Environment and natural resources

Pollution and waste

Authorities Counsel Forest Fire Offenders in Vientiane

Last week, the Vientiane Province government counseled 65 locals who were caught burning forest land in Phou Phanang National Bio-Diversity Conservation Area to reeducate and raise awareness on the harmful long-term effects of illegal logging and deforestation. The group was sent to a training and ...

Phontham Visapra

Fire in Phou Phanang Forest Contained After Nine Grueling Days

The fire, which was caused by agricultural burning in the area, had spread to 17 different villages in the Sangthong district, causing damage to an area of around 120 hectares of woodland.Around 600 people, including officials and local residents, were mobilized on 20 March to ...

Jonathan Meadley

Cassava Boom Leading to Deforestation, Air Pollution in Laos

The demand for cassava has seen it become the most profitable agricultural product in Laos, as demonstrated by the country’s February trade figures: cassava was the leading export item, with figures totaling USD 85 million. Laos exports most of its cassava to Thailand and Vietnam, where ...

Manyphone Vongphachanh

Pakse to Build Wastewater Treatment Facility Worth USD 2.1 Million

The Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) held a groundbreaking ceremony last week to build four decentralized wastewater treatment plants and a city-level excrement treatment facility in Pakse City, Champasack that would benefit around 9,000 people.These facilities are being developed under the Wastewater and Solid Waste ...

Jonathan Meadley

Plastic Waste Causing Serious Environmental, Health and Economic Impacts in Laos

Almost a quarter of the waste found in Lao cities is plastic. Plastic waste is now found everywhere in the Lao environment, affecting fish catches, blocking drains, causing air pollution, and harming tourism destinations. The plan considers a “circular economy” approach to help achieve the ...

Latsamy Phonevilay

Landfill Fire Covers Laos Capital in Toxic Smoke

Smoke covered the skies in and around Xaythany District over the weekend, with residents complaining of the stench. Authorities have yet to make a statement regarding the fire, which is believed to have begun Saturday morning. The landfill site at KM 32 in Xaythany District, ...

Latsamy Phonevilay

Fishermen call for river pollution to be addressed

Members of a large fishing community in Naxab village, Naxaithong district, Vientiane, are appealing to authorities to address the problem of farms dumping animal waste in the Khon River, which they say is creating a threat to fishing.The polluted river affects some 1,648 people who ...

Times Reporters

Garbage Burning Remains a Hot Issue for Vientiane Capital

Residents in Vientiane Capital have complained that garbage burning remains a problem, despite hopes a hotline for complaints would put a stop to the issue.The Vientiane Capital Department of Natural Resource and Environment established a hotline, 1523, in September last year, allowing residents to report the illegal ...

Phayboune Thanabouasy

Vientiane, Pakxe set in motion wastewater, solids treatment project

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Vientiane and Pakxe are set to improve waste management and treatment services, including collection, waste-to-resource opportunities, and wastewater treatment.Authorities officially launched the ‘Wastewater and Solid Waste Treatment Capacity Building Project for City Environment Improvement in Laos’ project in Vientiane on Monday.The project ...

Keoviengkhone Bounviseth

Chinese-Owned Factory in Laos Causes Health Scare, Foul Smells in Nearby Villages

A Chinese-owned factory in Laos that recently started operations is causing noise and air pollution that affect the health of nearby residents in the country’s Bolikhamxay province.The factory, which produces packing foam for use in transporting bananas, is made up of one building situated on ...

RFA’s Lao Service

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