Wearing T-shirts with slogans calling for environmental protection, people gathered in Vientiane on Saturday to show public support for the environment and hear National Assembly President Ms Pany Yathortu talk about the urgent need for reforestation.

In her address to mark World Environment Day on June 5, Ms Pany said forests are natural resources and are vital in meeting the basic needs of people by providing food, medicine and clothing.

Forests play an important role in maintaining the ecosystem by producing oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, bringing seasonal rains and preventing global warming. They also help prevent severe natural disasters, while retaining moisture in the air and providing a habitat for many forms of life, she said.

But forests are under severe threat, and their loss is affecting both directly and indirectly the environment and the lives of both animals and humans.

Laos is one of many countries that enjoy an abundance of natural resources, especially forests, which have great potential to contribute to socio-economic development. But, over the past two or three decades, national forest cover has declined, causing a reduction in carbon dioxide absorption.

This is spurring climate change and extreme weather events that affect the economy, the environment, and the lives of all Lao ethnic groups, Ms Pany said.

Recognising the important role it can play, the government is guiding development strategies, and passing laws on environmental protection and preservation of forests. In particular, there are strategies on environmental managemen t, forests and bio-diversity; and laws on environmental protec tion, forests, aquatic animals and wildlife.

There are also ongoing public campaigns to promote the participation of all Lao ethnic groups in sustainable environmental protection.

In addition to forest protection, there is also a need for effective administration and management of urban environments. This includes regulating waste elimination, the discharge of waste water and smoke emissions, as well as rubbish disposal, Ms Pany said.

Such problems are on the rise in every large town, and require solutions in both the short- and long-term.

This means making everyone aware of the fact that socio-economic development must be in line with environmental protection and integrated into policies, laws and regulations.

Development projects must include environmental impact assessments, mitigation plans and socio-environmental management measures, Ms Pany said.

(Vientiane Times)