Laos
A landlocked country of 7 million between the Mekong River and Annamite Cordillera, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR or Laos) has the lowest population density in Southeast Asia. Officially, over 81% of land is classified as forest, and only 6.5% is arable land.
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Land deals increase income, but not well-being
3 November 2023
Much arable land in developing countries is inefficiently managed or lies fallow: Since this became the accepted, World Bank-endorsed narrative in 2008, it has shaped the agricultural policies of many developing countries. At the same time, it has opened the doors to private investors seeking to…
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Laos Struggles as Forest Coverage Hits Record Low
5 June 2023
Laos’ forest coverage has reached a record low of 40%, prompting the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to implement conservation measures and rejuvenation plans to protect and revive the country’s forests.
![Laos is planning to build a dam on the Mekong River in the area of Pak Beng](/sites/default/files/styles/landportal_news_overview/public/externals/ec68cfd53fc7babdf2640bb2d1103c9e.png?itok=o6Vjm8Le)
Lao villagers worry that compensation for Pak Beng Dam will be too low
14 March 2023
Lao villagers worry that compensation for Pak Beng Dam will be too low
Laos
projects
![Women farmers in Cambodia](/sites/default/files/styles/country_overview_block/public/externals/c4623a2b15d1c80e1ce56b5fee247123.jpeg?itok=Y_SJw-zh)
What’s Gender Got to Do with the Governance of Land?
5 March 2024
A Recap of the Recent Land Portal-MRLG Webinar on Gender Equitable Land Governance in the Mekong Region On Thursday 15 February, the Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG) project and the Land Portal launched the first webinar in the State of Land in the Mekong series. The series, which will consist…
![Customary Land & Forest Rights in the Mekong](/sites/default/files/styles/country_overview_block/public/externals/5240d8e63c1da1b6d5eb02d2f9ff9794.png?itok=F9SmA-d2)
Pathways to Customary Land & Forest Rights in the Mekong
This webinar will present findings from research conducted by the Mekong Region Land Governance (MRLG) Program and its partners on the recognition and formalization of customary tenure rights across the Mekong region. It will highlight key themes from two important regional publications: "The…