Project News

F-REDD 2 supports institutional setting and capacity building for REDD+ implementation in Savannakhet Province. At the start of F-REDD 2, a kick-off meeting was held for officials from the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO) and District Agriculture and Forestry Office in Savannakhet Province. First, the progress of REDD+ in Laos was introduced, then the F-REDD 2 activities and work plan were explained for discussion and comment.

Until now, JICA technical cooperation in the forestry sector has been implemented mainly in northern Laos, but it is the first time that the project will be implemented in central and southern Laos. In Savannakhet Province, the expansion of the cultivation of cash crops such as cassava is leading to deforestation in conservation forest areas, and the meeting presented an opportunity to hear about the high expectations and interest of provincial- and district-level officials on the issue.

The kick-off meeting was co-chaired by the Deputy Director General of the Department of Forestry (DOF) and the Deputy Director General of the PAFO. Counterparts from the DOF at the central level introduced REDD+ and explained the outline of F-REDD 2. The Lao counterparts took the initiative in project management; we look forward to the implementation of activities under Laos' ownership.

F-REDD 2 Kick-off Meeting in Savannakhet Province

Agricultural land conversion and deforestation near a National Conservation Forest Area