Vietnam, Laos cooperate in combating wood smuggling

(VOV) - Nearly 100 delegates from Vietnam and Lao gathered at a seminar in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on December 6 to discuss how to improve the management of conservation areas and control the illegal smuggling of wood products.

This is part of the EUR7 million German-funded project being implemented by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Greater Mekong in three conservation areas in Quang Nam, Thua Thien-Hue and XeSap National Conservation Park.

The seminar aims to reduce losses in exploiting and transporting wood products and prevent deforestation in the border areas between Laos’ southern region and Vietnam’s central region.

Delegates shared experience in managing conservation areas as well as cooperating in preserving biodiversity of forests between the two countries.

They agreed on a trans-national action plan to improve the management of conservation areas, control the smuggling of wood products across the border and prevent deforestation in the two countries.