(KPL) Ambassador Megan Jones and Vice Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Chanthakhone Boualaphanh launched on Oct 16 a new, five-year project to support forest restoration in the Lao PDR. Forests have helped sustain the livelihoods of the Lao people for generations. Two-thirds of the population access forests for food, fuel, and medicine, while 39% earn directly from non-timber forest products.

"We are pleased to support this important project, aimed at generating and expanding forest coverage through ecological methods, while actively involving and benefiting local communities who depend on the forest for their livelihoods," said Ambassador Megan.

The AUD4.3 million project is funded by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), a leading Australian government specialist in agricultural research for development. It will address the pressing issues of deforestation and forest degradation in the Lao PDR by co-developing and trialling ecologically informed forest restoration methods with rural communities. 

The project directly contributes to the priority target set by the Lao government to increase forest cover and enhance community resilience to climate change. It aspires to train and empower the next generation of Laos’ forest scientists and communities, equipping them to tackle the complex challenges of forest restoration in a changing climate.

Led by Professor Patrick Baker from the University of Melbourne, this project will involve the National Agricultural and Forestry Research Institute, the National University of Laos, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the Ministry of Public Health.

“This is an exciting opportunity to work with local communities, donor organisations, private forestry enterprises, and government initiatives to develop new approaches to forest restoration that can generate economic opportunities,” Prof. Baker said.

"Forest restoration and protection requires coordinated efforts from all stakeholders, namely local communities, governments and scientific experts. Studies show that forest restoration is only successful and enduring when local communities benefit,” said Dr. Nora Devoe, ACIAR Research Program Manager for Forestry. 

“As we recognize the crucial role that women play in many communities as custodians of natural resources, the project team will seek to ensure that women have equal opportunities to participate in, and benefit from, our restoration activities in this project," said Ambassador Jones.

By fostering an inclusive environment, we can enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of our efforts in forest restoration. "This project will help Laos in our efforts to meet the ambitious target of 70% forest coverage by 2030 and also contribute to the goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 through improving the technical foundations of forest restoration,” said Chanthakhone Boualaphanh, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

“This ACIAR project offers a promising pathway towards a future where vibrant forests flourish ecologically and continue to serve as a cornerstone for local communities’ economic growth and well-being,” she added.

KPL