Location, topography, and resources

19. Location, topography, and resources: Oudomxay Province (15,370 km2) borders China to the north, Phongsali Province to the northeast, Luang Phabang Province to the east and southeast, Xayabouli Province to the south and southwest, Bokeo Province to the west, and Luang Namtha Province to the northwest. The province is mountainous, between 300–1,800 m above mean sea level. Approximately 60 rivers flow through Oudomxay Province, as for example Nam Phak, Nam Sae, Nam Beng, Nam Kor and Nam Nga. The Nam Kor flows through the province capital Muang Xay. Oudomxay Province has a moderate monsoon climate. The yearly amount of rain is about 1,900–2,600 millimeters. Temperatures in February and March average between 18 and 19 °C, from April to May temperatures climb over 31°C. Due to high altitudes there are more variations in temperature during the year and a colder dry season in northern Laos as in the rest of the country.

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  Protected areas: The Upper Lao Mekong Important Bird Area (IBA) is 10,980 hectare in size. It spans the provinces of Oudomxay, Bokeo, and Xayabouly. The altitude is 300–400 meters above sea level. Noted topography includes river channel, exposed beds, sandbars, sand and gravel bars, islands, rock outcrops, bushland, and braided streams. Black-bellied Tern Sterna acuticauda, Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, Grey-headed Lapwing V. cinereus, Jerdon's Bushchat Saxicola jerdoni, Plain Martin Riparia paludicola, River Lapwing Vanellus duvaucelii, Small Pratincole Glareola lactea, and Swan Goose Anser cygnoides are some of the recorded avifauna.
  
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  Vegetation in Oudomxay is rich by virtue of the monsoon climate. Several kinds of bamboo and a broad range of plants (for example orchids) are found in the region. Also hardwoods like teak and mahogany trees grow in Oudomxay and are important sources of income for the population.
  
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  Minerals: Oudomxay has deposits of salt, bronze, zinc, antimony, brown coal, kaolin and iron deposits. Attempts to control poppy cultivation in the province have been made through the Narcotics Crop Control Project, formulated in the 1990s.
  

20. Administration, population, and culture: There are 7 districts: Muang Xay, Muang La, Namo, Nga, Pak Beng, Houne, and Beng. The population of the province according to the March 2005 census is 265,128.

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  Ethnic Communities (EC): There are about 14 different ethnic communities comprising Khmu (among them Khmu Lu, Khmu Khong, Khmu Am, Khmu Bit) 60–80%, Lao Loum 25%, Hmong (among them Hmong Khao, Hmong Dam und Hmong lai) 15%. Minor ethnic groups living in the province include Akha, Phouthai (Thai Dam & Thai Khao), Phou Noy (Phou Xang, Phou Kongsat, Phou Nhot), Lao Houy (also „Lenten“), Phouan, Ly, Yang, Ikho and Ho.
  

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  Socioeconomic: The extremely limited accessibility of the mountain villages additionally impedes economic development of rural regions. Approximately 40,000 hectares of land are cultivated in Oudomxay, with rice being the main crop. Besides rice, important crops are corn, soybeans, fruits, vegetables, cassava, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton wool, tea and peanuts.
  
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  Subsistence agriculture: In Oudomxay province, most of the population still practices subsistence agriculture. Predominantly "slash-and-burn"-agriculture is used, often linked with growing mountain rice – 45% of rural villages in Oudomxay depend on swidden agriculture, due to the province's mountainous topography. This form of agriculture is very labor-intensive and takes up huge areas of land, as soils need a long time until their original productivity is recovered. Cropping rice using the wet-field paddy system is just possible in plain lowlands, which in Oudomxay are scarce. Both mountain rice grown at the mountain sides, as well as most of the few cultivable areas in the lowlands are merely irrigated by natural rainfalls. Very few rice fields in the lowlands have artificial irrigation systems. Corn, onions, watermelons and tobacco are exported. Besides the use of land for agricultural purposes, approximately 40,000 hectares of land are aforested or used as meadows. Livestock breeding, above all of water buffalos, pigs, cattle and chickens, is an important component for the livelihood of rural population. According to estimations of the IUCN, approximately 12% of Oudomxay forests are primary forests, 48% secondary forests. For the population, the forests are not only source of wood, but also contribute to family incomes providing fruits, herbs and meat. It is also common that Lao cultivable land is rented to Chinese, which then is tilled by Chinese migratory laborers.
  
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  Tourism: Since some years, efforts are taken to support tourism in Oudomxay, which is considered a chance to minimize poverty of the population. A tourism office has operated in Muang Xay since 1997 and a “Provincial Tourism Department” has been developed at present. Due to Oudomxay’s location as the most important traffic junction in northern Laos (the only road from Luang Phabang up north crosses Oudomxay) tourism development has been increased gradually. Poor infrastructural conditions impede an optimal exhaustion of touristic potential in Oudomxay province. Trekking tours to villages of ethnic minorities are not impacted by infrastructural limitations. There are many landmarks in the province and some of the prominent ones include: Muang La, Saymoungkhoune Rattana Stupa, Chom Ong Cave (the longest cave in Laos). The province is also famous for a cultural practice called Baci festival.
  

Location	Phongsaly town	Ethnic diversity in Phongsaly

22. Location, topography, resources: Phongsaly (16,270 km2) is located in the northern end of Lao PDR. It is a mountainous province (about 700–1,800 m above sea level). The province borders China to the north and west, Vietnam to the east, Luang Phabang Province to the south, and Oudomxay Province to the southwest.

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  Land/forest: About 77% of the land area is covered with forest. The highest mountain in the province is Phou Doychy with an elevation of 1,842 meters.
  
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  Protected areas in the province include the Phou Dene Din National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA) (222,000 ha) and Nam Lan Conservation Area. The Phou Dene Din NBCA is rich of wildlife and no human settlement. The 126,880 hectare Phou Den Din Important Bird Area (IBA) is located within the Phou Dene Din NBCA. The IBA altitude varies between 500–1,900 m above sea level. Topographical elements include the Nam Ou River and its catchment, the area at the confluence of the Nam Khang River, mountainous terrain, and slopes. The habitat is characterized by unbroken dry evergreen forest and inland wetlands. Notable avifauna includes Blyth's kingfisher, brown dipper, brown hornbill, crested kingfisher, great hornbill, lesser fish eagle, and rufous-necked hornbill. Nonetheless 7 hydropower dams have been planned for Nam Ou and 4 of them are being built.
  

23. Administration, population, culture, and socioeconomic: there are 7 districts (Phongsaly, May, Khoua, Samphanh, Boun Neua, Yot Ou, and Boun Tay). The total population is 291,473 with 142,737 women (data provided by PONRE 2014). The northernmost district of the province is Yot Ou, which has a population of 25,000 spread over 98 villages made up of 11 ethnic groups. The majority of the people are agriculturists. The Lao-Chinese Border Checkpoint is at Lan Tui, which is designated by landmark No. 7.

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  Ethnic Communities (EC): There are 13 minority ethnic communities with independent language and culture identity: Khamu, Tai Dam, Tai Daeng, Yao, Leu, Hor, Hmong, Akha, Yang, Bid, Lolo and others. Each group has its own practices in respect to marriage customs as well as specific handicrafts, silverware and jewelry.
  
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  Socioeconomic: Agriculture is the main source of income of the people of the province. Phôngsaly is the primary trade gateway between Laos and China, exporting lumber and importing several types of finished goods. There are also several Chinese manufacturing companies in the province, along with other foreign investment. There are several small investment activities in energy sector (mini hydro-power projects with pico-turbines in 24 villages). In spite of government ban on opium poppy cultivation, Phongsaly has the maximum number of districts below the poverty line, and is one of the major opium producing provinces in the country. There is a program United Nations Organization on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to reduce opium growing (covering 30 villages in Khoua and Mai districts, and also reduce opium addiction in 60 villages in Samphan district, through alternative development activities).
  
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  Important landmarks in the province are the Wat Ou-Tai Temple, the Wat Luang Ou-Neua Temple and the That Phou Xay Stupa.
  

Annex 2 Safeguard Screening and Assessment (09 April 2016)