The main objective of this Research Report is to overview the environmental, economic and social condition of the Nam Ngum River Basin (NNRB) in Lao PDR. In addition, this Research Report identifies the impacts on the environment of current land uses. It suggests possible management actions to achieve environmental improvements. These include reducing slash and burn agriculture, reducing poaching/ hunting of forest animals, reducing legal and illegal logging by small-scale farmers, and planting trees on deforested land.