Fishes of the Indochinese Mekong
The Mekong River Basin, which is the largest river basin in Southeast Asia, extends from the Tibetan Plateau to the South China Sea, and runs through Myanmar, China, Lao PDR (hereafter referred to as Laos). Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The Mekong Basin covers a large part of the Indochinese region, with an area of approximately […]
Planting and Seeding Rattan
Calamus viminalis is a climbing rattan palm with slender stems up to 35 m long and 0.5–1.5 cm in diameter. It has pale green sheaths with spines, long leaves (1–1.5 m), and produces small fruits about 0.8 cm in size. The young shoots are eaten as a vegetable in Laos, while the stems are widely […]
Bitter Bamboo Propagation and Cultivation
Bitter Bamboo is a woody bamboo with straight stems 8–12 m tall and 3–5 cm wide. Young stems have tough, hairy sheaths, and leaves are long, narrow, and slightly hairy. It produces spike like flowers. This bamboo is used for construction, furniture, and handicrafts, and its young shoots are edible. It also helps stabilize soil […]
Bounchanh Mekaloun
Bounchanh Mekaloun, Deputy Head of the Forest Research Center at the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), says that forests are far more than landscapes: they are living sources of food, health, and opportunity. After graduating from the Faculty of Forestry in Vietnam, he returned to Laos equipped not only with academic knowledge but […]
From agrobiodiversity to agroecology, Manivanh Aliyavong’s work has been shaped by a long-term commitment to sustainable food systems in Laos and Southeast Asia.
Currently serving as the Regional Small Grants Manager at ALiSEA (Agroecology Learning Alliance in Southeast Asia), Manivanh supports local and regional actors who are driving agroecological change on the ground. Her role connects grassroots initiatives with regional learning, ensuring that practical experience feeds into shared knowledge and collective action. Her journey began in 2015 with […]
Keooudone Souvannakhoummane
Keooudone Souvannakhoummane is a PhD student, lecturer, and plant taxonomist at the National University of Laos (NUoL). He is also a member of the advisory board of the PhaKhaoLao platform. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in biology from NUoL and worked at the Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden from 2010 to 2015. Between 2015 and […]
Dr. Somphouthone Phimmachak
A researcher on the diversity and conservation of in Laos, Dr Somphouthone was already interested in farming as a child. This led her to study agriculture at the National University of Laos (NUoL), but she soon found out that she was more attracted by animals than plants. Thus, she graduated in 2002 with a specialization […]
A Photo Guide to Plants of Nam Kading National Protected Area in Laos
The authors would like to express their gratitude to the managers and staff of the Nam Kading National Protected Area for granting permission and providing invaluable support for our botanical survey in the area. We are also grateful to Chen-Jui Yang, Houan Vorasane, Kimihiko Hyakumura, Meng Zhang, Norikazu Okabe, Siriphone Lorvanhkham and Sylor Chayer for […]
Systematics, Ecology and Management of Rattans in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. (The Biological Bases of Sustainable Use)
The Greater Mekong region is one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. Home to the world’s largest freshwater fish species and extensive tiger habitat, its forests, rivers, grasslands and wetlands pulse with life. About 80 per cent of the region’s 300 million people depend directly on the goods and services its ecosystems […]
Three new species of spinule-bearing frogs allied to Rana megatympanum Bain, Lathrop, Murphy, Orlov, and Ho, 2003 from Laos and Vietnam.
Three new species of frogs allied to Rana megatympanum are described from Laos and Vietnam. One new species is from the Bolaven Plateau of southern Laos, a second is from central Laos and adjacent central Vietnam, and a third is from northern Laos. The three new species are distinguished from similar species by skin texture, […]
