Sustainable Forest Management Project (Extension Phase)
Type: Approaches
Creation: 2018-10-30 03:58 Updated: 2021-03-08 12:13
Compilers: Pasalath Khounsy
Reviewers: Nicole Harari, William Critchley
Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied
- Country: Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Region/ State/ Province: Attapue province
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Approach
Short description of the Approach
Sustainable production forest management that supports the development of farmers’ livelihoods is the main aim of the Sustainable Forest Management Project, which has now entered phase 3.
Detailed description of the Approach
Sustainable production forest management that supports the development of farmers’ livelihoods is the main aim of the Sustainable Forest Management Project, which has now entered phase 3. The first phase was implemented in 2003–2008 and a second phase was carried out in 2009-2014. A further extension of the project’s activities resulted in the Scaling-up of Participatory Sustainable Forest Management Project (SUFORD SU) and this third phase has been implemented since 2014. The Government of Lao’s (GoL), Department of Forestry (DOF), is responsible for management. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry comprises a line organization from the central to the local level, and coordination takes place through Project Steering Committees at each level. The Provincial Steering Committees are made up of the Deputy Provincial Governors, District Governors, and members of other relevant departments. At the district level there are District Steering Committees in which a Deputy District Governor serves as the chair, and the members at the local level derive from different district offices, including the District Administration Office, the District Agriculture and Forestry Office, the District Office of Natural Resources and Environment, the District Office of Industry and Commence, as well as mass organizations such as the Lao Front for National Construction, and the Lao Women’s Union. The Project’s design is consistent with the GoL’s central development plans and its activities have been implemented at provincial and district levels. The DOF develops project plans in cooperation with national and international advisors. These plans are then presented to the Provincial and District Steering Committees for approval. The key objective of the project is to manage production forests so that this matches the livelihood aims of the local communities. The production forest management activities have included forest surveys and allocation, mapping of harvest areas, and tree marking. The local livelihood development initiatives have involved the promotion of an agroforestry model and an integrated farming system. Furthermore, the project promotes a village development fund with an initial USD 8,000 contribution to each project village as well as the enhancement of local employment opportunities so as to reduce the exploitation of forest resources. The project has also received financial and technical support, and has cooperated with the Government of Finland, the World Bank, and the Forest Investment Programme. The outcomes of the project’s implementation indicate that local people residing in the project’s areas have expressed their satisfaction that they are engaged in sustainable forest management to protect forest resources and the environment.
Photos of the Approach
