Wildlife of Lao PDR: 1999 Status Report - IUCN

political sub-units, which, although not of biogeographic or
ecological significance, are noted here (Fig. 1) as they are
important in the administration of conservation activities. The
sub-units comprise 16 provinces, Vientiane Municipality and
Xaysomboon Special Region. As the latter was created recently
from parts of Xiangkhouang, Bolikhamxai and
Vientiane Provinces, references to sites within it include the
former province. For simplicity, further references in this
document to the (18) ‘provinces’ of Lao PDR include the
municipality and special region.
Figure 1. Political subdivisions of Lao PDR.
LOUANG-NAMTHA
BOKEO
OUDOMXAI
XAIGNABOULI
PHONGSALI
LOUANGPHABANG
XIANGKHOUANG
XAYSOMBOON
SPECIAL
REGION
VIENTIANE
VIENTIANE MUNICIPALITY
HOUAPHAN
BOLIKHAMXAI
KHAMMOUAN
SAVANNAKHET
SALAVAN
CHAMPASAK
XEKONG
ATTAPU
Human Population and Economy
The human population of Lao PDR was estimated in 1995
at 4.57 million (National Statistics Centre 1997a). Although
the overall population density (national average in 1995: 19
people per km 2 ) is low by regional standards, population density
per unit area of agricultural land is already near the
regional average. The population growth rate of 2.5% per
year is one of the highest in Asia. Approximately 83% of the
population lives in small villages (average about 300 inhabitants)
in rural areas. The main urban centres are located along
the Mekong River, with smaller towns along its major tributaries.
The provinces with the lowest population densities
are Sekong, Attapu and Xaysomboon, with about eight
Introduction
inhabitants per km 2 (National Statistics Centre 1997a).
Lao PDR retains an essentially undiversified economy
that relies heavily on the natural resource base of land, forests,
minerals and water. Ninety percent of domestic energy
consumption is based on fuel wood. In 1996, agriculture
(including forestry) accounted for 52% of gross domestic
product. Wood products were by far the largest export earner,
bringing in an estimated US$ 125 million, up from 1995 when
US$ 88 million were earned. The garment industry comprised
the second largest export sector, and the third was hydroelectric
power. Other natural resources were also significant
contributors to the national economy, including overflight
rights to foreign airlines. However, all these figures are
dwarfed by the estimated US$ 416.5 million that entered the
country as foreign aid, mostly as loans rather than as grants
(UNDP 1998).
During the 1990s, economic growth was maintained at
approximately 7% and there was a rapid regionalisation of
the economy. In 1995 imports and exports accounted for 62%
of GDP, whereas the figure for 1990 was only 34% (National
Statistics Centre 1997b).
The high population growth rate combined with a continued
reliance on natural resources for economic growth is
resulting in increasing pressures on forested lands and other
currently ‘unmanaged’ habitats. In mid 1997 a major economic
downturn began in South-east Asia, which has affected
many countries, including Lao PDR. Even 20 months into
the crisis, at the time of writing, the long-term effects of it
are unclear. During 1998, total inflation in Lao PDR was estimated
at about 140%. The effects on wildlife and habitat
are likely to be negative. Levels of logging and other extractive
uses are reportedly rising as the short-term need for revenue
generation forces re-assessment of plans. Many rural
people are likely to have been harvesting wildlife at higher
levels. This has been exacerbated by the coincidence of the
financial troubles with a particularly severe El Niño Southern
Oscillation. The resulting drought has meant an especially
poor rice harvest; the 1998 annual harvest in some villages
in the centre of the country was only enough for two
months (I. Craig verbally 1999). Food harvested from forests
and other natural habitats will be the main way of
attempting to make up the shortfall.
Physiography and Drainage
The major river of the country is the Mekong, which rises
in Tibet and flows through Lao PDR into Cambodia and
Vietnam. It forms the border between Lao PDR and Myanmar
and much of Lao PDR’s border with Thailand. Tributaries
within Lao PDR contribute 35% of flow in the Mekong.
Because rainfall is strongly seasonal across most of the catchment,
the Mekong shows one of the largest seasonal variations
in flow rates of all the world’s major rivers. The habitat
exposed in the channel during the low-flow season is of
outstanding significance to wildlife.
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