Nam Tien Protected Area is among 200 provincial and district-level protected areas, constituting 27% of the national territory under protection. These zones and forest frontiers hold significant potential for conservation in Laos, serving as a crucial instrument for ensuring connectivity between National Protected Areas (NPAs) and safeguarding more localized ecological assets, such as sub-catchments, small forest patches, and community forests. The area also provides a secure habitat for 10% of the country's captive elephant population through the Elephant Conservation Center (ECC).

However, Nam Tien faces substantial challenges and pressure. Provincial and district authorities tasked with protecting these zones lack the capacity, resources, and enforcement power, resulting in the absence of a sustainable management system. These areas are often perceived as free and open spaces where uncontrolled and unsustainable agricultural practices take place. New encroachments are also occurring for larger-scale agriculture, such as cassava, bananas and watermelon. This small landscape serves as a microscopic representation of a global issue prevalent across the tropics: the synergy and coexistence between land, people, and wildlife.

At the Nam Tien Solutionscape, the Wyss Academy for Nature Hub Southeast Asia is working with local government agencies, communities, local and international research institutions to find innovative solutions that offer a balance between nature conservation and community wellbeing.