Project News

F-REDD is supporting the formulation of the Provincial REDD+ Action Plan (PRAP) in Luang Prabang province, which describes the drivers and measures of deforestation and forest degradation in the province. One of them is to strengthen the capacity of the Protection Forest management for the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO) in Luang Prabang. The Protection Forest occupies roughly 60% of the area of Luang Prabang province and 60% of the actual forest land also stay in the Protection Forest area. How to manage the Protection Forest properly is a very important challenge as rapid deforestation mainly due to expansion of agricultural land is the severe problem in the province.

Consulting with the PAFO, F-REDD selected the Phou Pheung - Phou Pha Thoun - Tat Kuang Si Protection Forest Area (PP-PPT-TKS PFA) of 34,000 ha as a pilot site, which still relatively remains intact nature in spite of the vicinity to the Luang Prabang City, and started to formulate the Protection Forest management plan.

The necessary information in terms of soil and water conservation was collected by analyzing satellite image and the Digital Elevation Models of the target area and also through the village interview survey. For instance, intact forests free of disturbance in the last 15 years, important water sources and rivers, historical or potential slope failure area have been identified. The view of biodiversity was also taken into account for the planning. The Project developed the list of the endangered species of wild animals and plants inhabiting in the PP-PPT-TKS PTA and also collected the habitat location data.

There have been villages existing in the PP-PPT-TKS PTA and other land use like swidden cultivation is found. Considering this, the PP-PPT-TKS PTA was classified based on the collected information into the Total Protection Zone (TPZ) which is to be particularly protected; and the Control Use Zone (CUZ) which allows for certain use. The forest management is now under development for the each zoning. It is also expected that the PAFO will strengthen the structure and capacity of planning and implementation for the Protection Forest management through this pilot planning.

The boundary of the Protection Forest Area was interviewed and necessary information was also collected through the interview survey at village level.

The water management area under the Water Supply State Enterprise was confirmed.