Communication to Combat Forest Crime in the Lower Mekong and in China: A Handbook Based on the Findings of the Knowledge, Attitude, Practices Survey on Illegal Logging and Illegal Forest Trade in the Lower Mekong and in China

The Lower Mekong region – consisting of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – is an area of vast forests and is a biodiversity hotspot of global significance. The region hosts a diverse array of forest habitats, and is home to critically endangered species such as the Saola (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) and the Mekong giant catfish (Pangasianodon gigas). The Lower Mekong region’s forests are important carbon sinks and are crucial in the fight against climate change. The five Lower Mekong region countries are presently facing serious levels of forest degradation and deforestation. Stopping forest crime in the Lower Mekong is an urgent issue which will determine the future of the region’s biodiversity and socio-economic well-being. Ending forest crime is also an important piece in the global fight against climate change, through reducing forest loss, which can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The KAP Score model was included in this study to measure knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) related to forest crime. The model served as a ‘plug-in’ module in the study to generate more robust and easy-to-understand results.