Laos has experienced a significant escalation in tree cover loss over the past two decades, with the latest incident being a fire alert in Vientiane Province on January 19, 2025. The country, which spans over 23 million hectares, has a tree cover extent of approximately 19.10 million hectares. However, the net change in tree cover has been negative, with a 7.16% decrease, equating to a loss of over 1.57 million hectares and a modest gain of about 101,748 hectares.
The primary drivers of tree cover loss have been shifting agriculture and forestry activities. In 2023 alone, shifting agriculture accounted for a loss of approximately 164,000 hectares, while forestry contributed to a loss of nearly 187,000 hectares. This trend has persisted since the early 2000s, with both sectors responsible for the majority of tree cover loss and associated greenhouse gas emissions.
Explore country profileThe cumulative impact of these losses is substantial, with the most recent year's data indicating over 445,000 hectares lost, resulting in emissions exceeding 237 million megagrams of CO2 equivalent. The ongoing challenge of tree cover loss in Laos underscores the need for sustainable land management practices to mitigate further environmental degradation.
