Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Wood and Wood Products Sector of the Lao PDR

This report examines the environmental impacts of trade liberalization in the wood and wood products sector of Lao PDR, highlighting the tension between high regional demand and the challenges of low-value exports, illegal logging, and inefficient processing infrastructure.

• Lao PDR faces significant pressure from high regional demand for wood, particularly from China, where timber product imports grew from 14 million to 45 million cubic metres over a 10-year period. The primary importers of Lao wood and wood products are Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan.
• The domestic wood-processing industry in Lao PDR is characterized by high capacity but low efficiency, driven by the use of old machinery, low technology, low recovery rates, and a lack of export certification for processed products.
• Environmental degradation, including forest decline, biodiversity loss, and loss of watershed services, is being fueled by illegal logging, timber exports that reduce local supply, and an under-resourced local processing industry.

APA

Manivong,, S. S. (2008). Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Wood and Wood Products Sector of the Lao PDR. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/environmental-impacts-trade-liberalization-wood-and-wood-products-sector-lao

Chicago

Manivong,, Sousath Sayakoummane,Vongxay. Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Wood and Wood Products Sector of the Lao PDR. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2008. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/environmental-impacts-trade-liberalization-wood-and-wood-products-sector-lao.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Manivong, |first1=Sousath Sayakoummane,Vongxay |title=Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Wood and Wood Products Sector of the Lao PDR |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=23 January 2008 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/environmental-impacts-trade-liberalization-wood-and-wood-products-sector-lao |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{manivong2008environmental, author = {Manivong,, Sousath Sayakoummane,Vongxay}, title = {{Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Wood and Wood Products Sector of the Lao PDR}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2008}, month = jan, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/environmental-impacts-trade-liberalization-wood-and-wood-products-sector-lao}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }