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Participatory Land and Forest Management Project

for Reducing Deforestation in Lao P.D.R.

(PAREDD)

Project Document

January 2010

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Japan International

Lao P.D.R. Cooperation Agency

Acronyms

AFD Agence Francaise de Developpement CCBA Community, Climate and Biodiversity Alliance C/P Lao counterpart staff CSPT Community Support Programme Tool DAFO District Agriculture and Forestry Office DOF Department of Forestry DOP Department of Planning FCPF Forest Carbon Partnership Facility FORCOM Forest Management and Community Support Project GOL Government of Lao PDR JCC Joint Coordinating Committee JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency LEA Lao Extension Approach LEA+CSPT Lao Extension Approach + Community Support Programme Tool LFAP Land and Forest Allocation Program MAF Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry MPI Ministry of Planning and Investment NAFES National Agriculture and Forestry Extension Service NAFRI National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute NGPES National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy NLMA National Land Management Authority NTFP Non-timber forest products NUDP National Uplands Development Programme OJT On-the-job training PAFO Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office PAREDD Participatory Land and Forest Management Project for Reducing Deforestation in Lao PDR PDM Project Design Matrix PO Plan of Operations R/D Records of Discussion REDD Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation SWG/UD Sub-Working Group on Uplands Development TSC Agriculture and Forestry Technical Service Center UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change VCS Voluntary Carbon Standards

http://unfccc.int/

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 1

2 Background of the project ............................................................................................................... 1

2.1 Socio-economic context .................................................................................................................... 1

2.2 Results of FORCOM project ........................................................................................................... 3

3 Scope of the project ............................................................................................................................ 4

3.1 Overview of the project ..................................................................................................................... 4

3.2 Concept of “the system of reducing deforestation”................................................................. 6

3.3 Process of CSPT improvement into the system ...................................................................... 10

3.4 Steps toward the system development ........................................................................................ 12

3.5 Capacity development and awareness building ...................................................................... 12

3.6 Exit strategy and sustainability of the project ......................................................................... 13

4 Relevant policies of the Government of Laos ......................................................................... 14

5 Project design .................................................................................................................................... 17

5.1 Target Area and Group ................................................................................................................... 17

5.2 Overall Goal ........................................................................................................................................ 17

5.3 Project Purpose ................................................................................................................................. 18

5.4 Outputs and Activities .................................................................................................................... 19

5.5 Important Assumptions .................................................................................................................. 23

5.6 Inputs ................................................................................................................................................... 23

5.7 Project Design Matrix (PDM) ...................................................................................................... 25

5.8 Plan of Operation ............................................................................................................................. 25

6 Project management and coordination ...................................................................................... 25

6.1 Project implementation structure ................................................................................................ 25

6.2 Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) ......................................................................................... 26

Annexes

Annex 1: Project Design Matrix (PDM) ………………………………………………………………27

Annex 2: Plan of Operation (PO) ……………………………………………………………………28

Annex 3: Project implementation structure ……………………………………………………………29

Annex 4: Expected roles of NAFES, DOF, PAFO and DAFO ……………………………………30

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1 Introduction

From 2004 to 2009, the Government of Lao PDR (GOL) and Japan International Cooperation

Agency (JICA) jointly implemented the Forest Management and Community Support

(FORCOM) project, which developed Community Support Programme Tool (CSPT) as a tool

for providing alternative livelihoods in order to stabilize shifting cultivation. However, in order to

reduce the deforestation which is driven by various land use factors, it is becoming increasingly

necessary to strengthen sustainable land and forest management at the village level.

In the meantime, Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), or a

climate mitigation measure to provide incentives for the conservation of carbon stored in

existing forests, is being discussed under the UN Framework Conservation on Climate Change

(UNFCCC).

Under the circumstances, JICA dispatched a detailed planning survey team in January 2009 and,

through discussions with concerned authorities, set out the new project concepts and overall

implementation structure for addressing participatory land and forest management for reducing

deforestation in the northern part of Laos.

Based on the detailed planning, the GOL and JICA agreed to commence the Participatory Land

and Forest Management Project for Reducing Deforestation in Lao P.D.R. as specified in the

Record of Discussions (R/D) signed by both sides in August 2009.

The Project Document consists of six chapters and annexes. The Project Document was

prepared through a series of discussions with the Working Team consisting of the members

from the Department of Planning (DOP), the National Agriculture and Forestry Extension

Service (NAFES) and the Department of Forest (DOF). This document serves as a guiding

document for project implementation. It should be noted, however, that the Project Document

may be reviewed and revised in the course of project implementation so that the project

responds to actual and changing situations.

2 Background of the project

2.1 Socio-economic context

Northern upland area is mountainous and remains one of the poorest regions in the country.

Out of 72 nationally designated poverty districts, 45 are located in the north, which include 30

poorest districts1. Poverty incidence is much higher among the various ethnic minority groups

which make up about two-thirds of the northern upland population. Almost 90 percent of the

rural households in the north depend on subsistence agriculture for their livelihoods, while

1 National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES); Lao P.D.R.; 2004

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forests and forest resources also play an important role in their livelihoods. Northern upland

farmers have traditionally practiced shifting cultivation mainly to produce upland rice. Such

traditional practices, however, are undergoing substantial changes partly due to government

policies aiming at stabilizing pioneering shifting cultivation and promoting sedentary and

commercial agriculture (refer to Chapter 4 for details), and partly due to the market forces

prompting the production of cash crops and rubber for export to China, Thailand and Vietnam.

As a result, the areas under shifting cultivation, especially areas for upland rice, have decreased in

the northern upland since 1995, while those of cash crops (e.g. maize) increased (see Figure 1

and 2)2.

2 World Bank; 2008; Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Policy, Market, and Agriculture Transition in the Northern

Uplands

Figure 1 Reduction in uplands rice production areas

Figure 2 Changes in maize production areas by province

Source: World Bank; 2008; Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Policy, Market, and Agriculture Transition in the Northern Upland

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In the meantime, such transition from subsistence agriculture toward commercial agriculture has

affected the land and forest use patterns as well as rural livelihoods in the northern upland area.

Land conversion for industrial plantations and commercial agriculture development are

competing with upland rice cultivation for available land, and such competing land use, if not

managed properly, can cause land and forest degradation. Meanwhile, the implications of

agriculture commercialization on rural livelihoods are rather mixed; it provides more cash-income

opportunities to upland farmers in large, while their vulnerability can increase due to price

fluctuations and changes in market demands. Moreover, long-term productivity of land can

decrease unless proper land use plan is devised. Therefore, facilitating the changes in agricultural

practices and land use is one of the pressing issues facing the northern upland area.

2.2 Results of FORCOM project

FORCOM project, implemented from 2004 to 2009 by NAFES and JICA, aimed to promote

sustainable land and forest use in nine districts of six northern provinces of Laos: Luang

Prabang, Sayaboury, Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Houaphan and Vientiane.

Provided that shifting cultivation was a major cause of deforestation and degradation in the

target area, FORCOM developed the Community Support Programme Tool (CSPT) as a tool for

providing alternative livelihoods to farmers so that they could reduce dependency on shifting

cultivation and consequently mitigate pressure on forests. CSPT was designed in line with Lao

Extension Approach (LEA), the official extension approach of Laos, and details the process of

participatory planning, implementation and monitoring of agriculture and forestry extension

activities. The main feature of CSPT is the provision of in-kind support, which is expanded to

other farmers through a revolving system, which enables farmer-to-farmer extension of

technology and production input.

As a result of supporting nearly 1,400 households in 34 target villages in the target area, CSPT

was proven to be effective for income generation in poverty-stricken northern upland area.

Accordingly, NAFES endorsed CSPT as an effective extension tool to be added to LEA (called

LEA+CSPT) and encouraged provincial and district authorities concerned to use it for their

extension work (No. 3588/NAFES; 29 December 2008). Also, the project assisted the

Committee for Sustainability in each target province and district in preparing the Action Plan for

securing budget to ensure the continuation and possible expansion of CSPT. Both the

internalization of CSPT into LEA and the preparation of Action Plan were the major

achievements by FORCOM in consolidating CSPT for ensuring the sustainability.

In the meantime, it was difficult to assess the effectiveness of CSPT in reducing shifting

cultivation areas. Most target villages saw a moderate decrease in the total shifting cultivation

areas, but a closer look into their land use revealed that the shifting cultivation areas for cash

crops showed a considerable increase whereas those for upland rice areas decreased. FORCOM’s

target villages are no exception in that they are in transition from subsistence agriculture toward

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commercial agriculture.

Given the result, FORCOM’s final evaluation mission recommended that more efforts should be

made to strengthen land and forest management to address rapid changes in land use that is

driven by agriculture commercialization and competing land uses in northern upland. The

evaluation pointed out that such efforts would be all the more important in the face of growing

need to tackle climate change. In addition, the evaluation recommended further consolidation of

CSPT for the sustainability of FORCOM’s outcomes; it specifically emphasized the importance

of collaborating with other development and financial institutions with a view to exchanging

experiences and lessons learned and to securing funding for the continuation and expansion of

CSPT.

3 Scope of the project

3.1 Overview of the project

PAREDD aims to capitalize on the FORCOM’s achievements and efforts as described in 2.2, and

utilize its experience and lessons to the extent possible in its project design and implementation.

Specifically, PAREDD strives to further consolidate CSPT in terms of 1) its consolidation to

align with mainstream upland development initiatives and 2) its improvement as a tool to be used

under the system for reducing deforestation.

1) Consolidation of CSPT to align with mainstream upland development initiatives

Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF)’s main vehicle for coordinating upland development

efforts is the Sub-Working Group on Uplands Development (SWG/UD) and the SWG/UD has

prepared Northern Uplands Development Programme (NUDP). NUDP is a four-year pilot to

demonstrate a programme-based approach to financing for better coordination. Although JICA

is not among the financiers of the NUDP, PAREDD envisages several ways to contribute to the

mainstream upland development initiatives that would evolve around SWG/UD.

One of them is for PAREDD to introduce to SWG/UD partners the good practices of CSPT

and the lessons learned from FORCOM so that SWG/UD partners can capitalize on CSPT in

NUDP implementation. This allows for up-scaling of CSPT as one of the successful approaches

to livelihood improvement in the northern upland. For this purpose, PAREDD takes an active

part in the dialogue with SWG/UD partners and share with them the output and lessons learned

from FORCOM project (e.g. manuals, reports).

The other way to contribute to the mainstream upland development initiatives is through

collaboration with NUDP at the field level. Among nine target districts of NUDP, some districts

overlap those of FORCOM, and District Agriculture and Forestry Offices (DAFO) in these

districts are already equipped with trained staff and the readily available methodology for

extension work (i.e. CSPT manuals, guidelines etc.). The collaboration with NUDP can provide a

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great opportunity for DAFOs to gain additional input from NUDP, both financial and technical.

SWG/UP partners should also find it useful to use readily available CSPT, which is endorsed as

one of the LEA tools for extension in upland areas, because the partners are required to carry

out extension activities in the framework of the LEA as a common basis. If readily available

methodology (i.e. CSPT) and trained extension staff are supplemented with the funding and

additional input from NUDP partners, synergy of support can be generated rather quickly.

Therefore, PAREDD explores the area where CSPT and trained DAFO staff are best matched

with input from NUDP to create synergy.

2) Development of the system through CSPT improvement and integration

The other way to consolidate CSPT is to improve it to be used in a new context of PAREDD ―

to develop the system for reducing deforestation. As explained more in detail in 3.2, the system

of reducing deforestation is an approach to mitigate deforestation and forest degradation at the

village and village cluster levels3. Designing of the system draws on the experiences and lessons

from FORCOM, and improved CSPT is to be used in on-site trial of the system in target villages,

specifically in implementing Activities for Reducing Deforestation. This means that PAREDD

seeks to extend CSPT beyond livelihood improvement to include a wider range of activities

aimed at reducing deforestation.

The system is going to be implemented in a way that provides useful insights for future

implementation of Reduced Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) in

Laos. Although there is still uncertainty about the form of a future REDD regime at both

international and national levels, REDD is going to be one of the best options for ensuring the

sustainability of FORCOM’s outcomes in the future. One reason is that countermeasures for

excessive land and forest use should be developed first at the local level as part of national

REDD implementation, because emission from deforestation and forest degradation is highly

associated with local land and forest use. Addressing emission at the local level is important,

despite the fact that relevant REDD actions and activities may be centralized because it is the

national government that accounts for emissions from deforestation and forest degradation,

implements REDD actions, monitors results and receives international incentives for it. This

project would contribute to developing these local measures based on FORCOM’s experience

and lesson learned.

Second reason is for the sustainable budget for CSPT implementation. A budgetary constraint is

one of the main obstacles for CSPT continuation and expansion. If PAREDD project

successfully develops effective measures for mitigating deforestation and forest degradation

through CSPT improvement and if GOL formulates REDD implementation framework for the

village and village cluster levels, benefits from forest carbon credits produced by villages’ efforts

3 The system consists of i) Land and Forest Use Planning; ii) Activities for Reducing Deforestation; and iii)

Land/Forest Cover, Land Use and Forest Carbon Stock Monitoring. Refer to 3.2 for details.

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can be distributed to villages and village clusters as an incentive for sustainable community forest

management. That means that REDD can be possible solution to overcome budgetary

constraints on the sustainability of CSPT.

PAREDD plans to support necessary budget for the system development and its implementation

in the field, as well as awareness raising and capacity building for both target villages and C/P

staff. In addition, incentives for village forest management will be provided as ex-ante payment

for additional forest carbon, stored as a result of project implementation, in the form of village

fund and support for activities for forest management and livelihood improvement.

Furthermore, the project is expected to provide useful insights for REDD implementation in

Laos. For example, in order to verify the feasibility of the system implementation, financial input

for system implementation and financial output as forest carbon credits generated from system

implementation will be assessed through monitoring. Such empirical data will be a basis for

REDD development in Laos.

It should be noted, however, that marketing and selling of forest carbon credits to voluntary

carbon market or carbon offset buyers are not included in the scope of the project, even though

many REDD+ demonstration projects around the world have gone for independent third-party

certification such as Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance (CCBA) and/or Voluntary

Carbon Standards (VCS), and have planned to sell forest carbon credits in voluntary carbon

market.

3.2 Concept of “the system of reducing deforestation”

“The system of reducing deforestation”, as described in the project purpose, is defined here as

an approach to mitigate deforestation and forest degradation at village and village cluster

levels in the northern Laos. The system of reducing deforestation (referred hereafter as “the

system”) consists of the following:

1) Land and Forest Use Planning at Village and Village Cluster Levels

2) Activities for Reducing Deforestation

3) Land/Forest Cover, Land Use and Forest Carbon Stock Monitoring at Village and Village

Cluster Levels

1) Land and Forest Use Planning at Village and Village Cluster Levels

The project carries out Land and Forest Use Planning in order to control excessive land use into

forest area and ensure land use zoning to attain the right balance between forest and agricultural

land zones. Some points to be noted are as follows:

The procedure should enhance participation of villagers in land/forest zoning and

planning in order to ensure effective and feasible land use planning;

Land use planning is carried out based on the official “Manual of Participatory Agriculture

and Forest Land Use Planning at Village and Village Cluster Levels” prepared by NAFES

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and DOF (MAF), in collaboration with National Land Management Authority (NLMA);

Land use planning is effective in controlling excessive land use within the village boundary,

but land use planning alone cannot solve deforestation because deforestation is caused not

only by internal land uses but also external drivers from outside of village boundary such

as large-scale plantation concessions and illegal logging etc. To be effective to respond to

these external drivers, demarcated land zoning and land use planning should be authorized

by relevant district and provincial authorities that hold the right to issue land concessions.

Moreover, it should be noted that enhancing law enforcement in a wider context is as

important to address these external drivers.

2) Activities for Reducing Deforestation

The project promotes a series of activities for reducing deforestation. At the same time, these

activities are expected to contribute to livelihood improvement as well. These activities would

be implemented along with land and forest use planning. Possible activities are listed below:

Forest management activities:

Forest management plan and regulations for village forest areas

Tree plantations

Non-timber forest products (NTFP) management

Activities for shifting cultivation stabilization and livelihood improvement

Sloping agriculture in order to both control excessive land use and improve agricultural

productivity

Livestock (cattle, pig, goat, poultry raising, etc.)

NTFP domestication (stick lac production etc.)

Fruit tree planting

Other activities for alternative income generation including market analysis

Handicrafts (weaving etc.)

In order to design these activities, there are some points to be noted:

These activities will be designed in line with Lao Extension Approach (LEA) and also

based on the past experiences of CSPT and other donors’ activities in the northern Laos

(refer to 3.3.i for the detail);

Appropriate Plan-Do-See process should be reconsidered in combination with land use

planning and activities at the designing stage;

These activities should be feasible in terms of costs so that farmers themselves can

participate in the future implementation of REDD-related activities with the support from

GOL. In order to assess the feasibility of necessary budget, the project will try out the

cost-benefit analysis through the system implementation in the project sites;

Input/output flow, which is the benefits from carbon credits to be reallocated for both

village activities and returns to farmers as an incentive for forest management, should

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carefully be designed in the system (refer to 3.3.ii for the detail).

3) Land/Forest Cover, Land Use and Forest Carbon Stock Monitoring at Village and Village

Cluster Levels

To assess the outcomes and impacts of the activities at village and village cluster levels,

monitoring is carried out in the following areas:

Monitoring on land and forest cover changes

Monitoring on land use changes

Monitoring on forest carbon stock changes

Significant efforts have been made to implement a monitoring system for estimating CO2

emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in Laos so far. However, methodology for

forest carbon estimation and monitoring is still in the stage of development in terms of feasibility,

credibility and cost-efficiency. With regard to the monitoring of the system, the project will

monitor the effects of project activities on both land/forest cover changes and forest carbon

stock changes through a balanced approach of remote sensing and ground truth to meet REDD

requirements to some extent.

In the meantime, the changes in socio-economic conditions of target villages will be monitored

so that the trend of livelihood improvement can be assessed.

For the monitoring, there are some points to be noted as follows:

Benchmark map and historical reference scenario of land/forest cover and forest carbon

stock changes in the target area should be prepared as a baseline for monitoring. At the

same time, underlying causes of deforestation and the measures to address them should be

identified from various aspects such as legal framework, socio-economic factors and

farming practices.

Monitoring area should cover not only project sites but also surrounding or adjacent areas

where village land uses are likely to be affected by the displacements from inside the

project sites.

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Figure 3 Contents of the System of Reducing Deforestation

OUTPUT Land and Forest Use Planning

ç

Activities for Reducing Deforestation

Land/Forest Cover and Forest Carbon Stock Monitoring at Village and Village Cluster Levels

INPUT

Technique

Capacity

Building

Budget

Carbon

Credit

Land/Forest Use Zoning

Agriculture Land

Conservation Forest Zone

Protection Forest Zone

Production/Use Forest Zone

Forest Land

Cropping Zone Grazing Zone Plantation

Management Plan /

Regulation

Management Plan /

Regulation

Management Plan /

Regulation

Tree/NTFP Plantation

Cropping / NTFP

domestication

Livestock Commercial Tree / Fruit Tree

Others

Delineation of Village Boundary

Activity Plan

Monitoring Activity

Monitoring Activity/Planting

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3.3 Process of CSPT improvement into the system

In the context of PAREDD, CSPT will be improved and integrated into the system through the

following process:

1) Identification of lessons and areas for improvement in FORCOM sites;

2) Improvement of CSPT based on the lessons identified; and

3) Integration of improved CSPT into the system of reducing deforestation

First of all, village surveys and interviews of farmers and extension staff are conducted in

FORCOM sites in order to identify lessons and areas for CSPT improvement in terms of its

process, contents, and implementation structure. Then improvements will be made to CSPT

based on the lessons identified. In the process of surveying and improving CSPT, a focus should

be placed on the five specific areas, which emerged as focal areas for improvement over the

course of CSPT implementation in FORCOM project:

i) Scope of activities supported by CSPT

In the context of PAREDD, CSPT is going to be used for Activities for Reducing

Deforestation, following the land zoning and land and forest use planning; therefore, CSPT

should support a wide range of activities depending on village land use plan and potential.

For this purpose, it is necessary to collect and analyze information and knowledge on

agriculture (forestry, livestock and fisheries etc.) accumulated in Laos so far and identify a set

of recommended activities for reducing deforestation.

It should be noted that income generation activities remain as an important part of CSPT

because they can provide incentives for villagers to observe a land and forest use plan and

use their land and forest as agreed in the plan.

ii) Input and financial mechanism

FORCOM introduced a revolving system to deliver in-kind input (approximately $5,000/

village or $100/ household) to initial participants and then to expand it to new participants.

In-kind revolving system needs to be transformed into a fund at some point in time because

there would be no more interested villagers to receive in-kind support. In reviewing the

input mechanism, PAREDD plans to look into the way to transform in-kind revolving

system into Village Development Fund depending on potential and need of target villages.

Both the Extension Section of Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO) and

cluster Agriculture and Forestry Technical Service Centers (TSC) will be involved in the

process so that they can follow-up and assist with fund management in the future.

In the meantime, PAREDD plans to review input delivery mechanisms as well as the

appropriate scale of input in order to introduce to PAREDD sites a sustainable input

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delivery mechanism suitable for the system. Possible options include a revolving system and

village development fund, which the GOL promotes to establish in rural areas.

iii) Mechanism for technical input and technical transfer

During FORCOM, the in-kind revolving system was used also as a vehicle to transfer

technology from farmer to farmer. In other word, when initial participants revolve their

in-kind input (e.g. piglets, calves) to new participants, they are required to transfer production

techniques as well.

To facilitate technical transfer inside village, PAREDD plans to train participating farmers as

technical access points so that many villagers have opportunities to access and learn

introduced technologies through the trained farmers. Meanwhile, technical transfer to

outside village will be promoted through DAFO and/or cluster TSC. The system to be

developed aims to reduce deforestation through various activities such as land and forest use

plan, activities for shifting cultivation stabilization and so on because it is difficult to reduce

deforestation by one kind of project activities. Therefore, PAREDD plans to develop an

extension methodology that will help expand the system as a whole, not part by part.

iv) Structure ― village organizations and the alignment with village cluster

CSPT’s implementation structure was designed in line with LEA but some improvements are

required for better functioning.

Within the village, the role and function of CSPT Implementation Committees and

production groups should be reviewed and if deemed necessary modification should be

made in village organizational structure. The structure should be designed in a way that

allows for smooth and sustainable implementation of both Land and Forest Use Planning

and Activities for Reducing Deforestation.

Meanwhile, CSPT should align itself with the emerging extension structure at the village

cluster level. Specifically, linking target villages with cluster-level TSCs is of utmost

importance in creating synergy in cluster development.

iv) Simplifications of the process

CSPT outlines detailed process and actions for participatory planning, implementation and

monitoring in agriculture and forestry extension activities. Though CSPT has been proven to

be effective, there is still room for simplification of process and procedures for easier use by

extension staff as well as villagers.

Once improvements are made in the above-mentioned areas, CSPT will be integrated into the

system of reducing deforestation and utilized in 2 to 3 clusters in Luang Prabang province as a

tool for supporting Activities for Reducing Deforestation. If appropriate, the extension part of

the system of reducing deforestation may be introduced into LEA as an approach to reduce

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deforestation.

Secondly, the improved CSPT will be fed back into the FORCOM target area through feed-back

training for extension staff and/or seminars as the need arises.

3.4 Steps toward the system development

The project is going to be implemented in four main steps toward the system development.

STEP1 Design of the system of reducing deforestation

For developing the system, appropriate contents, method and procedure of the system should be

designed at the first stage of the project. In particular, the system will be designed based on the

CSPT and monitoring results of CSPT implementation in FORCOM’s target village.

STEP2 On-site trial of the system

The project will implement the designed system in 2 to 3 village clusters. Based on the experience

of field trial, the designed system will be improved for appropriate and feasible method and

procedure.

STEP3 Assessment of the outcomes and impacts of the system

Monitoring on changes in land/forest cover, land use and forest carbon stock is going to be

carried out in order to assess the outcomes and impacts of the system implementation. Prior to

the monitoring, baseline data such as benchmark forest area map and historical reference

scenario will be prepared in the project site and its adjacent area. The system would be modified

and upgraded based on the results of monitoring.

STEP4 Proposal for REDD implementation in Laos

The project will summarize recommendations for REDD in Laos based on the results of the

system implementation.

3.5 Capacity development and awareness building

Capacity development is indispensable for smooth implementation and sustainability of the

project. The project will provide necessary training in the form of lectures, on-the-job training

and study tours to both within and outside Laos. In particular, the capacities of PAFO and

DAFO counterpart staff need to be enhanced because they will play a key role in system

implementation in the field.

Awareness raising about MAF policies such as shifting cultivation stabilization, sustainable forest

management is also quite important; particularly, climate change and REDD are new topics to

most stakeholders and there are not many ongoing projects in Laos. The project will have an

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opportunity to disseminate relevant information with visual materials as necessary.

Possible training topics are listed as follows:

For central and PAFO counterparts

Climate change and REDD

Land forest allocation and land use planning

GIS and satellite image analysis

Forest inventory including carbon stock estimation

Community-based forest management

Agricultural production techniques including NTFP domestication

For DAFO counterparts



Forest inventory including carbon stock estimation



For villagers





3.6 Exit strategy and sustainability of the project

The project gives a priority to developing an approach to community-based forest management

and livelihood improvement for reducing deforestation and forest degradation at village and

village cluster levels. In order to ensure the sustainability of the project, the project plans to

enhance the capacities of local agencies and villagers so that trained human resources will be able

to contribute to agriculture and forestry development in upland areas.

The project is carefully designed to align with MAF’s mainstream policies such as upland

development initiatives, village cluster development, and national REDD implementation in Laos.

Therefore, the system to be developed is expected to contribute to these policies. In case of

REDD, the system of reducing deforestation can be applied as a countermeasure against

excessive land and forest use at the local level because emission from deforestation and forest

degradation is highly associated with local land and forest use.

A budgetary constraint is one of the main obstacles for the sustainability of the project. As

described in 3.1, REDD can be possible solution to overcome this constraint. However, the

system can function as a mitigation measure for deforestation and forest degradation only if

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GOL formulates REDD implementation framework and incentive mechanisms for village and

village cluster levels. Therefore, the project will also support national REDD framework

development by sharing our lessons and recommendations through REDD Task Force meetings.

4 Relevant policies of the Government of Laos

1) Overall development strategies

The GOL’s overall development strategies are articulated in the Sixth National Socio-economic

Development Plan for 2006-2010. Under this framework, MAF has developed its own

development strategy consisting of “4 targets and 13 measures” to contribute to the GOL’s

overall strategies. These include: i) increased food production and security; ii) increased

commodity production; iii) stabilization of shifting cultivation; and iv) sustainable forest

management to increase forest cover to 53% (12 million hectares) by 2010. PAREDD relates to

the last two (iii and iv) of the four targets and is expected to contribute to the achievements of

the targets by providing alternative livelihoods to shifting cultivation farmers and introducing

land and forest use planning.

2) Upland development strategies – Upland Sub-Working Group and National Programme

As part of the national efforts to improve sectoral aid coordination and effectiveness, Sector

Working Group on Agriculture, Rural Development and Natural Resources was established with

the chairmanship of MAF, and within that MAF established four sub-working groups: irrigation,

forestry, agribusiness and uplands development.

SWG on Uplands Development (SWG/UD), chaired by MAF and co-chaired by Agence

Francaise de Developpement (AFD), aims to progress MAF’s overall objectives in the

development of the northern uplands through a program-based approach. Four donors have

taken the lead in supporting a program-based approach including AFD, the Swiss Agency for

Development and Cooperation, the European Commission, and German Technical Cooperation.

As a pilot of a program-based programme, SWG/UD has developed a joint 4-year initiative,

“National Uplands Development Programme (NUDP)”, which aims to secure and improve

livelihoods of the rural poor in the northern uplands based on sustainable land and natural

resource management and community driven development.

In the process of developing NUDP, FORCOM project has provided useful insights into upland

development based on its experience with CSPT. Being a project developed based on

FORCOM’s results, PAREDD also strives to collaborate and align with SWG/UD to the extent

possible, especially where the target districts of PAREDD and NUDP overlap, so that the

achievements and lessons from FORCOM could be made good use of in their programme and

the synergies are generated among various donor programmes in upland development in an

effective manner.

15

3) Land and forest use in upland development

The priorities of the GOL’s upland development have been placed on poverty eradication and

shifting cultivation stabilization, as outlined in the Government’s Strategic Vision for the

Agriculture Sector in 1999 and the National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy (NGPES)

in 2004. These policy documents place a high priority on sustainable land and forest use on

sloping land and poverty eradication in 47 poorest districts through the promotion of

commercial farming.

One of the landmark government programs on upland development was the Land and Forest

Allocation Program (LFAP), introduced in the early 1990s as a means of recognizing local

communities’ rights to use and manage land and forest and thus encouraging shifting cultivation

stabilization and cash crop production (MAF Decree No.822/1996). The outcomes of upland

development have been mixed; while the transition to commercial agriculture have helped

generate incomes for farmers with market access, upland programs by and large have often led to

increased vulnerabilities due to exposure to regional markets or food insecurities due to a limited

number of farming plots.

The government responded to such situations by reinforcing its commitment to improving the

LFAP in terms of impacts on villagers’ livelihoods and village land and forest use (Forestry

Strategies to the Year 2020; 2005). Moreover, to respond to increasingly competing land uses in

the north, the government has recently developed a new manual on participatory agriculture and

forest land use planning at village and village cluster levels (NAFES, DOF, NAFRI, NLMA;

2009) to reinforce sustainable management and use of land and natural resources. The new

manual responds to the government policy to manage socio-economic development at the village

cluster (Kum Ban) level. PAREDD plans to carry out land and forest use planning based on the

official manual.

4) Agriculture and forestry extension through Kum Ban (village cluster)

Recognizing the need to accelerate socio-economic development in local areas, the GOL

instructed to establish village clusters (Kum Ban) and improve local access to various government

services including education, health and infrastructure (Party Politburo Instruction No.09/2004;

Prime Minister’s instruction No. 09/2007 supplemented by Prime Minister’s Order No. 13/2008).

Significant progress has been made since 2007 in delineating village cluster boundaries and

preparing village cluster development plans.

MAF responded to village cluster development by establishing Agriculture and Forestry

Technical Service Centers (TSC) at the cluster level where extension staff would be posted (MAF

Decree No.0216/2008; NAFES Guideline No.0649/2008). TSCs are expected to make

agriculture and forestry extension more accessible for farmers and accelerate MAF’s efforts in

implementing its “4 Targets and 13 Measures”.

In the meantime, the Lao Extension Approach has aligned its capacity building activities to

strengthen extension activities from village clusters. PAREDD also plans to align its extension

16

activities to accommodate an emerging extension structure at village cluster level and seeks to

collaborate with TSCs wherever possible.

5) Reduced Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD)

Deforestation, mainly conversion of forests to agricultural land, has significant impacts on CO2

emission. Therefore, REDD has been gaining the momentum in climate change negotiations

from both international and national levels.

Realizing that REDD is highly valuable for both forest management and livelihood improvement

for forest-dependent people, GOL has been making considerable efforts in preparing REDD

instruments with National REDD Task Force as the main vehicle for REDD discussions and

implementation. High-level officials from DOF and Water Resources and Environment

Administration have participated in several meetings under UNFCCC negotiations and

workshops on methodological issues related to REDD.

GOL has sought an opportunity to participate in the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF)

established by the World Bank and submitted Readiness Plan Idea Note with the support of

Forest Strategy 2020 Implementation Promotion Project, a joint cooperation project of DOF,

JICA and Swedish International Development Agency. In July 2008, Laos was selected as one of

the 14 participating countries of FCPF and begun to develop a Readiness Plan for preparing the

necessary strategies and frameworks on REDD implementation.

In addition to these efforts, GOL has established the national committee for the formulation of

a National Climate Change Strategy, which includes MAF. REDD will be one of the main

components in this strategy and related plans.

Regarding bilateral donors, donors have rapidly shifted their technical and financial assistance in

forestry sector to REDD readiness in recent years as readiness for REDD implementation is an

urgent issue to be addressed by the international community as a whole. Finnish and German

governments have already expressed the support for REDD implementation in Laos. PAREDD

seeks to coordinate with these projects as much as possible so that the synergies are created and

duplication of efforts avoided.

As of December 2009, despite the fact that REDD has been gaining the momentum in climate

change negotiations, there is still uncertainty about the form of a future REDD regime, which

will eventually depend on the international agreement being reached in the context of post-2012

climate change negotiations. Though Laos has already started to prepare for REDD since 2007,

Laos is still an early stage of REDD development. PAREDD is expected to provide useful

insights for future implementation of REDD in Laos.

17

5 Project design

5.1 Target Area and Group

The project covers two types of target area. One is PAREDD site and the other is FORCOM

site.

1) PAREDD sites: located in 2 or 3 clusters of Luang Prabang province where the system of

reducing deforestation will be implemented. As of January 2010, the project is in the process

of selecting appropriate PAREDD sites in Luang Prabang province based on the forest cover

change map and statistics. Necessary conditions for the selection of target area is that the

area still has a certain level of remaining forests but deforestation and forest degradation is

occurring due to slash and burn agriculture or shifting cultivation.

It should be noted that though village cluster is the basic unit of PAREDD sites, the size of

target forest area may not necessarily correspond to the area of a specific cluster selected as

PAREDD sites. Therefore, the number of target villages and village clusters will be

determined depending on the size of forest area as well as the feasibility of the project in

terms of time frame and budget.

2) FORCOM sites: these sites are the former project sites of FORCOM project in nine districts

of six northern provinces (Luang Prabang, Sayaboury, Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Houaphan,

and Vientiane).

3) The target groups, who will benefit through the process in which the project outputs are

produced, are 1) villagers and extension staff of the districts in which the PAREDD sites are

located; 2) C/P staff of the project, staff of the DOF and NAFES, as well as DAFO/PAFO

staff in the PAREDD sites.

5.2 Overall Goal

The Overall Goal, which is to be achieved within three years after the project termination, is;

If the system of reducing deforestation is successfully developed and proved effective and if

GOL will formulate REDD implementation framework for the village level, the system can be

applied to the villages and village clusters in the northern Laos.

The project has set the following two indicators to measure the Overall Goal with, all of which

should be achieved by 2017: 1) the number of villages where a land and forest use plan is

developed increases by more than 30% of the number of PAREDD target villages in the

The system of reducing deforestation is applied in the northern part of Laos.

18

northern part of Laos; and 2) the number of villages where activities based on land and forest

use plan are implemented increases by more than 30% of the number of PAREDD target

villages in the northern part of Laos.

The project envisions that the system of reducing deforestation will be further applied to other

areas in the northern Laos as a mitigation measure against deforestation and forest degradation;

however, attainment of the overall goal depends on the trend of international and domestic

discussions on REDD.

5.3 Project Purpose

The system of reducing deforestation is developed through participatory land and forest

management.

PAREDD aims to develop the system of reducing deforestation within the 5 years of project

duration. As described in 3.2, the system of reducing deforestation is defined as the approach to

mitigate deforestation and forest degradation at village and village cluster levels in the northern

Laos.

An operational manual of the system is indispensable to clarify the methodology and procedure

based on the experience and lessons learned from the system implementation. Moreover, the

operational manual is expected to facilitate further implementation of the system and

dissemination of the project results. The first indicator measures this aspect:

1) An operational manual is developed on the system of reducing deforestation.

The system would be expected to contribute to both reducing deforestation and forest

degradation, and improving livelihoods. Second and third indicators measure these aspects.

2) In the PAREDD sites where project activities have been implemented for more than 2 years,

the rate of deforestation is decreased or the forest cover is increased compared to the baselines,

and 3) Where PAREDD activities have been implemented for more than 2 years, more than 50 %

of villagers reply that their livelihoods have improved.

As seen in the above indicators, the effects and impacts of the system implementation are

expected to emerge in 2 years after project activities are commenced. But in reality, it is likely to

be difficult to confirm the outcomes of the system within 2 years of the system implementation.

19

5.4 Outputs and Activities

The project aims to produce the following four Outputs to achieve Project Purpose:

Output 1: The system of reducing deforestation is designed through improvement of

Community Support Programme Tool (CSPT).

Output 2: The system of reducing deforestation is implemented in PAREDD sites.

Output 3: Changes in forest cover/carbon stock and socio-economic conditions are monitored in

and around the PAREDD sites.

Output 4: The system of reducing deforestation is proposed as a mitigation measure for climate

change.

1) Links among the Outputs and between the Outputs and the Project Purpose

At the beginning of the project, planning, implementation and monitoring stages of the system

will be designed (Output 1). In the selected project sites, the system will be implemented at the

village and village cluster levels (Output 2). After the implementation, the outcomes and impacts

of the system will be monitored in terms of forest cover, forest carbon stock and

socio-economic aspects (Output 3). The experiences from Outputs 1, 2, and 3, including lessons

learned on the system implementation, will all form the basis in preparing a set of

recommendations under Output 4, which will serve not only for attaining the Project Purpose,

but also for moving a step forward towards the Overall Goal.

2) Output 1 and its activities

Output 1: The system of reducing deforestation is designed through improvement of


Activities:

1.1 Identify lessons learned and issues in FORCOM sites for CSPT improvement.

1.2 Consolidate CSPT to align with upland development initiatives.

1.3 Improve CSPT for integrating into the system of reducing deforestation.

1.4 Identify recommended activities for reducing deforestation based on the information on

agriculture and forestry.

1.5 Design the planning stage of the system of reducing deforestation based on the official

manual on agriculture and forest land use planning.

1.6 Design the monitoring stage of the system of reducing deforestation.

1.7 Draft an operational manual on the system of reducing deforestation.

Output 1 is geared toward designing the system of reducing deforestation by drawing on

FORCOM’s experience and lessons learned. Therefore, the project will carry out field surveys in

20

FORCOM sites to identify lessons learned and areas for improvement in terms of the planning,

implementation and monitoring stages of CSPT (Activity 1.1). Outcomes of the surveys will be

used for designing an appropriate planning, implementation and monitoring method and

procedures for the system.

For the designing of planning process (Activity 1.5), land and forest use planning based on the

official manual will be introduced into the system. However, careful attention is required in

integrating land use planning and activities into one integrated procedure.

In designing implementation process (Activity 1.3 and 1.4), careful consideration should be given

in setting up a mechanism to deliver technical and financial input. In terms of technical delivery,

selection of appropriate activities and techniques as well as necessary training plan should be

designed. In terms of finance for activities, a mechanism that enables efficient input-output flow

of finance should be devised with input being budget for activities and output being potential

carbon credits arising from reduced carbon emission. Possible options of such a financial

mechanism include a revolving system and a village development fund. A financial mechanism

must enable equitable and effective distribution of potential benefits from carbon credits. Finally,

organizational and implementation arrangements at the village and cluster levels should be

designed in a way that allows for smooth and sustainable implementation of both land use

planning and activities.

For the designing of monitoring process (Activity 1.6), the project will design how to assess the

effects and impacts of the system implementation on the changes in both land/forest cover and

forest carbon stock at the village and village cluster levels. A balanced approach of remote

sensing and ground truth surveys should be adopted to meet REDD requirements to a certain

extent.

The whole process of planning, implementation and monitoring will be incorporated as a draft

operational manual on the system of reducing deforestation for use in Output 2.

Last but not least, PAREDD continues to make efforts to consolidate CSPT to align with

mainstream upland development initiatives such as SWG/UD (Activity 1.2). The lessons

identified in Activity 1.1 and output of FORCOM (e.g. CSPT manual) will be shared with

SWG/UP as one of successful approaches to upland development for possible up-scaling of

CSPT.

Achievement of Output 1 can be measured by the following indicators:

1) Improvements to CSPT that are necessary for applying it to the system are compiled as a

report.

2) More than 4-5 recommended activities for reducing deforestation are identified.

3) A draft operational manual is developed on the system of reducing deforestation.

21


Output2: The system of reducing deforestation is implemented in PAREDD sites.

Activities:

2.1 Select 2 or 3 clusters as PAREDD sites.

2.2 Provide training for extension staffs on the planning and implementation stages of the

system of reducing deforestation.

2.3 Formulate village land and forest use plan by villager’s participation.

2.4 Implement activities for reducing deforestation

2.5 Modify the draft operational manual on the planning and implementation stages of the

system of reducing deforestation.

Implementation of the designed system is the scope of Output 2.

Prior to the system implementation, PAREDD sites should be selected in Luang Prabang

province (refer to 5.1 for detail).

The project will provide active support for the capacity building of C/Ps for the system

implementation.

Trained C/Ps together with Japanese experts will assist in implementing planning and

implementation stages of the system in the target village and village clusters. Trained DAFO and

PAFO staff provide training and technical support for villagers to implement activities. Following

the land and forest use planning, activities for reducing deforestation will be selected through

consultation with the villagers. It should be noted that the selection would be based on not only

villagers’ needs but also the feasibility of the activities of their choice and/or the scope of

activities recommended by the project.

After the implementation of the system in the first year, the project will review the planning and

implementation stages of the system based on field experience and improve the process for the

second year’s implementation.


1) Trained extension staff are capable of carrying out the planning and implementation

processes of system of reducing deforestation in more than XX* villages of the PAREDD sites.

2) A land and forest use plan is made in more than XX* villages of PAREDD sites.

3) Activities for reducing deforestation are implemented in more than XX* villages.

*Figures for XX will be determined after deciding on PAREDD sites.

22


Output 3: Changes in forest cover/carbon stock and socio-economic conditions are monitored

in and around the PAREDD sites.

Activities:

3.1 Identify underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation.

3.2 Establish a baseline for monitoring on changes in forest cover/carbon stock.

3.3 Prepare baseline data on socio-economic conditions.

3.4 Monitor forest cover/carbon stock.

3.5 Monitor socio-economic conditions.

Output 3 covers the monitoring of forest changes in the project area. As described in previous

chapter, the system will primarily contribute to reducing deforestation and forest degradation at

the village level. Therefore, the effectiveness of the system in terms of forest changes should be

carefully examined. On the other hand, the system is expected to contribute to livelihood

improvement and poverty reduction in the target villages as well. Therefore, monitoring on

socio-economic condition will be carried out in the target area.

Monitoring consists of two parts: 1) setting up baseline (Activity 3.2 and 3.3) and 2) monitoring

the outcomes and impacts against the baseline (Activity 3.4 and 3.5). Appropriate methodology,

timing, scale, and equipment include satellite imageries, should be examined to produce tangible

and credible monitoring results.


1) The baselines of forest cover/carbon stock and socio-economic condition are established for

the purpose of monitoring.

2) The changes in forest cover/carbon stock and socio-economic conditions are regularly

monitored by counterpart staff.


Output 4: The system of reducing deforestation is proposed as a mitigation measure for climate change.

Activities:

4.1 Assess the outcomes and impacts of the system of reducing deforestation in the PAREDD

sites.

4.2 Consolidate the system of reducing deforestation based on the assessment.

4.3 Organize workshops to share the results of the system of reducing deforestation.

4.4 Make recommendations based on the finalized system of reducing deforestation and its

implementation results.

23

In Output 4, a set of recommendations as a mitigation measure for climate change will be

prepared based on the results of system design and its implementation. First of all, the project

will assess the effectiveness of the system of reducing deforestation in order to consolidate the

system (Activity 4.1 and 4.2). Moreover, the project is expected to gain various experiences

through the process of system implementation and thus provide useful lessons with empirical

data. These valuable data would be distributed through workshops and REDD Task Force

meetings with the view to contributing to REDD implementation in Laos.


1) Workshops are organized to share the results of the system of reducing deforestation with

agencies concerned.

2) Report of recommendation as a mitigation measure is made.

5.5 Important Assumptions

Important assumptions are as follows:

Overall Goal

REDD-related incentives for villagers are in place in Laos.

Project Purpose

Main policies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry continue to be carried out in its

7th Five-year Plan.

Output

Frequent transfer of C/P staff does not occur.

Severe natural disaster and climate conditions do not occur in the target area.

5.6 Inputs

5.6.1 Japanese Government

1) Experts

Long-term experts:

i) Chief Advisor

ii) Extension Promotion / Project Management

iii) Forest Resource Management

iv) Rural Development

Short-term experts: Short-term experts in related fields will be dispatched as needed.

24

2) Machinery and equipment

Part of machinery and equipment necessary for the effective implementation of the project

will be provided:

i) Equipment for training and survey

ii) Office equipment and stationeries

iii) Other necessary equipment for the project implementation

3) Budget

General budget: US$1.6 million (not committed: based on budget plan as of Jan.10)

Item Amount (US$)

Local implementation cost 1,317,389

Equipment 23,333**

C/P training 262,267

TOTAL 1,602,989

5.6.2 Lao Government

1) Project personnel

i) Project Director

Deputy Director General, National Agriculture and Forestry Extension Service (NAFES)

ii) Project Manger

Senior technical staff from NAFES

iii) Other project staff composed of:

- Full-time C/P staff from Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO) of Luang

Prabang province to be based in Project Office

- Technical staff from District Agriculture and Forestry Office (DAFO)

- Other personnel mutually agreed upon as necessary

iv) Administrative personnel

- Administrative and clerical staff

- Drivers

- Other supporting staff necessary for the project implementation

2) List of land, buildings and facilities

i) Office buildings and facilities in Vientiane Municipality and Luang Prabang province for

the implementation of the project

ii) Support for installing facilities such as electricity, air conditioning, water supply and

necessary telecommunication facilities including telephone, facsimile and internet services

iii) Other facilities agreed upon as necessary

3) Other necessary budget for local operation

25

5.7 Project Design Matrix (PDM)

The project design is summarized as Project Design Matrix (PDM), attached as Annex 1.

5.8 Plan of Operation

The project operates according to the Plan of Operation (PO), attached as Annex 2.

6 Project management and coordination

6.1 Project implementation structure

1) MAF line agencies

The project needs technical collaboration with relevant departments under MAF as

administration and technical supporting agencies for project implementation. The expected roles

of each organization are to provide necessary information and guidance on technical matters

such as policy direction, technical problems that would arise in the process of project

implementation, and administrative procedures including manuals and guidelines and

recommendations proposed by the project.

The project’s implementing structure is presented in Annex 3. The project is operated under

NAFES in collaboration with DOF at the central level. NAFES takes the responsibility for

overall implementation of the project as the main counterpart agency. In addition, NAFES

provides guidance and support on policy and technical matters concerning agriculture and

forestry extension, especially land and forest use planning and activities. DOF is to be responsible

for forest management and other forest related activities and give necessary support on technical

matters pertaining to the implementation of the project, especially on the monitoring of forest

cover and carbon stock.

The project carries out project activities in line with PAFO, DAFO(s), village clusters and TSC(s).

PAFO plays a key role in project implementation. PAFO is in charge of planning, implementing

and monitoring of the project activities and provides necessary guidance and support for DAFO

staff in implementing project activities. It is also expected to cooperate and collaborate with local

authorities concerned at the provincial level.

DAFO takes responsibility of the field activities. In addition, DAFO coordinates with district

authorities concerned including TSCs and villages.

Village clusters and TSCs support field activities at the village and village cluster levels. In

particular, TSCs provide necessary training for farmers to implement field activities.

Expected roles of NAFES, DOF, PAFO and DAFO are presented as Annex 4.

2) Coordination with other relevant organizations

The results of the project will contribute to REDD implementation in Laos. Therefore, the

26

project will coordinate with REDD Task Force under DOF to disseminate the project’s results

and share other information on REDD implementation.

At the field level, the project will work in close coordination with other local authorities at

provincial, district and village levels. Specifically, coordination with District Land Management

Authority is important as the authority certifies and endorses Land and Forest Use Plan at village

and village cluster levels.

6.2 Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC)

Joint Coordinating Committee (JCC) is the mechanism to oversee the project implementation

and inputs. The details of the JCC are as follows:

1) Functions

JCC meets at least once a year or whenever necessary. The main functions of JCC include:

i) to approve the Annual Plan of Operation formulated by the project in accordance with

Record of Discussions (R/D);

ii) to review the overall progress of the project and activities carried out under the

above-mentioned Annual Plan of Operation in particular;

iii) to approve the new Annual Plan of Operation for the next fiscal year;

iv) to review and exchange views on major issues arising from or concerning the project; and

v) to facilitate coordination with other relevant authorities.

2) Membership

i) Chairperson: Director General, DOP, MAF

ii) Co-chairperson: Chief Representative, JICA Laos Office

iii) Vice Chairpersons: a. Director General / Deputy Director General, NAFES, MAF

b. Director General / Deputy Director General, DOF, MAF

iv) Lao side a. Project Manager

b. Director General / Deputy Director General, NAFRI, MAF

c. Representative, Department of International Cooperation, MPI

d. Director General / Deputy Director General, Department of Land

Planning and Development, National Land Management Authority

e. Director General of PAFO in Luang Prabang

f. Other officials mutually agreed upon

v) Japanese side a. Representative of JICA Laos Office

b. Japanese experts of the project

c. Other relevant personnel mutually agreed upon.

Note: Official(s) of Embassy of Japan may attend the JCC as observer(s).

27

Annex 1 Project Design Matrix

Project Design Matrix (PDM)

Project title: Participatory Land and Forest Management Project for Reducing Deforestation in Lao P.D.R. (PAREDD)

Target group: Target area: Ver.: PDM0 draft

Duration: August 2009 - August 2014 Villagers in PAREDD sites; extension staff of target provinces and districts; NAFES; DOFPAREDD sites (Luang Prabang Province) and

FORCOM sites(FORCOM target villages in six provinces:LPB, SYB,BOK, LNT, HPN, VTE) Date: 15 December 2009

Narrative Summary Objectively Verifiable Indicators Means of Verification Important Assumptions

Overall Goal

1 PAFO reports

REDD-related incentives for villagers are in place in

Laos.The system of reducing deforestation is applied in the northern part of Laos. 1

2

The number of villages where a land and forest use plan is developed increases by more than 30% of the number of PAREDD target

villages in the northern part of Laos by 2017.

The number of villages where mitigation activities based on land and forest use plan are implemented increases by more than 30% of the

number of PAREDD target villages in the northern part of Laos by 2017.

Project Purpose

The system of reducing deforestation is developed through participatory land

and forest management.

1

2

3

An operational manual is developed on the system of reducing deforestation.

Where PAREDD activities have been implemented for more than 2 years, the rate of deforestation is decreased or the forest cover is

increased compared to the baselines.

Where PAREDD activities have been implemented for more than 2 years, more than 50 % of villagers reply that their livelihoods have

improved.

1　Operational manual on the system of reducing deforestation

2 Project monitoring reports

3 Project monitoring reports

Main policies of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

continue to be carried out in its 7th Five-year Plan.

Outputs

1 The system of reducing deforestation is designed through improvement of


1.1

1.2

1.3

Improvements to CSPT that are necessary for applying it to the system are compiled as a report.

More than 4-5 recommended activities for reducing deforestation are identified.

A draft operational manual is developed on the system of reducing deforestation.

1.1 Report on CSPT improvements

1.2 Project reports

1.3 Draft operational manual on the system of reducing deforestation

1. Frequent transfer of counterpart staff does not occur.

2. Severe natural disaster and climate conditions do

not occur in the target area.

2 The system of reducing deforestation is implemented in PAREDD sites. 2.1

2.2

2.3

Trained extension staff are capable of carrying out the planning and implementation processes of system of reducing deforestation in more

than XX* villages of the PAREDD sites.

A land and forest use plan is made in more than XX* villages of PAREDD sites.

Mitigation activities are implemented in more than XX* villages.

2.1 Project monitoring reports

2.2 Participatory land and forest use plans

2.3 Project reports

3 Changes in forest cover/carbon stock and socio-economic conditions are

monitored in and around the PAREDD sites.

3.1

3.2

The baselines of forest cover/carbon stock and socio-economic conditions are established for the purpose of monitoring.

The changes in forest cover/carbon stock and socio-economic conditions are regularly monitored by counterpart staff.



4 The system of reducing deforestation is proposed as a mitigation measure for

climate change.

4.1

4.2

Workshops are organized to share the results of the system of reducing deforestation with agencies concerned.

Report of recommendation as a mitigation measure is made.

4.1 Workshop report

4.2 Recommendation report

Activities Inputs

1.1 Identify lessons learned and issues in FORCOM sites for CSPT improvement. Government of Lao PDR

cf) Definitions of terms used

1.2 Consolidate CSPT to align with upland development initiatives. 1. Counterpart personnel

- Project Director 1. System of reducing deforestation

1.3 Improve CSPT for integrating into the system of reducing deforestation. - Project Manager System of reducing deforestation is an approach to mitigate deforestation and forest degradation at

- Technical staff from Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office village and village cluster levels in the Northern Laos.

1.4 Identify recommended activities for reducing deforestation based on the

information on agriculture and forestry.

- Technical staff from District Agriculture and Forestry Office

- Other personnel mutually agreed upon as necessary

1.5 Design the planning stage of the system of reducing deforestation based on

the official manual on agriculture and forest land use planning.2. Mitigation Activities for Reducing Deforestation

2. Administrative personnel A series of activities to be implemented based on Land and Forest Use Plan.

- Administrative, clerical personnel and other supporting staff as necessary Mitigation activities include both a) forest management activities and b) livelihood improvement activities

1.6 Design the monitoring stage of the system of reducing deforestation. - Drivers as well as shifting cultivation stabilization.

1.7 Draft an operational manual on the system of reducing deforestation. 3. Land, building and facilities 3. PAREDD sites

- Office buildings and facilities 2 or 3 clusters selected in Luang Prabang Province

- Support for facilities such as electricity, telecommunication facilities, water supply, etc.

2.1 Select 2 or 3 clusters as PAREDD sites. 4 FORCOM sites

2.2 Provide training for extension staffs on the system of reducing deforestation. 4. Local operation costs FORCOM project’s target area, which covers 9 districts in 6 northern provinces

(LPB, SYB,BOK, LNT, HPN, VTE).

2.3 Formulate village land and forest use plan by villager’s participation. Japanese Government

2.4 Implement mitigation activities. 1. Experts

2.5 Modify the draft operational manual on the system of reducing deforestation. - Chief Advisor

- Extension Promotion/Project Management

- Forest Resource Management

3.1 Identify underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation. - Rural Development

- Experts in other areas deemed necessary

3.2 Establish a baseline for monitoring on changes in forest cover/carbon stock.

2. Machinery, equipment and materials

3.3 Prepare baseline data on socio-economic conditions. - Equipment for training and survey

3.4 Monitor forest cover/carbon stock. - Machinery, office equipment and stationeries Preconditions

3.5 Monitor socio-economic conditions. 1.Communities living in the target area do not oppose

the implementation of the project.3. Counterpart training in Japan and third countries

4.1 Assess the outcomes and impacts of the system of reducing deforestation in

the PAREDD sites.

2.The security in the project area does not

4. Local operation costs (partially) deteriorate.

4.2 Consolidate the system of reducing deforestation based on the assessment. 3. No major development plans are scheduled in

the target area.

4.3 Organize workshops to share the results of the system of reducing

deforestation.

4.4 Make recommendations based on the finalized system of reducing

deforestation and its implementation results.

*Figures for XX will be determined after deciding on PAREDD sites.

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Annex 2: Plan of Operation

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Annex 3 Project implementation structure

NAFES

PAREDD

Project

REDD

Task Force

PAFO

LPB C/P

DAFOs C/P

Clusters /

Technical Service

Centers

MAF

DOF

JCC

(PAREDD sites) (FORCOM sites)

DOP

DOF

NAFES

NAFRI,

DLPD (NLMA)

PAFO/LPB

MPI

DAFOs

PAFOs

Clusters /

Technical Service

Centers

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Annex 4 Expected roles of NAFES, DOF, PAFO and DAFO

Organization Roles and functions

NAFES To be responsible for overall implementation of the project as the

main counterpart agency.

To provide guidance and support on policy and technical matters

concerning agriculture and forestry extension, especially land and

forest use planning and activities.

To coordinate with other departments of MAF for effective

implementation of the project.

DOF To provide necessary supports on technical matters pertaining to the

implementation of the project, especially on the monitoring of forest

cover/carbon stock.

To provide guidance on zoning and management of forest and forest

land and information about REDD+ issues as the Char of the REDD

Task Force.

PAFO To be in charge of planning, implementing and monitoring of the

project activities.

To provide necessary guidance and support for DAFO staff in

implementing project activities.

To cooperate and collaborate with local authorities concerned.

DAFO To take responsibility of the field activities.

To coordinate with local authorities concerned within the district

including TSCs and villages.

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