Sekong province ແຂວງ ເຊກອງ | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Map of Sekong province | |
 Location of Sekong province in Laos | |
| Coordinates:15°43′00″N106°39′00″E / 15.7166°N 106.65°E /15.7166; 106.65 | |
| Country | Laos |
| Capital | Sekong |
| Area | |
• Total | 7,665 km2 (2,959 sq mi) |
| Population (2020 census) | |
• Total | 129,398 |
| • Density | 16.88/km2 (43.72/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+7 (ICT) |
| ISO 3166 code | LA-XE |
| HDI(2022) |  0.591[1]medium ·11th |
Sekong (also sometimesXekong,Lao:ເຊກອງ,pronounced[séːkɔ̀ːŋ]) is a province ofLaos in the southeast of the country. It is the second smallest province in Laos, covering an area of 7,665 square kilometres (2,959 sq mi). It is bordered byVietnam to the east,Attapeu province to the south,Salavan province to the north, andChampasak province to the west. Sekong has the smallest population (129,398 as of 2020) and the lowest population density of any province. It was created in 1984 by splittingSalavan province. It is the most diverse province in Laos with 14 ethnic groups. TheSekong River, which divides the province, flows in a southerly direction into Cambodia and is navigable. TheDakchung Plateau andXe Xap National Biodiversity Conservation Area are among the areas under protection.
Sekong province was created in 1984, when it was split off from Salavan province andAttapeu province.[2][3] Sekong has 14 ethnic groups reported from a population of 85,000. Since most of these ethnic groups are not Buddhist fewerwats are seen in the province as their belief system is more of animism and ancestral worship.[4] During the communist regime, the province was created to give benefits to the local ethnic groups. This advantage seems to be on the decline with ethnic Lao groups dominating the political scene and in the local administration.[5]
Sekong province, 1 of the provinces in Laos,[6] is the second smallest province, covering an area of 7,665 square kilometres (2,959 sq mi).[7] It is bordered byVietnam to the east,Attapeu province to the south,Salavan province to the north, andChampasak province to the west. Sekong has the lowest population (about 83,000) and the lowest population density of any province. Sekong is split administratively into 4 districts: Thateng on theBolaven Plateau, Lamam in the lowland plain, and Dakchung and Kaleum in the mountainous areas bordering Vietnam. The Tad Xe Noi waterfall is located 25 kilometres (16 mi) south of Sekong city.[3]
The Sekong River, which divides the province, flows in a southern direction into Cambodia and is navigable for boats. Long-tail boats are navigated through the river along routes on the edge of the Bolaven Plateau. Freshwater dolphins can be seen in the river. Waterfalls are a feature in the river valley; some of the falls are the Tad Hia, Tad Faek, Tad Se Noi (or Tad Hua Khon), and Nam Tok Katamtok that is located on the Huay Katam River, in the forests of the Bolaven Plateau.[8] The Sekong river valley has plains interspersed with paddy fields and fruit orchards. Its tropical forest has species of flora and fauna.[8]
Sekong is “among the most remote areas of Laos”;[9] some of its villages are virtually inaccessible by road for at least half of the year.[10]
Government figures classify over 50% of the province's land area as forest, the majority of it mixed deciduous and semi-evergreen forest, and with pockets of dry dipterocarp forest along the Sekong River valley, and pine forest in the Dakchung highlands. Most of the natural forest in Sekong has never been commercially logged. Commercial timber extraction has been expanding. There is growing pressure on Sekong to log its forests – from Vietnamese interests (where the wood furniture sector averaged 70% growth per year during 2000–2004) and from Lao companies (who face wood shortages because of dwindling stocks in lowland forests).[11] The economic return from the forest resources of the province, as of 2003, was estimated to be in the range of US$398–$525 per household, more than agricultural income. The revenue to the state from sale of timber was estimated to be US$10.35 perhectare. The natural forests in the province are helpful incarbon sequestration benefits estimated to be US$124 per hectare and in watershed improvements, by way of avoiding erosion and reducing flood incidence.[12] Corruption in Sekong province has reportedly "undermined a successful donor-funded village participatory sustainable forest management initiative."[13]
TheDakchung Plateau is anImportant Bird Area (IBA). It is 5,140 ha in size, and at an elevation of 800–1,400 metres (2,600–4,600 ft). The habitat is characterized as pine woodland, grassland, degraded semi-evergreen forest, dry evergreen forest, marshy land, and tall grasses areas. Of the avifauna, theyellow-billed nuthatch (Sitta solangiae) is classified as near threatened, while theblack-crowned barwing (Actinodura sodangorum) is classified as vulnerable. Other fauna include theOriental small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea),tiger (Panthera tigris),big-headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum), and herds ofAsian elephant (Elephas maximus).[14]
The Xe Sap IBA is in theXe Xap National Biodiversity Conservation Area (NBCA); the IBA surpasses the NBCA's 1335 km2 boundaries (established in February 1996[15]). The IBA and NBCA are part of 2 provinces, Sekong andSalavan. The NBCA sits at an altitude of 400–2,066 metres (1,312–6,778 ft) and is 1335 km2 in size; the highest peak isDong Be with an elevation of 2,066 m, part of the SouthernAnnamite Mountains.[15][16] The habitat is characterized by forests (dry evergreen, pine, semi-evergreen, and upper montane), and grassland. 2 species ofgymnosperm were recorded. Its key avifauna includesBlyth's kingfisher (Alcedo hercules),Vietnamese crested argus (Rheinardia ocellata), and yellow-billed nuthatch. Other wildlife are 2 types ofprimates and 1turtle species.[16] Anunpaved road from Salavan to Ta-Oy and further east to Samuoy runs the northern border of Xe Sap NBCA. Paths provide approaches from the main road to villages located on the northern part of the NBCA. TheKong River (or Xe Kong, or Sekong) and its 2 tributaries Xe Sap and Xe Lon provide access to the reserve by boats. The reserve has water falls, rocky cliffs andrhododendrons at higher elevations. There are 43 mammals (including 18 key species), 178 birds (18 are key species), 48 reptiles and 33 amphibians; some species of wildlife are 2 species ofbears,serow, large antleredmuntjac, a number ofgaurs and tigers. A particular plant species arePinus dalatensis andKinabaluchloa species, a genus ofbamboo.[15]
The Phou Ahyon IBA is 148,900 hectares in size. The IBA's elevation varies between 400–2,193 metres (1,312–7,195 ft) above sea level. The topography contains the Phou Ahyon massif (2,193 metres (7,195 ft)), which is the highest and largest massif in the country's southern area. The habitat is characterized by dry evergreen forest, Fokienia forest, and upper montane forest. Avifauna includes black-crowned barwing,black-hooded laughingthrush (Garrulax milleti),chestnut-eared laughingthrush (G. konkakinhensis), Vietnamese crested argus,golden-winged laughingthrush (G. ngoclinhensis), and yellow-billed nuthatch.[17]
The second smallest province in Laos is made up of the following districts:[7]
| Map | Code | Name | Lao script |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15-01 | La Mam District | ລະມາມ | |
| 15-02 | Kaleum District | ກະເລິມ | |
| 15-03 | Dak Cheung District | ດັກເຈິງ | |
| 15-04 | Tha Teng District | ທ່າແຕງ |
About 3% of the population are ethnicLao. The majority (97%) come from 1 of at least 14 ethnic minority groups. TheAlak (21% of the provincial population),Katu (20%),Tarieng (19%) and Nge/Krieng (11%) are the most populous ethnic groups. The Lao government classifies these groups as “Lao Theung” (midland Lao), and an ethno-linguistic categorization, based onlanguage families, places them under theAustroasiatic family. Within this family, the ethnic groups of Sekong fall into 2 linguistic branches: theKatuic (including the Katu and the Nge/Krieng) and the Bahnaric (Alak and Tarieng). Approximately 14,700 Katu live in the province.[18]
Sekong province is “one of the most important coffee-producing areas of Laos” along withSalavan province andChampasak province.[19] Sekong province is Laos' main honey-producing area. Purpose-made tree cavities are a particular tree beekeeping methods practiced in 3 districts: Dakchung, Kalum, and Lama.[20]
In June 2020, the Lao government approved a Singapore energy firm's plan to develop a US$1.7 billion fossil fuel-fired thermal power plant in Sekong province. The plant will produce 1,000megawatts (MW) of power. The plant will reportedly run on "domestically-extracted fuel sources, adding value to local natural resources." Laos has an estimated 600-700 million tons of coal reserves nation-wide, primarilylignite.[21]
In February 2021, the Lao government announced that 2lignite-fired power plants will constructed in Sekong province. Work is to begin in 2021 and be completed by 2025. The electricity generated will be sold to Cambodia for 7.2 US cents per kWh. The first plant will be built by Phonesack Group inKaleum District. It will have an installed capacity of 1,800MW. The company will invest between US$3–4 billion, including the construction of transmission lines to export electricity to Cambodia. The second coal-fired, 700 MW plant will be built inLa Mam District by a Chinese company that will invest over US$1 billion in the project. The government claims that coal reserves adjacent to the plants are sufficient to power the plants for the entire 25-year concession period.[22]
Cultural features in the province relate to the indigenous ethnic cultures with spiritual links to the land, including 5 "Lao Theung" languages with 1 becoming extinct. There are funerary and sacred forests,Indochina War relics, and a stretch of theHo Chi Minh Trail.[15] To ward off falling bombs during the Indochina War, someanimist tribal people placed atalisman above their huts.[3]
Weaving activity in Sekong City has textile designs featuring multicolored lines and is aided by a back-tensioned loom called the "hip loom".Katu women apply a warping technique to their weaving. In addition to the Katu, theTalieng (Tarieng) of Sekong City use back-tensioned looms, as do theHarlak in Kasangkang village, which is located outside Sekong City. The men of the Talieng ethnic group wrap aTha Khatil cloth around their waist as a traditional costume. Among the Mon-Khmer, stripped lines are incorporated into clothing by use of the back strap loom.[23] In addition to geometric stripes, decorative patterns include animals or plants, considered to be traditional motifs, or planes and bombs, which have a historical context.[3] Traditional skirts (sin) are a specialty of the Alak group. Of note arePha Biang (scarves) andPha Kaan (head cloth scarves), including turbans, bonnets, hats and diadems.[18]
Woodcarvings and traditionallonghouses are features in some villages, with visitor attractions at Kandone Village.[8]
Places adjacent to Sekong province | |
|---|---|
