Somchay Sanonty
Current status of forest/forestry in Lao PDR
The forest resources of Lao PDR are still rich in comparison with other Asian countries and they play very important roles in the economy, society and environment of Lao PDR and the Mekong River Basin.
Wood products account for more than 30 percent of the total export revenue. Demand for timber including plantation timber is expected to grow rapidly both in Lao PDR and neighbouring countries.
About 80 percent of the domestic energy consumption is wood based, mostly in the form of fuelwood. A stable supply of wood energy can sustain people's livelihoods and save scarce foreign currency.
Most of the Laotian population, especially those who live in remote areas are heavily dependent on forests for their subsistence and for generating income. Production of non-wood forest products (NWFPs), based on technically sound forest management by villagers, can increase incomes.
Forests provide important environmental services including water and soil conservation, which are vital not only to domestic power generation and irrigation but also to the development of the Mekong River Basin. Conservation and rehabilitation of forests in the watershed areas can contribute to the economic development of Lao PDR and the Mekong region.
Biodiversity in Lao PDR is still rich in comparison with neighbouring countries. Its conservation is of regional and international importance.
A National Reconnaissance Survey was undertaken by the National Office of Forest Inventory and Planning (NOFIP) with technical and financial assistance from the Swedish International Development Authority (SIDA) from 1987 to 1989. According to the final report, forest covered 47.2 percent of the total land area; the forest cover had decreased from 11.6 million ha (49.1 percent) in 1982 to 11.2 million ha (47.2 percent) in 1989 As the result of various measures adopted by the government since then, shifting cultivation has been decreasing and forest cover is expected to have increased.
Current and emerging issues, trends and critical problems
Shifting cultivation and poverty
Although the area under shifting cultivation has been decreasing due to the government’s policy initiatives, notably land and forest allocation, and economic development, more than 100 000 ha are still burnt every year. Moreover, villagers, especially subsistence farmers, still collect NWFPs indiscriminately. Unless they are given alternative crops to grow and alternative income generation opportunities, in addition to skills and means to use the forest on a sustainable basis, forest resources around villages will continue to disappear and deteriorate.
Effects of the war
Heavy fighting and bombing before 1975 destroyed a vast area of rich forests and killed countless wildlife in addition to human casualties. Unexploded ordnance restricts access, and prohibits rural development and the sound management of forests including afforestation in many provinces.
Forest fires
Fires spreading from burning swidden fields to nearby land and forests cause more forest destruction than shifting cultivation itself. Extensive grasslands and degraded lands in the northern provinces are thought to have resulted from these fires.
Unsound management of production forests, NBCAs and wildlife
Due to an inadequate legal framework and limited financial and human resources the Master Plan for Management and Utilization of Forests defined in the Forestry Law is not effective and most of the production forests and National Biodiversity Conservation Areas (NBCAs) are not covered by long-term management plans. Some stakeholders do not abide by the law.
Scarce financial and human resources limit raising awareness of the public and also prohibit the strict enforcement of existing regulations concerning harvesting and the conservation of biodiversity.
Underdeveloped wood processing and marketing
Most wood-processing facilities in Lao PDR are small scale, obsolete and inefficient in raw material use leading to excessive amounts of mill residues. Wood products cannot compete in foreign countries where the final products are processed from logs and semi-finished products are imported from Lao PDR.
Insufficient afforestation
Timber plantation areas are increasing only slowly and their quality is often poor. Tree breeding and high quality planting stock are inadequate.
There needs to be a clear and integrated plan to promote tree plantations by various partners for efficient use of financial resources including the Compensatory Plantation Fund.
Inadequate legal framework and human resource development
Although the forestry law provides a legal basis for sustainable forest management (SFM), related regulations and technical guidelines for the implementation of SFM are not in place.
Government officers, especially local ones who are required to enforce laws and regulations on the ground, do not clearly understand and uniformly apply regulations. They are short of means to enforce them.
Current national forest policy and legal framework development
National statement or objective related to forests
The First National Forestry Conference held in May 1989 in Lao PDR attracted considerable interest as manifested by approximately 500 participants, both from the central government and the provinces. Major multilateral and bilateral donors were also present. The three policy directions identified at the conference were to:
1) Preserve, improve and increase the biological capacity of the present forest, especially by improving existing management systems and protection.
2) Use forest benefits rationally, especially by using and improving the economic benefits of forest resources.
3) Link the rehabilitation, preservation and expansion of forests with the meeting of food requirements, commodity production, reorganization of production systems and construction of permanent settlements for the upland population.
Legal development framework
Issuance of the Prime Minister’s Decree No. 74/PM dated 17/7/79 related to forest protection.
The First National Forestry Conference in May 1989 charted the direction of forest policy.
The Tropical Forest Action Plan (TFAP) adopted in 1991 outlined options for forest development in six programs as follows: institutional strengthening, human resource development, sustainable alternatives to shifting cultivation, watershed protection, sustainable use of natural forest and plantation forestry.
Based on the above basic policy directions and programs, with assistance from donors, the government initiated various activities as follows:
Important issues, constraints, challenges, opportunities for SFM
The forest resources of Lao PDR are in a critical condition. Their sustainable management is vital to the development of the national economy, the improvement of livelihoods, and to the conservation of biodiversity and the environment. Consolidating the achievements of the government and donors over the past 10 years is essential to formulate more efficient and effective SFM approaches.
Limited financial and human resources necessitate prioritized approaches.
In a transition toward a market economy, promoting private initiatives is also essential for the sound development of the forestry sector in Lao PDR.
Recommendations for achieving SFM
(1) Stabilization of shifting cultivation and poverty alleviation:
Acceleration of land and forest allocation tailored to specific target areas such as NBCAs, focal areas. Land-use planning at district levels.
Strengthening of extension services at the local level.
Establishment of incentive schemes for sustainable farming systems and tree plantation by shifting cultivators (e.g. agroforestry systems).
Promotion of income generation activities including village forestry (e.g. production of NWFPs, ecotourism and village plantations).
(2) Biodiversity conservation:
Formulation of NBCA management plans with the participation of local people.
Establishment of the Forest Development Fund to support conservation activities (including farmers).
(3) Sustainable management of natural forests:
Demarcation of production forests and formulation of long-term management plans for more sustainable resource management.
Strengthening of local forestry institutions and staff for long-term planning and management.
(4) Development of tree plantations:
Preparation of the National Afforestation Promotion Plan including target areas, species, seed/seedling production, tree breeding etc.
Streamlining of administrative processes for investments in tree plantations.
Piloting and introduction of an incentive scheme to promote tree planting by farmers.
Development of products by using fast-growing species and subsequent marketing.
(5) Wood industry development:
Review the existing wood-processing industries to improve efficiency, to balance industrial capacity with sustainable supplies of raw materials.
Limit the export of logs and sawntimber and promote the export of value-added products.
(6) Research:
Strengthening of adaptive research on upland farming systems and agroforestry.
Genetic improvement of plantation species.
(7) Legal framework and human resource development:
Preparation and dissemination of related laws, regulations and technical guidelines to government officers, industries and the public.
Formulation of the Master Plan for Forest Management and Utilization consisting of the area and location of major forest categories and guidelines for forest management.
Training of forestry staff in enforcing forestry laws, regulations and technical guidelines.
Strengthening of the Department of Forestry’s (DOF) policy formulation capacity through improved monitoring and evaluation.
Actions to be taken by the government
Enactment and implementation of forest-related regulations.
Formulation of the Master Plan for Forest Management and Utilization and approval by the National Assembly.
Acceleration of land and forest allocation.
Review and streamlining of policy and administrative procedures concerning investment in wood processing and tree plantations.
Introduction of incentive schemes for the promotion of alternative upland farming systems and tree plantations by farmers.
Actions to be taken by the government and donors
Technical development and dissemination
Upland farming systems including agroforestry.
NWFP production and processing.
Formulation and implementation of the National Afforestation Promotion Plan.
Improvement of plantation tree species.
Formulation and implementation of long-term management plans for production forests and NBCAs.
Institutional strengthening and human resource development
Establishment of the Forest Development Fund.
Strengthening of local forestry organizations and staff, especially in the management of production forests and NBCAs.
Strengthening of the DOF's policy formulation capacity.
Strengthening forest research.
Establishment of forest-related facilities including nurseries, tree-breeding centres, training and research venues.
Promotion of investment by all sectors
Tree plantations
Product development, processing and marketing of timber from plantations.
