Duration of the Project: Inception Phase from 06/2007 to 05/2008

Anticipated Programme: from 06/2008 to 05/2014

Inception Phase Budget: from 06/2007 to 05/2008 - CHF 955’000

Partners and Implementing Agencies: to be defined in the Inception Phase.

Location: Luang Prabang and Xieng Khuang Provinces. Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR)

Background:

Beginning in 2007 the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC began supporting a programme for the conservation of agrobiodiversity in the Lao Peoples Democratic Republic. Lao PDR is one of the globally recognized biodiversity hotspots, known as one of the centers of origin of rice and harboring the largest reservoir of forest resources in South-East Asia. The fragile and biodiverse mountainous areas of the Lao PDR are also inhabited by culturally diverse ethnic minorities who represent the poorest segments of the population and who are dependent on non-cultivated plant and animal products as sources of food, income, medicines, materials and ecological services as the basis for their subsistence agriculture systems. These people and their resources form the basis of SDC’s Agrobiodiversity Programme.  

Overall Goal:

Support the efforts of the Government of Lao PDR in preserving the maximum amount of biological diversity while maintaining productivity and securing livelihood options, especially in mountainous and remote areas.

Current Objectives:

During the first year inception period, activities are being focused on a better understanding of agrobiodiversity issues in the northern uplands. The focus will include activities concerning:

• The testing and dissemination of diverse and sustainable and knowledge sharing agro-forestrysystems.
• The marketing of biodiversity products.
• Participatory land use planning and land allocation.
• Consultation and coordination mechanisms for policy dialogue 

Approaches:

The central approach during the first year will be focused studies implemented by a range of consultants and partner organizations leading to quick-result pilots to test ideas, processes and concepts.

Highlights of Strategies and Approaches:

Testing and dissemination of diverse and sustainable agro-forestry systems SDC will support partnerships to develop and pilot practical methodologies to engage organizations, communities and local government in agrobiodiversity conservation and utilization in order to successfully stimulate local communities in better conservation and management of agrobiodiversity resources. A critical component of this is a better understanding of the relationship between agrobiodiversity and sustainable livelihoods, the characteristics of agrobiodiversity within a wide range of farming systems and the specific gender roles as they relate to agrobiodiversity. A careful analysis of these is being implemented during the inception phase leading to a clearer vision and direction for future support.

Marketing of biodiversity products:

SDC is supporting an overview of the agrobiodiversity and NTFP marketing sector to identify specific products for which markets have been under exploited, for which opportunities exist for considerable value added services or for which enhanced sustainable production and/or collection is feasible. The results of these assessments will enable the project to propose appropriate strategies for developing and implementing successful marketing approaches for agrobiodiversity products.

Participatory land use planning and land allocation:

Two of the most important factors affecting access to and management of agrobiodiversity resources is how land is being allocated to communities and farmers and how communities and local government formulate local development plans.A clear picture of how agrobiodiversity is directly linked to livelihood strategies and the ecological impacts of economic development programs on rural landscapes is needed as a basis for such activities. SDC will support the development, piloting and adoption of institutional arrangements and decision-making processes which provide for more equitable, socially acceptable and environmentally appropriate solutions.

Consultation and coordination mechanisms for policy dialogue and knowledge sharing:

This SDC supported activity will link Programme components to ensure the widest possible sharing of information with relevant stakeholders and encourage policy dialog based on a common foundation of knowledge.

Activities will be undertaken to provide the basis for an Agrobiodiversity Knowledge Platform as a mechanism for ensuring knowledge exchange, continuous learning and policy dialog among the multiple partners involved in the country and other agencies active in agrobiodiversity preservation.

Contact:

Senior Technical Advisor

Swiss Cooperation Office for the Mekong Region - Laos
Preserving Agrobiodiversity in the Lao PDR
House No. 192/1 Sibounheuang Road
Ban Sibounheuang District, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
Phone: + 856-21 251 794/6
Fax: + 856-21 251 797
Email: vientiane@sdc.net