Ministry seeks funding for environmental programmes

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment needs US$430 million to fund programmes over the next five years that aim to manage natural resources and the environment in regards to socio-economic development.

Representatives from various government agencies and international organisations yesterday gathered in Vientiane to discuss a five-year plan for the development of the natural resource and environment sector.

Planned programmes over the next five years cover land, forest, environmental and integrated resource management. About 30 percent of Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding, totalling almost US$210 million, has been approved to date for the natural resource and environment sector, according to the ministry.

The National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy and the 7th National Economic and Social Development Plan for 2011-15 strongly emphasise the risk of natural resource eradication; however, the government has a strong commitment to environmental and social safeguards.

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