegal logging.
He also proposed the government establish forestry museums in protected areas across Laos. The museums would not only serve as information centres for students, scholars and researchers to learn about the different types of trees and wildlife species, theywould also facilitate tourism. 
Lawmakers expressed concerns about forest areas under the management of districts and villages as local authorities have previously sold forests to investors in exchange for development projects.
While debating the draft amended law, NA member for Xayaboury province, Mr Bounthay Sithep called for all sectors to take part in the conservation of forests. 
“The amendment of this law needs to include measures to fight bushfires because fire destroys large areas of our forests annually. At the moment, we don’t have the equipment to extinguish the fires,” he said. He proposed that the amended law needs to specify the exact sector responsible for extinguishing forest blazes.
NA member for Luang Prabang province, Ms Siliphone Souphanthong said the amendment of the law should make it clear which types of forests can be converted to other land classifications and which cannot.
In past years, several forest areas have been granted for investment and development projects, causing significant loss to the country’s forestry resources. 
Forests are a valuable resource for Laos with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry currently identifying 15.9 million hectares of forestry areas including planted trees, representing 67.2 percent of the country’s terrain.

By Somsack Pongkhao
(Latest Update June 14, 2019)