Laos: Forest Cover, 2005
| Total Land Area (ha) | 23,080,000 | | Total Forest Area (ha) | 16,142,000 | | Percent Forest Cover | 69.94% | | Primary Forest Cover (ha) | 1,490,000 | | Primary Forest, % total forest | 9.23% | | Primary Forest, % total land | 6.46% | | Other wooded land (ha) | 4,643,000 |
Laos: Forest types
| Tropical (% forest area) | 100% | | Subtropical (% forest area) | 0% | | Temperate (% forest area) | 0% | | Boreal/polar (% forest area) | 0% |
Laos: Breakdown of forest types, 2005
| Primary forest (ha | %) | 1,490,000 | 9.2% | | Modified natural (ha | %) | 14,428,000 | 89.4% | | Semi-natural (ha | %) | - | - | | Production plantation (ha | %) | 223,000 | 1.4% | | Production plantation (ha | %) | 1,000 | 0.0% |
Laos: Change in Forest Cover
| TOTAL FOREST COVER | | Forest 1990 (ha) | 17,314,000 | | Forest 2000 (ha) | 16,532,000 | | Forest 2005 (ha) | 16,142,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | (78,200) | -0.45% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | (78,000) | -0.47% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | (1,172,000) | -6.77% | | Change in rate (%) | 4.46% | | PRIMARY FOREST COVER | | Primary 1990 (ha) | 1,490,000 | | Primary 2000 (ha) | 1,490,000 | | Primary 2005 (ha) | 1,490,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | - | 0.00% | | Change in rate (%) | #DIV/0! | | OTHER WOODED LAND | | Other 1990 (ha) | 2,875,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 4,053,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 4,643,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | 117,800 | 4.10% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | 118,000 | 2.91% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | 1,768,000 | 61.50% | | Change in rate (%) | -28.94% | | PLANTATIONS | | Other 1990 (ha) | 4,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 99,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 224,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | 9,500 | 237.50% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | 25,000 | 25.25% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | 220,000 | 5500.00% | | Change in rate (%) | -89.37% | TOTAL DEGRADATION/CONSERVSION
Forest area+Wooded Area-Plantations | | Other 1990 (ha) | 20,185,000 | | Other 2000 (ha) | 20,486,000 | | Other 2005 (ha) | 20,561,000 | | Annual Change 1990-2000 (ha | %) | 30,100 | 0.15% | | Annual Change 2000-2005 (ha | %) | 15,000 | 0.07% | | Total Change 1990-2005 (ha | %) | 376,000 | 1.86% | | Change in rate (%) | -50.90% |
Laos: Primary
| Primary or "old-growth" vegetation | | Primary Forest 2005 (ha) | 1,490,000 | | Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) | - | | Other primary wooded land 2005 (ha) | 1,490,000 | | Undisturbed vegetation 2005 (% land area) | 6.46% |
Laos: Forest designation
| Ownership of forest land, 2000 | | Public (%) | 100.0% | | Private (%) | 0.0% | | Other (%) | 0.0% | | Ownership of other wooded land, 2000 | | Public (%) | 100.0% | | Private (%) | 0.0% | | Other (%) | 0.0% | | Designated functions of forest � primary function 2005 | | Production (%) | 21.6% | | Protection (%) | 54.7% | | Conservation (%) | 23.5% | | Social Services (%) | 0.2% | | Multiple Services (%) | - | | None of Unknown (%) | - |
Laos: Disturbances affecting forest land 2000
| Forest Area annually affected by | | Fire (%) | 0.60% | | Insects (ha) | - | | Diseases (ha) | - | | Other (ha) | - |
Lao People's Dem Rep: Protected areas
| Protected areas | | Biosphere reserves, 2005 | | Wetlands of international importance (Ramsar sites), 2005 | 0 | | World Heritage sites, 2004 | 2 | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories I-V, percent of total land | 0.0% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories Ia, Ib, and II, extent, percent of total land | 0.00% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories III, IV, and V, percent of total land, 2004 | 0.00% | | Protected Areas: IUCN categories VI and other, percent of total land, 2004 | 15.78% |
Lao People's Dem Rep: Biodiversity - Wildlife
| Amphibians | | total species | | | endemic species | 1 | | threatened species | 4 | | Birds | | total species | | | endemic species | 7 | | threatened species | 21 | | Mammals | | total species | | | endemic species | 1 | | threatened species | 30 | | Reptiles | | total species | | | endemic species | 1 | | threatened species | 11 | | Wildlife diversity | | total species | - | | endemic species | 10 | | threatened species | 66 |
Laos: Biodiversity - Plants
| Growing stock composition | 3 most common species
% of total growing stock | 30.40% | | Growing stock composition | 3 most common species
% of total growing stock | 39.30% | | Number of Native tree species | | | Native tree species | 1,457 | | Number of tree species in IUCN red list | | Critically Endangered | | 5 | | Endangered | 7 | | Vulnerable | 8 | | Vascular Plant Species, 2004 | | Total | | | Number endemic | 19 | | Number of Threatened Plant Species, 2004 | | Species threatened | 0 |
Laos: Value of forests
| Biomass stock in forest, 2005 | | Above-ground biomass (M t) | 2,342 | | Below-ground biomass (M t) | 632 | | Dead wood (M t) | 327 | | Total (M t) | 3,301 | | Carbon stock in forest, 2005 | | Carbon in above-ground biomass (M t) | 1,171 | | Carbon in below-ground biomass (M t) | 316 | | Carbon in dead wood (M t) | 164 | | Carbon in litter (M t) | 34 | | Soil carbon (M t) | - | | Change in growing stock 1990 - 2005 | | Annual change rate (1000 cubic m/yr) | | 1990-2000 | -4,600 | | 2000-2005 | -4,600 | | Growing stock per hectare 1990 - 2005 | | Annual change rate ( cubic m/ha per yr) | | 1990-2000 | n.s. | | 2000-2005 | n.s. | | Wood removal 2005 | | Industrial roundwood (1000 cubic m) | 682 | | Wood fuel (1000 cubic m) | 6,742 | | Total wood removal 2005 (1000 cubic m) | 7,424 | | Total wood removal 2005 (% of growing stock) | 1 | | Plant products 2005 | | Food (t) | - | | Fodder (t) | - | | Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) | - | | Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) | - | | Raw material for utensils, handicrafts & construction (t) | - | | Ornamental plants (t) | - | | Exudates (t) | - | | Other plant products (t) | - | | Animal products 2005 | | Living animals (units) | - | | Hides, skins and trophies (units) | - | | Wild honey and bee-wax (t) | - | | Bush meat (t) | - | | Raw material for medicine and aromatic products (t) | - | | Raw material for colorants and dyes (t) | - | | Other edible animal products (t) | - | | Other non-edible animal products (t) | - | | Value of wood and non-wood forest product removal 2005 | | Industrial roundwood (US$) | $40,931,000 | | Wood fuel (US$) | $20,226,000 | | Non-wood forest products (US$) | - | | Total value (US$) | $61,157,000 | | Total value ($USD/ha) | $4 | | Employment in forestry 2000 | | Total people employed | 4,000 |
Laos: Production, trade and consumption of forest products, 2002
| Woodfuel ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 5,899 | | Imports | 0 | | Exports | 0 | | Consumption | 5,899 | | Industrial roundwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 392 | | Imports | 0 | | Exports | 63 | | Consumption | 329 | | Sawnwood ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 182 | | Imports | 0 | | Exports | 131 | | Consumption | 51 | | Wood-based panels ('000 cubic m), 2002 | | Production | 13 | | Imports | 1 | | Exports | 5 | | Consumption | 9 | | Pulp for paper ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | - | | Imports | 0 | | Exports | - | | Consumption | 0 | | Paper and paperboard ('000 metric tons), 2002 | | Production | - | | Imports | 3 | | Exports | 0 | | Consumption | 3 |
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Laos: Environment
| Environment - current issues | unexploded ordnance; deforestation; soil erosion; most of the population does not have access to potable water | | Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements | | Natural hazards | floods, droughts |
Laos: Land use / Resources
| Land use (%) | arable land: 3.8%
permanent crops: 0.35%
other: 95.85% (2001) | | Natural resources | timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones |
Laos: Economy
| Economy - overview: | The government of Laos, one of the few remaining official Communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 6% in 1988-2004 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis beginning in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with a primitive infrastructure. It has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications, though the government is sponsoring major improvements in the road system with possible support from Japan. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas. Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice, accounts for half of GDP and provides 80% of total employment. The economy will continue to benefit from aid from the IMF and other international sources and from new foreign investment in food processing and mining. Construction will be another strong economic driver, especially as hydroelectric dam and road projects gain steam. In late 2004, Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US, allowing Laos-based producers to face lower tariffs on exports. This may help spur growth. In addition, the European Union has agreed to provide $1 million to the Lao government for technical assistance in preparations for WTO membership. If the avian flu worsens and spreads in the region, however, prospects for tourism could dim. | | GDP - per capita | $1,900 (2005 est.) | | GDP - real growth rate (%) | 7.2% (2005 est.) | | Agriculture - products | sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice, water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry | | GDP - composition by sector (%) | agriculture: 48.6%, industry: 25.9%, services: 25.5% (2005 est.) | | Industries | copper, tin, and gypsum mining, timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, tourism, cement | | Economic aid - recipient | $243 million (2001 est.) | | Debt - external | $2.49 billion (2001) | | Population below poverty line (%) | 40% (2002 est.) | | Labor force - by occupation (%) | agriculture 80% (1997 est.) |
Laos: Population / Demographics
| Population (July 2005) | 6,217,141 | | Population growth rate (%) (2005) | 2.42% | | Population density (people/sq km) (2005) | 26.9 | | Median age (years) | total: 18.74 years | | Total fertility rate (children born/woman) | 4.77 (2005 est.) | | Ethnic groups (%) | Lao Loum (lowland) 68%, Lao Theung (upland) 22%, Lao Soung (highland) including the Hmong and the Yao 9%, ethnic Vietnamese/Chinese 1% |
Largest Cities in Laos
Cities and urban areas in Laos with population over 100,000 All figures are estimates for 2002.
| City | Country | City Population | Urban Area Population |
| Vientiane | Laos | 651200 | 651200 |
| Savannakhet | Laos | 159400 | 159400 |
| Luang Prabang | Laos | 119800 | 119800 |
 Environment, Land use / Resources, Economy, Population / Demographics, Infrastructure, Health -- CIA World Factbook, 2005
Forest Cover, Forest types, Breakdown of forest types, Change in Forest Cover, Primary forests, Forest designation, Disturbances affecting forest land, Value of forests, Production, trade and consumption of forest products -- The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS's Global Forest Resources Assessment (2005) and the State of the World�s Forests (2005, 2003, 2001)
Protected Areas, Plant and animal biodiversity -- United Nations Environment Programme - World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). 2004. World Database on Protected Areas.
Biosphere reservers -- United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) - Man and Biosphere Program. 2004. UNESCO - MAB Biosphere Reserves Directory.
RAMSAR sites -- The Bureau of the Convention on Wetlands . 2005. The Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance.
World Resources Institute's EarthTrends web site
The 2004 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Population Data -- United Nations Population Fund
With additional analysis by Rhett Butler of mongabay.com
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