Community-based forest management

active

In recent decades, there has been a significant decline and deterioration of natural forest resources in Laos. Forest conversion for agriculture and infrastructure, firewood collection and forest fires are considered to be the main causes of forest loss and the increasing degradation of the remaining forest areas. The loss and degradation of forests also threatens the livelihoods of the rural population, most of whom rely on subsistence farming. The aim of the FC module is therefore to improve the condition of selected forest ecosystems and the livelihoods of the local population in the project area through the sustainable management of village forests. The FC measure is intended to achieve three main outputs: (1) The capacities of the Lao government and the legal environment with regard to community forestry are improved; (2) Financially sustainable and climate-resilient forestry models are applied in different framework conditions and, if possible, based on secure land rights in target villages; and (3) the socio-economic status of the target villages is improved. The target group of the project is the rural population living in the selected villages with suitable forest areas. In these villages, around 29,000 people are expected to benefit from the FC module. The FC module is sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), with its representatives at provincial and district level. It is financed through a FC grant of EUR 7 million. The partner is also expected to make a contribution of around 10%. The government's commitment was made as part of the Lao-German government negotiations in November 2016.