The Lao government has launched the 2025-2035 National Tiger Recovery Action Plan, a significant initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and WWF-Laos, aimed at restoring and protecting tiger populations in the country. This plan marks a critical step in Laos' commitment to biodiversity conservation, particularly in the face of ongoing habitat destruction and poaching that have severely impacted its wildlife.

The first meeting to discuss the action plan took place on August 15-16 in Vientiane, bringing together provincial forestry officials, law enforcement agencies, and international conservation organizations. The gathering focused on strategies for managing and monitoring tiger populations, as well as exploring the feasibility of reintroducing tigers into their natural habitats. Oupakone Alounsavath, Deputy Director General of the Department of Forestry, emphasized that the plan aligns with Laos’ Wildlife Law and aims to strengthen conservation efforts across the country.

WWF-Laos highlighted that the action plan will serve as a comprehensive conservation strategy, addressing key issues such as habitat loss, illegal tiger trade, and the regulation of tiger farms. The plan is designed to improve management practices in national protected areas, with the ultimate goal of revitalizing Laos' dwindling tiger populations. Although global tiger numbers have seen a resurgence, the situation in Laos remains dire, with the last confirmed sighting of tigers in 2016. The 2025-2035 National Tiger Recovery Action Plan offers hope for the future, with efforts focused on rewilding and restoring tigers to the forests of Laos.