In the Media
Laos: Deputy prime minister stresses natural resource development
August 09, 2012
Vientiane Times
Deputy Prime Minister Asang Laoly urged leaders of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to focus on priorities in the development of their areas of responsibility in Laos.
Regarding land management, the ministry should improve the policies on land use and land title in line with the law and increase mechanisms and measures for land management in order to reduce problems, he stressed at the meeting on Tuesday in Vientiane. The ministry must continue to take increased responsibility for land allocation, registration of land titles and permits for the use of government land. He also urged a shift in the use of government land towards rent and concessions for the agricultural industry and mineral excavation.
In the forestry sector, the ministry should focus on conservation and crack down on illegal logging. Mr Asang said Laos should increase the area of forest cover to 65 percent and reforest 3.9 million hectares by 2015 in line with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry plan.
To reach the targets, he asked each sector to follow the political ideas of the Party and government for implementing work and asking individuals to improve action plans, taking responsibility for their duties to update knowledge and skills. The ministry should also increase awareness of the importance of natural resources and environmental responsibility and should cooperate with government agencies as well as foreign nations and NGOs.
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Keywords: Asia, forest cover, forestry sector, illegal logging, land concessions, land title, land use, Lao PDR, Laos, natural resources, policy