VIENTIANE: A new initiative titled “Guardians of Lao Nature”, launched by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in partnership with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the European Union (EU), is set to strengthen the management of protected areas and biodiversity.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the project was signed in Vientiane on Thursday (Jan 22).
The signing ceremony was co-chaired by the Director General of the Department of Forestry, Dr Somvang Phimmavong; the European Union Ambassador to Laos, Mark Gallagher; and the Country Director of WCS Lao PDR, Santi Saypanya.
The three-year project aims to strengthen the role of civil society and local communities in the co-management of protected areas, forest ecosystems and wetlands.
The project will focus on three key areas, namely strengthening the role of civil society organisations in natural resource management; improving participatory management of protected areas and wetlands through village-level management plans; and enabling civil society to contribute to national policy development regarding land tenure and forest management.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Somvang Phimmavong expressed his appreciation to the European Union for its continuous assistance and to WCS for being a reliable development partner.
He noted that cooperation is vital for achieving the nation’s forestry and environmental goals.
At the heart of the initiative is the “Forest Development Village” model. This framework, recognised under the Protected Area Decree of the Forestry Law, empowers villagers living near conservation areas to work directly with authorities to protect natural resources.
Mark Gallagher said that the project promotes a model where conservation, livelihoods, and local governance reinforce one another.
“Through this project, communities will be empowered to become true stewards of their environment,” he added. “It will also raise awareness and communicate more effectively the value of nature for the future of Laos.”
WCS Country Director Santi Saypanya added that when communities are given the tools to be stewards of nature, both the people and the ecosystems benefit.
The “Guardians of Lao Nature” project is a collaborative effort between WCS and the Sustainable Agriculture and Environment Development Association (SAEDA), working alongside central, provincial, and district government authorities.
WCS has been active in Laos since 1993, focusing on technical capacity building for government officials, community involvement in wild place management and combatting wildlife trafficking. - Vientiane Times/ANN
