Luang Prabang, Aug. 7 -- The 23rd international seminar of ASEAN senior officials on forestry (ASOF) took place in Luang Prabang, Laos, on August 6, addressing contemporary urgent challenges, particularly the scaling up of nature-based solutions (NbS) and ecosystem-based approaches (EbA) through sustainable financing mechanisms. Speaking at the event, Dr. Somvang Phimmavong, Director of the Department of Forestry under the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, highlighted the vital role of forests in Laos and across ASEAN. Forests are not only critical ecosystems but also fundamental to economic and social wellbeing, he said, saying they contribute to carbon sequestration, climate change mitigation, and water regulation to ensure the ...