Abstract

This paper analyzes the ownership of forest carbon rights by focusing on legal and empirical points of view in Lao PDR. The results of the study highlight that the Constitution of Lao PDR strongly emphasizes that natural resources such as land, water, and forests are the property of the national community. However, Article 4 of the 2019 Forestry Law newly recognizes the rights of an individual legal entity and/or organization to a tree or planted forest, as well as rights associated with the tree (e.g., forest carbon). Rights to forest carbon is both very new and controversial within the public and private sectors in Lao PDR. Local communities claim that forest carbon rights belong to them because they are the owners of the trees. At the same time, the public sector refers to particular laws in order to claim forest carbon rights for itself.

Keywords

Ownership, Forest Carbon, Rights, Legal, Empirical, Laos

Citation (APA Format)

Chanthavong, S., Sythonekeochampa, B., Vongkhampha, S., Donkeodavong, L., Kanthavong, S., & Kanlaya, S. (2022). Ownership of forest carbon rights: Legal and empirical studies in Lao PDR. International Journal of Politics, Law, and Management, 1(5).