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What happened
In 2024, a significant portion of tree cover loss in Cambodia and Laos occurred within designated protected areas, with Cambodia losing 56% and Laos 64% of their respective losses in these zones. The Mekong region, encompassing Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam, experienced a total tree cover loss of 991,801 hectares, including nearly 220,000 hectares of primary forest. Despite recent expansions of protected areas in Cambodia, enforcement remains weak, as evidenced by substantial losses attributed to infrastructure projects and agricultural expansion. In Laos, the situation is even more alarming, with deforestation rates nearly three times higher than in Cambodia, driven by foreign investments and encroachment on biodiversity-rich forests. These developments raise critical concerns about the effectiveness of conservation strategies and the ongoing threats to the region's ecological integrity.
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Key insights
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1
High deforestation rates: Laos has among the highest deforestation rates in the Mekong region.
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2
Protected area failures: Significant tree cover loss occurred within protected areas, indicating enforcement issues.
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3
Government-supported projects: Infrastructure and agricultural projects are major contributors to forest loss.
Takeaways
The alarming rates of tree cover loss in protected areas of Cambodia and Laos highlight the urgent need for improved enforcement of conservation measures and a reevaluation of land use policies to protect vital ecosystems.