Vietnam, Laos strengthen cross-border cooperation on forest protection

Facing increasing pressure from illegal logging and wildlife trafficking along the Vietnam–Laos border, authorities from both countries are stepping up joint efforts to protect forests and biodiversity. A new five-year cooperation agreement, signed between Quang Tri Province's Forest Protection Department and Laos’ Savannakhet Forestry Inspection Division, aims to enhance information sharing, joint patrols, and monitoring of forest products and endangered wildlife in border areas

Bordering Laos for nearly 188 kilometers, Quang Tri Province in central Vietnam is home to rich forest ecosystems and high biodiversity, including many rare and endangered species. The border area features two international border gates, four auxiliary ones, and 84 trails facilitating trade and interaction between local communities of the two countries. Its terrain and accessible transport routes also make it a hub for the transit of timber and wildlife products.

Forest rangers of Huong Hoa District coordinates patrols to safeguard forests in the border area. Photo: T.N

To tighten control and enhance forest protection, Quang Tri’s forest rangers have deployed a range of coordinated measures, including establishing a network of local informants and enhancing cooperation with police, border guards, customs forces, and border communes. These efforts focus on monitoring the transport of timber and forest products along both border and inland routes to prevent illegal logging and trafficking.

Mobile forest patrol teams have intensified surveillance in border areas, offering advice to local authorities and working closely with nine border guard stations stretching from Cu Bai in Huong Lap Commune (Huong Hoa District) to La Lay in A Ngo Commune (Dakrong District). They also coordinate with commune police and forest owners to patrol forest areas along the border.

From 2022 to 2024 alone, 23 forest patrols and inspections were carried out in A Vao, A Ngo, and A Bung communes of Dakrong District, involving 256 personnel. Several violations and suspected illegal activities related to forestry laws were promptly detected and prevented.

In Huong Hoa District, seven communes and Lao Bao Town conducted 69 joint patrols with 754 personnel. These operations dismantled five illegal camps and removed 275 animal traps from the forest.

Efforts to combat illegal logging and trafficking have been bolstered by proactive planning tailored to specific areas. High-risk zones have been identified, allowing authorities to deploy forces and collaborate with local governments and agencies at both Vietnamese and Laotian border checkpoints.

Between 2018 and 2023, authorities uncovered 110 cases of illegal timber trafficking from Laos into Vietnam, seizing 288,53 cu.m of timber, including 197,49 cubic meters of rare species. Additionally, 279 wild animals, 116 of which were endangered, were confiscated and released back into the wild, alongside the seizure of forest orchids and wild boar.

Currently, 202 businesses in Quang Tri import timber from Laos, with 118 officially registering storage yards and trade activities with the provincial Forest Protection Department. In Huong Hoa and Dakrong districts, 16 farms raise endangered species under CITES Appendices II and III. These farms pose a potential risk of laundering illegally sourced wildlife by mixing them with legal stocks.

To address this, forest rangers regularly inspect timber imports and traceability, issue guidance on legal compliance in timber trade and wildlife farming, and ensure all forestry processing facilities maintain detailed import-export logs. Wildlife farms are also subject to routine inspections by local forest rangers.

Despite positive results in border patrols and enforcement, challenges persist. Cross-border cooperation in information sharing, public education, and community awareness on forest protection and biodiversity conservation remains limited. Law enforcement efforts are still fragmented and lack a seamless joint strategy, which illegal actors can exploit. Furthermore, difficult living conditions and low education levels among border communities increase reliance on forest resources.

The high demand for timber and lucrative profits from illegal trade also fuel increasingly sophisticated smuggling tactics, complicating efforts to crack down on trafficking along the border.

To address these issues, authorities emphasize the need for continued close coordination among forest rangers, police, and border forces. This includes enhanced information sharing, joint patrols, and targeted crackdowns on timber trafficking routes and networks.

On September 10, 2024, Quang Tri’s Forest Protection Department and the Savannakhet Provincial Forest Inspection Department (Laos) signed a Memorandum of Understanding for cooperation from 2024 to 2029. The agreement establishes official channels for information exchange and collaboration in preventing and handling illegal hunting, logging, and wildlife trafficking in the border region.

It also promotes monitoring and legal trade in forest products, removing barriers for businesses from both countries to invest in sustainable forestry processing. Annual training sessions are organized annually to foster mutual learning and strengthen the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation programs between Laos and Vietnam.

Additionally, both sides aim to propose joint projects and seek international support for wildlife conservation efforts, particularly for endangered species. Community engagement campaigns will also be conducted to raise awareness about forest protection, biodiversity conservation, wildfire prevention, and combating illegal trade of timber and wildlife in border areas.

Tan Nguyen - Ngan Ha