Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Medicinal Plants and Spices Sector of the Lao PDR

This report examines the environmental implications of trade liberalization within the medicinal plants and spices sector of the Lao PDR, highlighting the tension between economic growth from regional demand and the risk of resource depletion.

• The medicinal plants and spices sector in Lao PDR is identified as having significant export potential due to rising regional demand, which offers opportunities to increase farmer income, reduce poverty, and stimulate entrepreneurship.
• Rapid expansion of the sector threatens the natural resource base through unsustainable harvesting and unplanned use of medicinal plants.
• The sector currently faces several systemic challenges, including a lack of scientific harvesting approaches, insufficient cultivation plans, weak enforcement of regulations, poor collaboration between public and private sectors, and low biodiversity awareness among rural populations.
• The report recommends several strategic actions: collaborating with neighbors on protected areas and illegal trade, implementing scientific forest management, improving harvesting and export statistics, strengthening forestry laws, increasing rural environmental awareness, and creating private sector incentives for environmental best practices.

APA

Sydara,, K. (2008). Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Medicinal Plants and Spices Sector of the Lao PDR. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/environmental-impacts-trade-liberalization-medicinal-plants-and-spices-sector

Chicago

Sydara,, Kongmany. Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Medicinal Plants and Spices Sector of the Lao PDR. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2008. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/environmental-impacts-trade-liberalization-medicinal-plants-and-spices-sector.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sydara, |first1=Kongmany |title=Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Medicinal Plants and Spices 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-medicinal-plants-and-spices-sector |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sydara2008environmental, author = {Sydara,, Kongmany}, title = {{Environmental Impacts of Trade Liberalization in the Medicinal Plants and Spices 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-medicinal-plants-and-spices-sector}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }