The 4th Lao National Forest Inventory: Mission accomplished!

The Department of Forestry (DOF) of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) has successfully completed its fourth National Forest Inventory (NFI). The NFI serves as a foundation for Laos to collect and analyze data on forest resources and biodiversity, enabling evidence-based forest management and supporting participation in international carbon markets.

Launched in October 2024, the preliminary results were presented in September 2025. This latest inventory builds on the country’s extensive experience in forest monitoring, following the inaugural inventory in the 1990s and subsequent iterations in 2016 and 2019.

The Forest Inventory and Fire Protection Division (FIFPD) led the fieldwork and data analysis, deploying nine teams across the country. These teams were supported by provincial and district technicians, as well as local villagers. The fourth NFI was co-funded by the World Bank, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Technical assistance was provided by Kokusai Kogyo Co., Ltd, which supported the Lao NFIs in 2016 and 2019 also through JICA. Expertise was also contributed by the SilvaCarbon Program (including the US Forest Service and the University of Göttingen) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

This iteration marks a significant milestone in forest resource monitoring, initiating a new cycle of NFIs and paving the way for future efforts. The fourth NFI utilizes a revised methodology to ensure statistical robustness and combines the visual interpretation of satellite imagery for over 6,000 plots followed by field measurement of over 500 ground plots systematically distributed across the entire national territory. Field measurement includes tree species, diameter at breast height (DBH), assessments of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs), and degradation levels. Analysis of this data provides vital information on tree density, biomass, biodiversity, and regeneration potential; subsequent inventories will allow for the tracking of forest resources over time including forest cover change and tree growth.

The NFI is a core pillar of the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS), which supports the National Forest Strategy 2035. This strategy targets sustainable forest management, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the attainment of 70% forest cover to facilitate access to carbon credits.

The results of the fourth NFI are expected to be officially endorsed by the DOF in early 2026. The data will then be shared with the Lao Statistics Bureau for forest capital accounting purposes, and a public dashboard will be launched to provide transparent access to the findings.