Profile on Environmental and Social Considerations in Lao P.D.R. December 2013 Japan International Cooperation Agency ER JR 13-003 Table of Contents Table of Contents i List of Figures v List of Tables vii Abbreviations and Acronyms x Executive Summary xvi Chapter 1. Country Overview 1.1 Overview 1 - 1 1.1.1 Map of the Country 1 - 1 1.1.2 Location and Topography 1 - 2 1.1.3 Climate 1 - 3 1.1.4 River Systems 1 - 6 1.1.5 Land Use 1 - 10 1.1.6 Demographics 1 - 12 1.2 Legal and Political Systems: Environmental and Social Considerations 1 - 13 1.2.1 Administrative Divisions 1 - 16 1.2.2 National Socio-Economic Plans 1 - 20 1.2.3 Relevant Organisations 1 - 22 1.3 Overview and Contact Details of Relevant Organisations 1 - 24 1.3.1 Governmental Organisations and Research Institutions 1 - 24 1.3.2 Donors 1 - 26 1.3.3 NGOs 1 - 30 Chapter 2. Natural Environment 2.1 Overview 2 - 1 2.2 Regulations and Policies 2 - 1 2.2.1 International Conventions 2 - 1 2.2.2 Domestic Laws 2 - 2 2.3 Wildlife Species 2 - 4 2.3.1 Endemic Species 2 - 5 2.3.2 Endangered Species 2 - 5 i 2.3.3 Internationally Protected Species 2 - 6 2.4 Important Ecosystems and Habitats 2 - 7 2.4.1 Protected Areas 2 - 7 2.4.2 Ramsar Sites 2 - 11 2.4.3 Biodiversity Hotspots 2 - 12 2.4.4 Important Bird Areas 2 - 12 2.5 Forests 2 - 15 Chapter 3. Pollution and Environmental Issues 3.1 Overview 3 - 1 3.2 Regulations and Policies 3 - 2 3.2.1 International Agreements 3 - 2 3.2.2 Domestic Laws 3 - 3 3.3 Air Pollution 3 - 4 3.3.1 Current Situation 3 - 4 3.3.2 Relevant Laws and Organisations 3 - 9 3.4 Water Pollution 3 - 11 3.4.1 Current Situation 3 - 11 3.4.2 Relevant Laws and Organisations 3 - 12 3.5 Soil Pollution 3 - 14 3.5.1 Current Situation 3 - 14 3.5.2 Relevant Laws and Organisations 3 - 14 3.6 Solid Waste 3 - 15 3.6.1 Current Situation 3 - 15 3.6.2 Relevant Laws and Organisations 3 - 20 3.7 Noise and Vibration 3 - 21 3.7.1 Current Situation 3 - 21 3.7.2 Relevant Laws and Organisations 3 - 21 3.8 Climate Change 3 - 23 3.8.1 Current Situation 3 - 23 3.8.2 Relevant Laws and Organisations 3 - 24 Chapter 4. Social Environment 4.1 Overview 4 - 1 4.2 Regulations and Policies 4 - 3 4.3 Relevant Organisations for Protection of Basic Human Rights 4 - 4 4.4 Protection of Rights for Socially Vulnerable 4 - 5 4.4.1 Poverty 4 - 5 ii 4.4.2 Indigenous Peoples and Ethnic Minority Groups 4 - 7 4.4.3 Gender 4 - 7 4.4.4 Children 4 - 9 4.4.5 Persons with Disabilities 4 - 11 4.4.6 Sexual Minorities 4 - 12 4.5 Protection of Rights of Workers 4 - 12 4.6 Cultural Heritage 4 - 14 4.6.1 Relevant Regulations and Government Agencies 4 - 14 4.6.2 Major Cultural Heritage Sites in Lao PDR 4 - 17 4.6.3 Issues Related to the Protection of Cultural Heritage 4 - 19 4.7 Gap Analysis Between the Existing Domestic Regulations, the JICA 4 - 20 Guidelines for Environmental and Social Considerations, and the World Bank Safeguard Policy Chapter 5. Environmental Assessment 5.1 Legal Framework 5 - 1 5.2 Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and Environmental Impact 5 - 7 Assessment (EIA) 5.2.1 Projects Subject to the IEE/EIA 5 - 7 5.2.2 Procedures and Relevant Organisations 5 - 16 5.2.3 Public Participation 5 - 24 5.2.4 Participation of Experts, NGOs, and Other Third Parties 5 - 26 5.2.5 Information Disclosure 5 - 26 5.3 Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) 5 - 28 5.4 Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) 5 - 28 5.5 Social Management and Monitoring Plan (SMMP) 5 - 30 5.6 Strategic Environmental Assessment 5 - 31 5.7 Monitoring 5 - 32 5.8 Major Issues and Challenges in the Current System 5 - 34 5.9 Gap Analysis Between the Present Domestic Regulations, the JICA 5 - 35 Guidelines for Environmental and Social Considerations, and the World Bank Safeguard Policy Chapter 6. Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement 6.1 Legal Framework 6 - 1 6.2 Procedures and Relevant Organisations 6 - 9 6.3 Grievance Redress Mechanism, Information Disclosure, and Monitoring 6 - 14 6.3.1 Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) 6 - 14 iii 6.3.2 Information Disclosure and Public Participation 6 - 17 6.3.3 Monitoring 6 - 20 6.4 Major Issues and Challenges in the Current System 6 - 26 6.5 Gap Analysis Between the Present Domestic Regulations, the JICA 6 - 27 Guidelines for Environmental and Social Considerations, and the World Bank Safeguard Policy Chapter 7. Indigenous Peoples and Ethnic Minority Groups 7.1 Social and Economic Situation 7 - 1 7.2 Legal Framework and Relevant Organisations 7 - 7 7.3 Procedures and Relevant Organisations 7 - 10 7.4 Affirmative Actions 7 - 11 7.5 Major Issues and Challenges in the Current System 7 - 12 7.5.1 Legislative Issues 7 - 12 7.5.2 Physical Wellbeing 7 - 12 7.5.3 Social Issues 7 - 14 7.5.4 Land Concession Issues 7 - 14 7.6 Gap Analysis Between the Existing Domestic Regulations, the JICA 7 - 15 Guidelines for Environmental and Social Considerations, and the World Bank Safeguard Policy Chapter 8. Environmental and Social Considerations in Other Donors’ Projects 8.1 World Bank 8 - 1 8.1.1 Environmental Assessment 8 - 1 8.1.2 Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement 8 - 7 8.1.3 Indigenous Peoples 8 - 11 8.1.4 Monitoring 8 - 16 8.1.5 Information Disclosure 8 - 17 8.2 Asian Development Bank 8 - 17 8.2.1 Environmental Assessment 8 - 17 8.2.2 Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement 8 - 21 8.2.3 Indigenous Peoples 8 - 25 8.2.4 Monitoring 8 - 29 8.2.5 Information Disclosure 8 - 30 Appendix References iv List of Figures Figure 1.1.1 Map of Lao PDR 1-1 Figure 1.1.2 Three Physiographic Units in Lao PDR 1-3 Figure 1.1.3 Average Minimum and Maximum Temperatures 1-4 Figure 1.1.4 Average Humidity 1-4 Figure 1.1.5 Average Monthly Precipitation 1-4 Figure 1.1.6 Average Monthly Hours of Sunshine 1-5 Figure 1.1.7 Distribution of Annual Rainfall 1-5 Figure 1.1.8 Map of River Systems in Lao PDR 1-10 Figure 1.1.9 Land use Distribution in Lao PDR 1-11 Figure 1.1.10 Land Use Map of Lao PDR 1-12 Figure 1.1.11 Ethnic Groups in Lao PDR 1-13 Figure 1.1.12 Religion in Lao PDR 1-13 Figure 1.2.1 Overview of Central-Local Party-State Institution 1-16 Figure 1.2.2 Administrative Divisions of Lao PDR 1-17 Figure 1.2.3 National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES) 1-21 Process Figure 1.2.4 MONRE Organisational Chart 1-22 Figure 1.2.5 DONRE Organisational Chart 1-23 Figure 2.4.1 National Protected Areas in Lao PDR 2-10 Figure 2.4.2 Map of Ramsar Sites in Lao PDR 2-11 Figure 2.4.3 IBAs in Lao PDR 2-15 Figure 3.3.1 TSP Monitoring in Seven Locations in Vientiane 3-6 Figure 3.3.2 PM10 Monitoring in Seven Locations in Vientiane 3-6 Figure 3.3.3 SO2 Monitoring in Seven Locations in Vientiane 3-7 Figure 3.3.4 NO2 Monitoring in Seven Locations in Vientiane 3-7 Figure 3.8.1 Greenhouse Gas Inventory of Four Sectors (1990 level) 3-24 Figure 3.8.2 Organisational Chart for Climate Change 3-25 Figure 4.1.1 Ethnic Groups in Lao PDR 4-1 Figure 4.1.2 Religion in Lao PDR 4-1 Figure 4.4.1 Comparison of Poverty Lines 4-6 Poverty Headcount by Border, Altitude, and Ethnicity, 2002/3 and Figure 4.4.2 4-7 2007/8 Figure 4.6.1 World Heritage Sites in Lao PDR 4-19 Figure 5.2.1 MONRE Organisational Chart 5-16 Figure 5.2.2 DONRE Organisational Chart 5-17 v Figure 5.2.3 IEE Process in Lao PDR 5-19 Figure 5.2.4 EIA Process in Lao PDR 5-20 Figure 6.2.1 Project Process Cycle and Resettlement Activities 6-12 Figure 7.1.1 Ethnic Groups in Lao PDR 7-1 Geographical Distribution Map of Indigenous Peoples and Ethnic Figure 7.1.2 7-4 Minority Groups in Lao PDR Figure 7.5.1 Map of UXO Impact and Bombing Data 1965-1975 7-13 vi List of Tables Table 1.1.1 River Basin Areas and Annual Runoff of the Major River Basin in 1-8 Lao PDR Table 1.1.2 Distribution of Land Use Types in Lao PDR 1-11 Table 1.2.1 Provinces and Prefectures in Lao PDR 1-18 Table 1.2.2 Lao PDR’s Provinces and Districts 1-18 Table 1.3.1 Governmental Organisations and Research Institutions related to 1-24 Environmental and Social Considerations in Lao PDR Table 1.3.2 Major Donors in Lao PDR 1-26 Table 1.3.3 NGOs Active in the Environmental and Social Sectors in Lao 1-30 PDR Table 2.2.1 Laws Relevant to Natural Environment Protection in Lao PDR 2-2 Table 2.2.2 Decrees and Regulations Relevant to Natural Environment 2-3 Protection in Lao PDR Table 2.3.1 Endemic Species in Lao PDR (by taxonomic group) 2-5 Table 2.3.2 The Conservation Status of Biological Species in Lao PDR 2-6 Table 2.3.3 Threatened Species in Lao PDR (by taxonomic group) 2-6 Table 2.3.4 CITES-listed Species in Lao PDR 2-7 Table 2.4.1 Protected Areas in Lao PDR 2-8 Table 2.4.2 List of Ramsar Sites in Lao PDR 2-11 Table 2.4.3 Important Bird Areas in Lao PDR 2-13 Table 2.5.1 Trends in the Extent of Forest areas, 1990–2010 2-16 Table 2.5.2 Classifications of Forests 2-16 Table 2.5.3 Status of Forests in Lao PDR (by type) 2-16 Ownership Patterns and Holders of Management Rights Table 2.5.4 2-17 of Public Forests in Lao PDR Table 2.5.5 Forest Management and Legal Status (as of 2010) 2-17 Table 2.5.6 Categories of Forests 2-18 Forest Categories in Lao PDR According to Traditional Forest Table 2.5.7 2-19 Management Major Relevant International Agreements Signed by the Table 3.2.1 3-2 Government of Lao PDR Air Quality Monitoring, Location of Sampling Sites, and Table 3.3.1 3-5 Corresponding Sampling Dates in Vientiane Estimated Numbers of Motor Vehicles for Lao PDR Compared Table 3.3.2 3-8 with Asia in 2000 Table 3.3.3 Summary of Estimated National Emissions of Each Substance in 3-9 vii Lao PDR Compared with Asia in 2000 (in gigagrams) National Ambient Air Quality Standards of Lao PDR vs.