In a significant step toward combating wildlife crime and enhancing wildlife management in the country, the Lao government, with support from UNODC’s SAFE project, recently launched an awareness campaign across the country. The campaign is aimed to publicize Lao’s new wildlife regulations and the updated decree for the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to authorities at provincial and local level.
This initiative underscores Laos' commitment to strengthening law enforcement and fostering sustainable wildlife management practices, following the suspension of trade recommended by CITES at the 2023 meeting of its Standing Committee. The Committee recommended that Lao PDR continues its effort to progress the understanding and awareness of CITES and wildlife trade management in the country. This awareness-raising campaign is a step towards compliance with the recommendations and demonstrates efforts towards lifting the trade suspension.
The campaign for the Northern region, held on 28 June in Luang Prabang District, Luang Prabang Province and for the Central region, on 18 July in Vang Vieng District, Vientiane Province, brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the CITES Management Division, Department of Forestry, and the Department of Forestry Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
"Law enforcement officers, particularly those in the Department of Agriculture and Forestry at the provincial level, should be familiar with updated articles to effectively enforce the law and provide accurate guidance to facilities when requested,” said PhD. Sounantha Chounlamany, Deputy Director General of the Department of Forestry Inspection, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Awareness raising campaign in Lao PDR’s northern region, held on 28 June in Luang Prabang District, Luang Prabang Province
The campaign events focused on disseminating crucial information about the new wildlife law, documented in No. 42/NA dated July 17, 2023, and CITES Decree No. 229/GoL dated June 5, 2024. Participants discussed law enforcement work related to wildlife, highlighting the importance of curbing wildlife smuggling. The discussions also covered strategies for wildlife management, ensuring that provincial, authorities are well-equipped to enforce these laws and regulations. The campaign emphasized the critical role of CITES in regulating international trade in endangered species and preventing illegal wildlife trade.
The active participation of authorities at provincial level, such as the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office, Forestry Section, Conservation Division, Provincial Office of Forestry and Inspection, and Customs Division, was key to foster multi-agency collaboration, to create a robust network for the effective implementation of wildlife laws and to facilitate better coordination among various enforcement bodies.
This campaign is part of the EU-funded SAFE project, which aims to provide regulatory and advisory support to governments to manage wildlife facilities posing the highest risk of transmitting pathogens between wild animals and humans and will continue in other selected provinces of the country.
Click here to learn more about the SAFE Project
Click here to learn more about UNODC’s Regional Programme for Southeast Asia and the Pacific
Click here to learn more about UNODC's Global Programme on Crimes that Affect the Environment
The SAFE project, implemented by the Environment Team of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), benefits from the financial support of the European Union (EU).
