Shifting cultivation, a farming practice on which majority of the upland population in the Lao People Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has been heavily dependent upon, was identified as the main cause of rapid deforestation in the country. To address the problem, a Land Use Planning and Land...

River systems play a crucial role in local livelihoods since they provide water for agricultural production. The rapid increase in the number of factories impacts these river systems both positively and negatively. While industrial growth provides local communities with employment and income, it...

This paper presents the results of two studies in Lao PDR that assessed people's willingness to pay (WTP) using the Contingent Valuation Methodology (CVM). The first study investigated the WTP of residents for the sustainable development and maintenance of urban parks in the city using Saysetha...

Various empirical studies have confirmed that trade liberalization stimulates economic growth. In order to strengthen economic development and emerge from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by the year 2020, the Government of Lao (GoL) PDR is eager to capitalize on trade liberalization...

This study assesses the impact of irrigation on That Luang Marsh (TLM) in Vientiane, the capital city of the People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) of Laos. The study finds that the economic benefits provided by the marsh (particularly in terms of the fish it supplies to local people) far outweigh...

Wetlands are among the most important habitats for wildlife in the world. However, across Southeast Asia many wetland areas are under threat from water extraction and a range of other development pressures. This study finds that conserving wetlands can provide significant economic benefits.