Herbarium of non-timber forest products of Lao PDR
Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) have long played an important role in the daily lives of rural communities in Lao PDR. They contribute to household nutrition, traditional medicine, local incomes and cultural practices, while also reflecting the deep knowledge that communities hold about their surrounding landscapes.
Saraca laotica (Fabaceae), a new species from Laos
A new species of Saraca (Fabaceae-Detarioideae), S. laotica, is described and illustrated from Laos. It is characterized by leaflets with (9–)11–20 pairs of secondary veins, relatively larger, persistent and showy bracts of 1.4–3.3 × 0.6–0.9 cm, calyx tube of 27–36 mm, 4 stamens, anthers 1.9 mm long, by which combination, it is clearly distinguished from […]
wo new species of Melastoma L.(Melastomataceae) from Limestone Karst, Khammouane Province, central Laos
Two new species, Melastoma calcicolum Souvann. & Tagane sp. nov. and M. souladethianumSouvann. & Nob.Tanaka sp. nov. (Melastomataceae), are described from limestone karst habitats in Khammouane Province, central Laos. Descriptions, photographs, distribution, habitat, phenology, and initial conservation statuses of both newly described species are given. A key to the species of Melastomain Laos including currently […]
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 […]
Manivanh Aliyavong
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 […]
