Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Peace Independence Democracy Unity Prosperity

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National Assembly No. 84/NA

Vientiane Capital, 01 July 2020

Law
on Amendment of Certain Articles of the Law on Water
and Water Resources and the Law on Environmental Protection

Article 1 Revision of Contents of Certain Articles of the Laws

This Law is enacted to revise the contents of certain Articles of the Law on Water and
Water Resources and the Law on Environmental Protection in order to ensure the
implementation of water and water resources and environmental protection activities in
consistence with the actual situation as follows:

I. Law on Water and Water Resources

Article 34. Water Area Land1
Water area land refers to submerged land or land located around the water
sources within other land categories such as swamps, ponds, lakes, water spring
land, land at water edges, land in the middle of waters, newly-formed land, land
formed when water recedes, land converted by the change or diversion of
waterways, natural or human-made water storage or waterways, either permanent
or temporary.
In preparing the national and local socio-economic development plans
including the land use plan, it is required to give emphasis to the water area land
to ensure maintenance of the ecosystem, natural treatment of the waste water and
control of the flood and drought.
The sector in-charge of managing the use of its respective land category
where there is water area land shall be responsible for conducting the water land
area survey and planning, and for formulating the plan of protection, development
and restoration of such land by coordinating with the natural resources and

1
Water Area Land = Wetland
 environment sector, other relevant sectors and local administrations and with the
participation of the people in such area.

Article 35. Use, Protection and Development of Water Area Land

Individuals, legal entities or organizations may develop and use the
natural water area land in conformance with the Land Allocation Master Plan,
the Sector Land Use Plan and the Water and Water Resources Management,
Administration and Use Strategy, but shall require to apply for permission from
the sector in charge of managing the respective land category where there is the
water area land as provided in the Land Law and to ensure that there are no harm
to the water quantity and quality, no land filling, no excavation of soil, no change
to the waterways and water flows without obtaining authorization as well as to
avoid causing erosion, flood and drought and ensure the sustainability of the
ecosystem.
Individuals, legal entities or organizations may develop and use the water
area land which is created on the land under their land use right according to State
authorization and under customary land use right, such as fish ponds or aquatic
animals ponds, without applying for permission from the sector in charge of
managing the respective land category where there is the water area land.
Protection and development of water area land must be undertaken in line
with the Land Allocation Master Plan and the National and Local Socio-
Economic Development Plans and must not affect the ecosystem and the social
and natural environment.