Context
Laos has 24 national protected areas and two corridors, more than most other Southeast Asian countries. Together they cover 15% of Laos’ total surface area. Numerous smaller conservation forests also exist at provincial and district levels, which increase the total land area under protection to more than 20%.
Located on the Lao-Vietnamese border, the Hin Nam No National Protected Area covers 82,000 hectares and forms part of one of the largest karst regions in the world. Hin Nam No’s landscape is spectacular, marked by unique limestone formations. It is home to endangered monkeys, deer, leopards and more than 520 plant species. About 20 villages are located around this national protected area. They have a combined population of 7,000 people (2005), many of whom belong to ethnic minorities. Most of these people are very poor and rely on the natural resources from within the protected area and on its margins, which provide as much as 40% of their nutritional and domestic needs. Poaching, illegal logging and the weakness with which park regulations are enforced are putting pressure on Hin Nam No’s sensitive ecosystem. While there is increasing awareness at the national level of the need to actively protect biodiversity, at the local level the technical, financial and human resources for managing and protecting the nature reserve remain inadequate.
The project in the Hin Nam No region is part of the programme ‘Climate-relevant environment and resource management in Laos’.
Objective
The NPA Management Authority and local communities conserve the biodiversity of the Hin Nam No (HNN) National Protected Area through a mutually agreed, co-management approach. Villagers have participated in establishing natural resource management plans and they actively take responsibility for the protected area through conservation agreements. Food security and alternative sources of income have improved.
Approach
The project is based on the principles of collaborative management, bringing together the intermediaries (authorities) and the target group (local population) to deal with the protection and administrative tasks at hand. This co-management approach is an innovation in Laos. Villagers form co-management committees with a mandate to protect and manage the natural resources in and around Hin Nam No, in accordance with an approved co-management plan.
The project supports its partner in improving its expertise for district administration. At the same time, it is developing collaborative management instruments with which to facilitate cooperation among all the stakeholders in the project and to provide a model at the national level. In this way, it is helping to harmonise planning for the protected area with the district and provincial plans.
To improve the economic situation of the local population, the project is involved in development partnerships to establish ecotourism products and promote their commercial application in and around the nature reserve. It also promotes measures to conserve nature and generate incomes. Designation as an ASEAN Heritage Park and UNESCO world heritage site would raise international awareness, while making it easier to secure funding and promote tourism.
Another key project component involves the provision of advice to the partner on improving the protected area management structures. This follows the introduction of administrative reforms and the identification of roles and tasks at the provincial and district level.
Results achieved so far
In February 2014, a governance assessment of Hin Nam No was carried out based on the internationally recognised guidelines of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This led to the democratic election of nineteen village co-management committees and the drafting of co-management agreements.
Villagers and park authorities received training to familiarise them with the park regulations, and they now jointly patrol the park. The Xe Bang Fai Cave River was made accessible to visitors, with tourism services being provided by the villagers. Green Discovery, an eco-travel agency, now offers tours to the park. Additional eco-tourism products have been developed, such as the nature trails, Mu Gia pass and Ho Chi Minh Trail in the north of the park, and tourism service groups have been established and given training. A ticketing system has been introduced to control entry to the park, and to generate income for the park, the villagers and the tourism and district authorities.
A feasibility study has shown the potential of ‘maktao’ (sugar palm) as a profitable non-timber forest product. The fruits of the maktao palm are a popular ingredient in sweets and desserts throughout Southeast Asia. Starting in three villages, its production is expected to create revenue for local communities in a sustainable manner. This kind of income provides an incentive to local communities to engage in nature conservation. Meanwhile, the creation of fish conservation zones in two villages also contributes to the sustainable use of natural resources.
The Lao Government is currently applying for Hin Nam No to be included in UNESCO’s World Heritage List. This would attract greater international attention and further increase the income opportunities for the villagers.