Law No. 84/NA on the Amendments of Certain Articles of the Law on Water and Water Resources and the Law on Environmental Protection (promulgated by Presidential Decree No. 139/PR).

This Law amends specific articles of two statutes in the Lao PDR. The primary objective of the text is to update and align existing statutory definitions and procedural frameworks with current environmental realities, ensuring sustainable economic planning. The Law emphasizes the balanced integration of socio-economic land allocation, ecosystem protection, and climate change risk mapping.
Specifically, the Law prescribes detailed regulations regarding "wetlands or water areas," defining them to encompass permanent or temporary natural and man-made structures like marshes, swamps, and riverbanks. It mandates that individuals or legal entities must obtain state permits before modifying these zones to avoid blockages or erosion. Furthermore, the statute outlines mandatory frameworks for comprehensive environmental management planning and strategic environmental assessments, requiring key economic sectors—such as energy, mining, agriculture, and forestry—to systematically evaluate potential impacts and climate change variables.