How Laos is moving forward with REDD+ schemes

Sithong Thongmanivong,Thoumthone Vongvisouk,Khamla Phanvilay

doi:10.5130/ijrlp.i1.2013.3355

Sithong Thongmanivong, Thoumthone Vongvisouk + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5130/ijrlp.i1.2013.3355

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Abstract

The forest cover in Laos has decreased over the past three decades for variety of reasons. The current Laos Government has committed itself to restoring the forest cover to 70 per cent by 2020. As a result, many conservation projects and programs have been planned and implemented in different parts of the country. REDD+ was introduced in late 2007; however, progress of implementation of REDD+ has been slow. This paper examines and updates the status of REDD+ implementation in Laos, using information from literature and interviews with relevant individuals. The paper reveals that progress of REDD+ is slow not only due to external factors but also on internal factors. Currently, there are various international organisations and NGOs, from both the public and private sectors, attempting to pilot REDD+ projects. Laos faces many challenges in implementing REDD+, including institutional arrangements; appropriate methods for carbon accounting, reporting and verification; benefit sharing; and engaging local communities.

Highlights

Laos is one of the few countries in Southeast Asia that still has close to 50 per cent of its land under forests
By 2010, this cover had declined to 41 per cent.[1]
Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is an effort to create a financial value for the carbon stored in forests, offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development

Summary

Introduction

Laos is one of the few countries in Southeast Asia that still has close to 50 per cent of its land under forests. In 2007, the Lao Government joined the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) with Official Notice No 1896/SCG, appointing the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) to be the Country’s national representative.[8] The FCPF is a World Bank program aimed at assisting developing countries to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. Responsibility for the conservation and protection of forests have been transferred to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE), while responsibility for productive forest and small-scale forest investment, including village forests, are under the MAF This new administrative structure is delaying the processes of REDD+ implementation. In parallel with the REDD+ R-PP, the Lao Government cooperates with various international funding organisations and REDD+ related projects These include: Climate Protection Through Avoided Deforestation (CliPAD)[10]; Participatory Land Use and Forest Management for Reducing Deforestation in Laos (PAREDD);[11] REDD. The REDD+ Task Force has shared information and consulted with the institutional and stakeholders since 2010, the following items remain unclear and still need for further elaboration: 1. Basic information on REDD+: What are the issues being negotiated internationally and what are the implications of these at the national level? What are the incentives from implementing REDD+? How will these be shared? What are the ways for Laos to engage in a REDD+ mechanism? What benefits could be available to different stakeholders?

Forest Governance

Benefit sharing and distribution systems

Findings

Conclusion