Abstract
The reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD plus) has been proposed as a key tool for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) from deforestation and forest degradation in land use sector. The development of a REDD plus that considers national, sub-national, and/or local circumstances in relation to a target area requires an analysis of site-specific deforestation drivers and land use characteristics. This study aimed to analyze the capability of forest-dependent people to find the way for reducing pressures on forest resources, i.e. reducing shifting cultivation and identified their patterns of land and forest use, as this knowledge is essential for developing a REDD plus for land and forest management for an area. The study target area was Luang Prabang Province in the northern part of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). We conducted questionnaire-based surveys and participatory workshops to identify the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation as well as current local capabilities. Our findings, which focused on the characteristics of ethnic groups (Khmu and Hmong) and the agricultural techniques used by villagers, revealed significant differences between upland rice farmers without paddy fields and farmers with paddy fields who cultivated upland rice in terms of their capabilities to maintain livelihoods. The results of a discriminant function analysis indicated that 66.7% of the initially categorized respondents were correctly classified for the variable Khmu or Hmong and 82.1% classified for the variable upland rice farmers with paddy or upland rice farmers without paddy. The results indicated a lower capability to transition to alternative livelihoods among farmers relying on upland cultivation (i.e. shifting cultivation) than among farmers who cultivate paddy. Moreover, the study revealed the importance of applying a capability approach when planning REDD plus in Lao PDR that account for differential capabilities attributed to ethnicity or other vulnerable group statuses.
Highlights
Since 1990s, the highest deforestation has been occurred in Southeast Asia (FAO, 2010; Harris et al, 2012)
The results of a discriminant function analysis indicated that 66.7% of the initially categorized respondents were correctly classified for the variable Khmu or Hmong and 82.1% classified for the variable upland rice farmers with paddy or upland rice farmers without paddy
The study revealed the importance of applying a capability approach when planning REDD plus in Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) that account for differential capabilities attributed to ethnicity or other vulnerable group statuses
Summary
Since 1990s, the highest deforestation has been occurred in Southeast Asia (FAO, 2010; Harris et al, 2012). The primary causes or drivers of these processes of deforestation and forest degradation are agricultural expansion, namely, pioneering shifting cultivation (involving clearance of rich forests) and conversion of forest to agricultural concessions, and industrial plantations (Government of Lao PDR, 2011) In spite of such a situation of deforestation and its drivers, shifting cultivation has been dominant land use system in the northern Lao PDR, securing the livelihoods of the large percentage of the rural population living in mountainous area (Heinimann et al, 2013). From considering such situations of REDD plus in Lao PDR, this study aimed to clarify the key points of REDD plus in phase of readiness (preparation), from assessing local circumstances or the capabilities of local people in relation to their diverse characteristics (ethnicity, or other vulnerable group statuses) to increase their participation in the REDD plus project
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