1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) - Lao People's Democratic Republic

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

30/08/2017

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Yes

2.1 Short description of the Approach

Sustainable production forest management that supports the development of farmers’ livelihoods is the main aim of the Sustainable Forest Management Project, which has now entered phase 3.

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

Sustainable production forest management that supports the development of farmers’ livelihoods is the main aim of the Sustainable Forest Management Project, which has now entered phase 3. The first phase was implemented in 2003–2008 and a second phase was carried out in 2009-2014. A further extension of the project’s activities resulted in the Scaling-up of Participatory Sustainable Forest Management Project (SUFORD SU) and this third phase has been implemented since 2014. The Government of Lao’s (GoL), Department of Forestry (DOF), is responsible for management. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry comprises a line organization from the central to the local level, and coordination takes place through Project Steering Committees at each level. The Provincial Steering Committees are made up of the Deputy Provincial Governors, District Governors, and members of other relevant departments. At the district level there are District Steering Committees in which a Deputy District Governor serves as the chair, and the members at the local level derive from different district offices, including the District Administration Office, the District Agriculture and Forestry Office, the District Office of Natural Resources and Environment, the District Office of Industry and Commence, as well as mass organizations such as the Lao Front for National Construction, and the Lao Women’s Union. The Project’s design is consistent with the GoL’s central development plans and its activities have been implemented at provincial and district levels. The DOF develops project plans in cooperation with national and international advisors. These plans are then presented to the Provincial and District Steering Committees for approval. The key objective of the project is to manage production forests so that this matches the livelihood aims of the local communities. The production forest management activities have included forest surveys and allocation, mapping of harvest areas, and tree marking. The local livelihood development initiatives have involved the promotion of an agroforestry model and an integrated farming system. Furthermore, the project promotes a village development fund with an initial USD 8,000 contribution to each project village as well as the enhancement of local employment opportunities so as to reduce the exploitation of forest resources. The project has also received financial and technical support, and has cooperated with the Government of Finland, the World Bank, and the Forest Investment Programme. The outcomes of the project’s implementation indicate that local people residing in the project’s areas have expressed their satisfaction that they are engaged in sustainable forest management to protect forest resources and the environment.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The main objective of the project is to manage production forests so that this coincides with the livelihood improvement of the local communities who use resources from the forest.

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	none
planning	none	The project was designed and approved by the steering committees at the central level
implementation	interactive
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive
	interactive

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

Specify on what basis decisions were made:

• evaluation of well-documented SLM knowledge (evidence-based decision-making)
• personal experience and opinions (undocumented)

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Yes

Specify who was trained:

• land users
• field staff/ advisers

Form of training:

• on-the-job
• farmer-to-farmer
• public meetings

Subjects covered:

1. Timber harvest surveys (zoning) and determination of rehabilitation areas;
2. Agriculture – livestock techniques and organizing the study tours;
3. Village development fund management, procurement and cost management.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Yes

Specify whether advisory service is provided:

• on land users' fields

• direct through mobile phones

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local
• regional

Specify type of support:

• financial
• capacity building/ training
• equipment

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Yes

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Yes

Comments:

ມີການບັນທຶກຈົດແຕ້ມ

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Yes

Specify topics:

• economics / marketing
• technology

• financial management

Give further details and indicate who did the research:

Provincial Project Consultant

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

Indicate the annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach in US$:

400000.00

Comments (e.g. main sources of funding/ major donors):

Finland Government

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Yes

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

Participants involved in the project’s activities (forest rehabilitation/surveys) received a food allowance of 50,000 Kip/day (exchange rate 1USD = 8000 Lao Kip).

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• labour

• equipment

• agricultural

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• food-for-work

Comments:

ໂຄງການຊ່ວຍຂື້ນແຜນງົບປະມານການຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ ບ້ານລະ 4000-8000 ໂດລາສະຫະລັດ. ຖ້າການໃຊ້ຈ່າຍກາຍງົບປະມານທີ່ໃຫ້ ແມ່ນບ້ານປະກອບສ່ວນໃສ່ຕື່ມ

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

No

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

No

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Due to everybody’s involvement it indicates that in general the local people were confident in participating in the project’s activities. There are regulations in place to penalize those who abuse the rules. Nonetheless, the project has provided great benefits and shall be continued.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
It has brought about more effective forest management, and the forest cover has increased.
Illegal logging has declined.
Local people have taken an active role in the protection of forests.
Improved technical knowledge through the provision of equipment and tools as well as support from national and international advisors

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
The Project has focused on engaging all of the stakeholders in the implementation of the project’s activities.
Financial support has been provided appropriately and capacity building initiatives for the community have been successful.
Improvement in the livelihoods of those who are residing adjacent to the production forest areas and this has encouraged them to take an active role in the protection of the production forest

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Some staff have not yet been proactive in the project’s implementation as they have been uncertain of their position in the workplace, and often they perceived that this was the project’s work	improve the organizational structure, hand over responsibilities without designating too many tasks to certain staff members, but maintain in the project continuously.
Unclear information has been provided. Participants were selected for meetings, and group discussions based on their connections	initial explanations should focus on the Project’s approach so that they have a clear understanding and participants need to be continuously engaged in group activities to bring about cohesion at all levels.
Some villages have been provided with a village development fund without a proper previous assessment of their needs	a clear understanding needs to be established and regular consultations need to take place.
Provision of funding from the central level was often delayed due to ineffective coordination. The procurement of equipment and tools was carried out near the end of the project’s phase	clearly designate responsibilities to individuals, remunerate appropriate salaries, and reduce the high expenditure on advisors.

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Those who participated in the training often were moved into other positions or due to changing needs had to undertake new responsibilities	provide regular training.
Delays in the provision of funding	reduce the review process and ensure that more financial resources are allocated at local levels.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information