The People’s Democratic Republic of Laos is a small country in Southeast Asia, landlocked and surrounded by Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and China. During the time of the war in Vietnam, Laos was also engaged in a civil upheaval; the political influence of China pushed and vanquished the ruling Monarchy. In the transition, Russia and China had a strong influence on political and operational decisions.
Eventually, Laos opened to influences from the West, and the country attracted international aid from countries including Japan, Australia, Germany and the USA. Projects focused on economic development, forest and wildlife protection and the rule of law.
Around 2010, the World Bank commenced a multi-tiered project to harness hydroelectric energy, improve the health and welfare of Laos as a country under development, and establish protections for the country’s old-growth forests and the numerous species of wildlife that were undefended targets for Asian poachers.
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