CIVIBADemocracy and Civic Practices

Project

Association Ecotouristique de Konglor-Natane (AEKN)

Kong Lor (Khammouane) · Central · Laos

Commons and belonging2014 / 2016

An association of some 400 residents of Kong Lor and Natan, the villages at either mouth of a 7.5 km river cave, which runs the site through eight village groups: boats, prices, visitors, waste and crafts with a common fund. It is village governance over a natural commons turned into a mass attraction. Since 2025 the cave has been part of the Hinboun national geopark. Tensions: some 3 million euros of French support since 2009, autonomy still pending and inequalities the association itself acknowledges.

Led by
The eight village tourism groups of Kong Lor and Natan, with the French NGO Tétraktys in the decentralised cooperation of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Ardèche with Khammouane; funded by AFD and the EDF Foundation
Status
Active
Participation
Co-governed
Visitable
No, it is an association; the cave can be visited with village boatmen
Website
www.konglor-natane-cave.com ↗
Contact
No public contact on record
Last reviewed
1 October 2026

Verification

Verified

This place is backed by at least one primary and one secondary source, reviewed within the last twelve months. The sources appear below with their consultation dates.

  • Verified two sources including a primary one, or first-hand knowledge of the place
  • Partial one source on record
  • Unverified starting knowledge, sources pending

Sources

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