Posted on May, 22 2025
Vientiane, 22 May 2025. WWF-Laos and the Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry have signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the collaborative management of Nam Poui National Protected Area (NPA), a key biodiversity landscape in Sayaboury Province, recently designated as an ASEAN Heritage Park.
The MoU was signed on 22 May 2025 at the Department of Forestry office in Vientiane by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thoumthone Vongvisouk, Deputy Director General of the Department of Forestry, and Mr. Loris Palentini, Country Director of WWF-Laos, for the project, titled “In Support of Collaborative Management of Nam Poui National Protected Area.” The project builds on years of conservation work and formalizes a stronger, more coordinated approach to improving forest management and safeguarding biodiversity. It aims to strengthen forest governance, protect endangered species, and enhance the livelihoods of local communities who depend on forest resources.
The ceremony was attended by representatives from Sayaboury Province, Nam Poui NPA, including those from the three target districts, as well as implementing partners from the central level.
“This project directly contributes to the national strategies for forest and biodiversity conservation,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thoumthone Vongvisouk, Deputy Director General of the Department of Forestry. “With Nam Poui’s recent designation as an ASEAN Heritage Park, its significance is now recognized both nationally and internationally. As we begin implementing this collaborative management effort, we look forward to achieving meaningful outcomes that go beyond what is outlined in the MoU,” he added.
Nam Poui NPA was officially designated as an ASEAN Heritage Park (AHP) in October 2024, gaining wider recognition not only for its AHP status but also as a flagship site for conservation – attracting regional and international attention for its ecological importance and potential as a model for sustainable protected area management.
The project in Nam Poui NPA supports the national Forest Strategy, with a direct contribution to the implementation of the new Protected Areas Decree and wildlife conservation efforts. It also aligns with WWF-Laos’ five-year strategic plan and the One Health Approach, which was recognized by the World Health Assembly through the adoption of the Pandemic Agreement on May 20. This approach acknowledges that human health is closely linked to the health of animals and the environment and promotes a unified path forward to sustainably balance and optimize the well-being of people, animals, and ecosystems.
Key focus areas of the project in Nam Poui NPA include:
- Strengthening forest and biodiversity management through a community-led approach
- Enhancing wildlife monitoring and the implementation of conservation measures
- Addressing human-elephant conflict in surrounding communities
- Promoting conservation awareness and knowledge sharing
- Promoting disease surveillance through the One Health approach
Implementation will cover 16 villages across Phieng, Thongmixay, and Paklay districts in Sayaboury Province, selected through a participatory process involving local communities and authorities.
“This MoU could not have come at a better time, marking a key step in our joint management of Nam Poui National Protected Area, as WWF-Laos prepares to launch its next five-year strategy. It also aligns with the new global agreement on pandemic prevention, which recognizes the vital link between human and environmental health,” said Loris Palentini, Country Director of WWF-Laos. “This partnership reflects our long-standing commitment to safeguarding Laos’ natural heritage and supporting local communities. It also strengthens Nam Poui’s role as a stronghold for iconic species like the Asian elephant, with potential for future tiger recovery. Signed today, on the International Day for Biological Diversity, this MOU is a timely reminder that protecting nature is essential for our shared future,” he added.
Nam Poui NPA spans over 191,000 hectares and is one of the most ecologically important protected areas in Laos. It is one of the few remaining strongholds for wild Asian elephants in the country, and supports many other threatened species, including gaur, sun bear, Asiatic black bear, clouded leopard, Asian golden cat, dhole, Indochinese grey langur, and a remnant population of white-handed gibbon. The area is also identified as having high potential for tiger recovery from neighboring Thailand and plays a vital role in regional biodiversity conservation.
The new partnership, signed today, financially supported by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) through the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), the Wyss Foundation, and the WWF Network, will run through 31 December 2027. It aims to reduce key conservation threats in Nam Poui and ensure effective implementation of the management plan – strengthening forest and wildlife protection for the benefit of both people and nature.
To ensure strong coordination and effective delivery, an Implementation Management Committee will be established at the national, provincial, and district levels, with participation from relevant government and non-government stakeholders.
