Lao PDR Approves National Action Plan to Strengthen Fight Against Wildlife Crime through 2030

Vientiane Capital, 14 August 2026 — The Government of Lao PDR has taken another important step in strengthening wildlife conservation and law enforcement through the approval of the National Action Plan for Prevention and Combating Aquatic and Wildlife Crime for 2026–2030.

Approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the five-year Action Plan establishes a comprehensive national framework for preventing, combating and suppressing illegal activities involving aquatic and wildlife species. It also provides strategic direction for strengthening coordinated implementation of national legislation and relevant international commitments of Lao PDR, including the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The Action Plan recognizes that wildlife crime extends beyond biodiversity conservation and can involve organized and transnational criminal activities. Addressing these challenges effectively therefore requires coordinated action among forestry and environmental authorities, police, customs, prosecutors, border authorities, local administrations and other relevant sectors.

A key priority of the Action Plan is to strengthen the Lao Wildlife Enforcement Network (Lao-WEN) and enhance coordination among responsible authorities at both central and local levels. Particular emphasis is placed on information and intelligence sharing, investigation, enforcement and case coordination. The Plan also promotes stronger cooperation with neighbouring countries and regional and international organizations to prevent and combat cross-border wildlife trafficking.

The 2026–2030 framework sets out a comprehensive package of measures covering the improvement of laws, regulations and institutional arrangements; strengthening of investigation and law-enforcement capacity; information and intelligence exchange; conservation and management of threatened species; effective implementation of CITES; public awareness and community participation; research and technical capacity development; sustainable financing; and enhanced regional and international cooperation.

Importantly, the Action Plan translates national policy commitments into practical implementation measures by identifying responsible institutions, cooperating agencies, implementation periods and mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating progress. Relevant government authorities will work in cooperation with communities, civil society organizations, development partners and international organizations to mobilize the technical and financial resources required for effective implementation.

The Action Plan also places strong emphasis on enhancing scientific and technical capacity to support wildlife conservation, management and law enforcement. Priority measures include strengthening databases and monitoring systems, improving species identification capacity, promoting the application of wildlife forensic techniques and supporting evidence-based decision-making.

These measures are expected to enhance the capacity of competent authorities to detect wildlife offences, identify illegally traded specimens and products, collect and analyze evidence, investigate cases and support effective prosecution. Strengthened scientific and forensic capacity will also contribute to the development of intelligence and facilitate cooperation in cases involving organized and transnational wildlife crime.

At the international level, Lao PDR will continue to strengthen cooperation through relevant mechanisms and organizations, including CITES, the ASEAN Wildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN), INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). The Action Plan also encourages expanded bilateral and cross-border cooperation with neighbouring countries, particularly in information exchange, coordinated enforcement, investigation and capacity development.

The approval of the National Action Plan demonstrates the continued commitment of Lao PDR to preventing and combating aquatic and wildlife crime through a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, integrating law enforcement, biodiversity conservation, scientific management, community participation and international cooperation.

Effective implementation of the Action Plan through 2030 is expected to contribute to the protection of biodiversity and threatened wildlife species of Lao PDR, while strengthening the rule of law, environmental governance and regional cooperation. It will also reinforce the contribution of Lao PDR to regional and global efforts to prevent, combat and suppress organized and transnational wildlife crime.