The WWF is run at a local level by the following offices...
The Xebanghieng riverscape, spanning 360 kilometers, flows through 38 communities and nine districts in Savannakhet province before joining the Mekong River at the Lao-Thai border. Originating in the Annamite Mountains in Viet Nam, the river’s catchment area covers 19,543 km², of which 3.5% in Viet Nam.
Passing through five National Protected Areas, the river is crucial for local communities, offering natural beauty, cultural heritage, and significant ecological value. It supports diverse wildlife, including wetland birds like Blyth’s kingfisher and rare fish species such as the Mekong giant catfish.
The river is also home to critically endangered reptiles like the Asian giant softshell turtle and Siamese crocodile. Conservation efforts are vital to preserving the river’s ecosystems and the livelihoods that depend on them.
Working Together in Xebanghieng: Key Activities
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Implement fisheries co-management and establish committees
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Capacity building on the implementation of fisheries law and regulation
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Monitoring and creation of fish conservation zones
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Promotion of climate-smart and sustainable livelihoods
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Research and species monitoring
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Raising awareness on the importance of nature conservation
Our Vision for Xebanghieng
With strengthened financial capacity and partnerships from local and international conservation actors, the Xebanghieng Riverscape has strong potential to become a model of integrated freshwater conservation in Laos.
Future efforts will build on past achievements by advancing species research, promoting climate adaptation and resilience, implementing conservation for key species, enhancing forest and river connectivity, and expanding landscape-scale management. These actions will contribute to the long-term ecological health of the riverscape and the sustainable livelihoods of the communities that depend on it.
