ABSTRACT
The Nam Kading National Protected Area (NKNPA), located in central Laos, is one of the most globally significant natural ecosystems of Lao PDR. Cutting through the protected area of 169,000 hectares, the Nam Kading river is a major tributary to the Mekong, whose name in Lao translates to “water like a bell”. Compared to other protected areas in the region, the NKNPA is sparsely populated; however, three of the four districts spanned by NKNPA are registered in the National Poverty Eradication Strategy of Lao PDR as being part of the poorest seventy-two in need of targeted action. People living in this protected area rely heavily on forest products for their livelihoods, specially hunting and NTFP collection for both consumption and income generation.
