In the 1950s, forests covered 70 percent of the land area in Laos; yet, by 1992, according to government estimates, forest coverage had decreased by nearly one-third, to just 47 percent of total land area.
Forest coverage had decreased by nearly one-third. This was to just 47 percent of total land area. This was in the 1950s. The 1950s were forests. These forests were covered 70 percent of the land area in Laos; yet according to government estimates. This was by 1992.