'Taxonomic training in a neglected biodiversity hotspot within
Lao PDR'; Darwin Initiative Project 163/13/007 Lao People's
Democratic Republic is a mountainous, landlocked country about
the size of Britain. Over 40% of the primary forest remains but
it is under increasing pressure because three quarters of the
population of 6.5 million depend directly on natural resources.
The floristic diversity of Lao PDR is poorly known. Only a
fraction of the total number of species has been recorded. There
is a shortage of trained taxonomists in Lao PDR. Between 2004
and 2007 the RBGE, the Forest Research Center of the National
Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute, the Faculty of
Science at the National University of Lao PDR and IUCN Lao PDR
trained 28 Lao staff in botanical field work and identification.
Specimens were collected in Nakai Nam Theun National Protected
Area and studied in the herbarium at the National University of
Laos. Over 1500 specimens were collected. Three new species have
been described and a