NAFRI-IUCN NTFP Project in Lao PDR
Case Study C0092
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| Date | 2002 |
| Agency | National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute of Lao PDR and IUCN Lao PDR |
| Donor/support agency | Royal Netherlands Embassy |
| Project type | Implemented by agency |
| Context(s) | Protected area Community conserved area |
| Geographic coverage | Laos |
| Locality | Nam Pheng, a village in Oudomxay province |
| Biodiversity focus | Ecosystem/landscape |
| Development focus | Local communities |
| Conservation goals | Conserve forest biodiversity by promoting sustainable economic exploitation of non-timber forest products at community and provincial levels |
| Poverty reduction goals | Supporting livelihoods and community development |
Summary
The National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN), with funding from the Royal Netherlands Embassy, jointly executed the NTFP Project from July 1995 to September 2001. The project was designed as an Integrated Conservation and Development Project (ICDP) with the goal to conserve forest bio-diversity by promoting sustainable economic exploitation of non-timber forest products (NTFP) at community and provincial levels. As an ICDP, the NTFP Project also had a vested interest in supporting livelihoods and community development.
The NTFP Project was first implemented in Nam Pheng, a village in Oudomxay province. When the NTFP Project first arrived to Nam Pheng in 1996, the village contained 43 households with 244 people. Households cultivated an average of one hectare per year and most households also raised livestock. The nearest school was in the neighbouring village of Na Hom, but attendance was reported to be low. Water for drinking and residential use came mostly from a stream passing through the village. Illnesses, especially diarrhoea and malaria, were prevalent. Villagers’ main source of cash income was NTFPs, although they were mostly collected and bartered on a small scale.
The sustainable harvesting regimes supported by the NTFP Project began by organizing a rice bank. The rice bank addressed the villagers’ most pressing need, food security. It was indirectly related to NTFP conservation because it built trust among villagers in a conservation project, freed up their time for conservation activities, and reduced threats of over-harvesting in forests. After the rice bank, the project began on forestland allocation, domestication trials and NTFP marketing. Now households sell their stock directly to Group Committee, which in turn sells on a larger scale to traders. Generally, the individual collector takes 85-90% of the final sale, while the remaining 10-15% is put towards an NTFP Fund. The NTFP Fund is used to fund community projects (e.g., purchase of an electric generator), community services (e.g., provide loans), and pay salaries of 100 000 Kip to the monitoring, accounting and trade units. In 1999, the fund was used to improve the village’s water supply system and, in 2000, it supported the construction of a school, with financial assistance from the NTFP Project, and provided loans to fifteen households.
Between 1996, when the NTFP Project first arrived to Nam Pheng village, and 2002, considerable advancements have been made in reducing poverty and improving livelihoods. Poverty rates reduced by at least one half. Food security increased; child mortality of children under 5 was eradicated; school enrolment doubled (over half of whom are girls); and savings increased, as shown through increases in livestock. The village acquired new infrastructure and new services, while villagers’ range of expenditures widened, improving quality of life and increasing production capacity. Although there were likely many different factors at work in making these achievements, NTFPs clearly played an important role. Currently, collection of bitter bamboo, cardamom and other NTFPs continue to be the main sources of income for the majority of households in Nam Pheng. In turn, the economic values of NTFPs have provided incentives for villagers to manage forests sustainably, including the 515 ha they have allocated as bamboo forest.
Conservation impact
The economic values of NTFPs have provided incentives for villagers to manage forests sustainably, including the 515 ha they have allocated as bamboo forest.
One of the most significant impact on forests was the reduction of upland cultivation by one third.
Poverty reduction impact
Between 1996 and 2002: poverty rates reduced by at least one half; food security increased; child mortality of children under 5 was eradicated; school enrolment doubled (over half of whom are girls); and savings increased, as shown through increases in livestock. Furthermore the village acquired new infrastructure and new services, while villagers’ range of expenditures widened, improving quality of life and increasing production capacity. Important non-cash and immaterial benefits resulting from project activities included enhanced organizational capacities and skills development.
Strategy for Conservation/Poverty Linkages
Enhanced access to/availability of natural resources for local use
Provision of alternative livelihoods
Reference 1
Morris, J., Hicks, E., Ingles, A. & Ketphanh, S., 2004, ' Linking Poverty Reduction with Forest Conservation: Case Studies from Lao PDR', IUCN – Asia Regional Forest Programme: Bangkok
Reference 2
http://www.iucn.org/themes/fcp/publications/files/3ic_cs_lao.pdf
Related records above this one:
- IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) (Organisation O0046)