Posted on June, 23 2026

• In 2025, more than 6.5 million cubic metres of sand and gravel were extracted in Lao PDR by around 356 licensed operators, reflecting growing infrastructure and urban-development demand.
• Globally, around 50 billion tonnes of sand and gravel are used each year, making them the world’s most widely extracted natural materials.
• Sand and gravel are essential for development, but also vital for healthy river systems, biodiversity, water quality and river-dependent livelihoods; new national research identifies opportunities to strengthen coordination, sediment management, environmental and social safeguards, monitoring and compliance.
• National Dialogue event supports evidence-based policy action that balances development needs with the long-term health and resilience of the Mekong River and its tributaries in Laos.

Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR, 23 June 2026 – Rapid infrastructure and urban development is fuelling increased demand for sand and gravel across Lao PDR, placing growing pressure on the Mekong River, its tributaries and the communities that depend on them. Stronger and more coordinated governance is urgently needed to ensure that extraction can support national development goals without compromising river health.

New national research presented at a high-level policy dialogue on 23 June 2026 identifies practical opportunities to strengthen cross-sectoral coordination, sediment management, environmental and social safeguards, monitoring and compliance. The findings aim to support evidence-based decisions that balance infrastructure and economic development with river system integrity, biodiversity, climate resilience and livelihoods.

The National Policy Dialogue on Sustainable Sand Mining Governance and River System Integrity in Lao PDR was organized by the Lao Academy of Social and Economic Sciences (LASES) in partnership with WWF-Laos. It brought together nearly 100 representatives from government agencies, provincial authorities, academia, research institutions, development partners, civil society, communities and the private sector.

The Dialogue was chaired and opened by Dr. Kongkeo Saysongkham, Vice President of the National Assembly of Lao PDR. It also featured keynote remarks from the British Ambassador to the Lao PDR, the Vice President of LASES, representatives of the Ministries of Public Works and Transport, Industry and Commerce, and Agriculture and Environment, as well as WWF-Laos.


In his opening remarks, Dr. Kongkeo Saysongkham, Vice President of the National Assembly of Lao PDR, emphasized that sand and gravel extraction plays an important role in supporting economic growth, poverty reduction and improved livelihoods. He noted that Lao PDR has established a range of legal and policy frameworks to guide the sustainable management of these resources, while recognizing the need for continued efforts to strengthen coordination, planning, environmental and social safeguards, monitoring and enforcement. He further highlighted that effective governance is essential to minimize potential impacts on riverbanks, water quality, aquatic habitats, biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities that depend on river resources.

The Dialogue forms part of the project “Safeguarding the Mekong: Advancing Sand Governance and Biodiversity Protection for Climate Resilience in Laos.” The project is implemented by LASES and WWF-Laos through the Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) initiative, with financial support from the Government of the United Kingdom through the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).


H.E. Mel Barlow, British Ambassador to the Lao PDR, said in her keynote remarks:

“There is no sand without rivers – and no life without healthy rivers. Sand is not just a resource; it is part of a natural balance that sustains ecosystems, livelihoods and resilience. Managing it wisely means protecting both development and the future of our rivers.”

Sand and gravel are essential materials for roads, housing, public infrastructure and land elevation in flood-prone areas. Yet sand is far more than a construction material. In river systems, it is part of a dynamic balance between water flows and sediment. It helps shape river channels, supports aquatic habitats and biodiversity, contributes to water quality, and can help buffer climate-related risks.

When sand extraction exceeds the amount naturally replenished by river processes, this balance can be disrupted, creating a sediment deficit that may affect ecosystems, infrastructure and communities. Research and consultations undertaken through the project highlight potential risks where extraction is not adequately planned, monitored or managed, including riverbed lowering, riverbank erosion, changes in sediment flows and river morphology, declining water quality, habitat degradation, impacts on fisheries and biodiversity, and pressure on agriculture and other river-dependent livelihoods.

The national assessment, led by LASES, reviewed more than 40 relevant publications and legal documents; consulted over 70 representatives from government agencies and stakeholders at national, provincial and district levels; engaged sand mining operators; and carried out participatory assessments in communities in Vientiane Capital and the provinces of Vientiane, Borikhamxay, Khammouane and Savannakhet.


Dr. Keovivone Outhachak, Vice President of LASES, emphasized in her keynote remarks that sand and gravel are essential for meeting the country’s growing infrastructure needs, from roads and bridges to housing, schools and hospitals. She noted that sustainable sand management is not about halting extraction, but about ensuring that extraction levels are guided by scientific evidence and remain within the capacity of river systems to recover. She also underscored the shared responsibility of government, businesses, communities, researchers and development partners in balancing economic development with environmental protection, while safeguarding rivers as sources of food, livelihoods and natural wealth for future generations.

The research recognizes the Government of Lao PDR’s ongoing commitment to sustainable development, alongside the legal, institutional and coordination frameworks already in place for managing sand and gravel extraction. It also identifies opportunities to further strengthen cross-sectoral coordination, sediment management and basin-level planning, environmental and social safeguards, technical capacity at subnational levels, and monitoring and compliance systems.


Participants discussed priority actions emerging from the national research, including:
 

• Strengthening cross-sectoral coordination among relevant ministries, provincial authorities and other stakeholders;
• Integrating sediment management, demand assessment and river basin planning into decision-making, including consideration of scientifically informed extraction limits;
• Strengthening Strategic Environmental Assessment, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, mitigation planning and regular compliance monitoring;
• Improving project approval, licensing and regulatory frameworks to clarify roles, reduce overlaps and support consistent implementation;
• Building technical and financial capacity at national and subnational levels for environmental assessment, inspection, monitoring and enforcement; and
• Improving monitoring, transparency and coordinated action to prevent illegal extraction, while promoting resource efficiency and environmentally responsible alternatives where feasible.

The Dialogue builds on earlier engagements under the project, including an initial national roundtable in February 2026, research outreach during World Environment Day activities at the National University of Laos in June, and the Mekong Regional Forum on Sand Mining Governance and Freshwater Ecosystem Health held in Vientiane on 18 June 2026.


Heron Holloway, Country Director of WWF-Laos, said:

“Sustainable sand and gravel extraction is achievable – and it doesn't mean choosing between development and healthy rivers. It means managing extraction actively and wisely. Get that right, and the benefits flow to communities, to economies, and to the ecosystems that underpin both – cleaner water, healthier fisheries, more stable riverbanks, stronger infrastructure, and more equitable sharing of resources for generations to come.”

The outcomes of the Dialogue will help finalize a national policy brief, refine recommendations for regulatory and institutional strengthening, and inform a proposed 12-month roadmap for coordinated action. Through continued cooperation, Lao PDR can meet its infrastructure and development needs while safeguarding the Mekong River and its tributaries as living systems that support resilient communities, biodiversity and long-term prosperity.



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For media inquiries, contact:
Bounpone Sookmexay
Communications and Advocacy Manager, WWF-Laos
Email: bounpone.sookmexay@wwf.org.la

Find out more about our work in Laos: www.wwf.org.la