Ramboll project in BBC documentary, Ramboll

Release Date: 2010-07-02

Through its support to biodiversity and rural development in Laos within two projects under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Ramboll has taken part in the development of the BBC Documentary ‘Earth Report: Gambling on Laos’. The documentary has been produced as part of the celebration of the United Nation’s Year of Biodiversity 2010. It explores urgent issues on development, biodiversity and socio-economic changes in one of the World’s most diverse and beautiful countries, South-East Asia’s last remaining wilderness.

Communist Laos has come late to the Asian economic boom but it's now open for business. Investment is pouring in and resources like timber and rubber are pouring out – transforming the country and turning virgin forest into fields and plantations. But Laos is one of the last biodiversity hotspots in South East Asia and commercial development is chipping away at the country's natural capital.

A successful Hong Kong businessman, Sam Say, originally from Laos, is searching for investment opportunities that won't destroy his country's heritage. He's teaming up with botanist Dr Sounthone Ketphanh, Director of Lao's Forest Research Center. Together, they're on a mission to find out if the price of economic development is the loss of unique and valuable species and ecosystems. In the UN's Year of Biodiversity TVE’s Earth Report programme, Gambling on Laos travels with them to see if there could be another way.

Type:	NORMAL
Company:	Ramboll
Country:	Denmark