Khammouane Province Fights Deforestation with New Farmer-Led Conservation Initiative

The forestry authorities in Khammouane have launched a brand new mission to guard biodiversity and cut back poverty throughout the province. The initiative will interact 600 farmers from three districts to assist enhance livelihoods and restore native forests.

On 16 September, Humana Individuals to Individuals (HPP) Laos and the Division of Agriculture and Forestry in Khammouane signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the mission, titled “Laos Communities Deal with Poverty and Biodiversity Loss for Sustainable Growth.”

By selling each sustainable farming and forest restoration, the mission will enhance meals safety and cut back strain on pure ecosystems. These efforts intention to guard the setting whereas addressing poverty, which is usually a reason for environmental degradation.

The mission, which has a complete funds of USD 522,820, is funded by the UK’s Atmosphere and Biodiversity Belief Fund by the Darwin Initiative. It is going to run till 30 June 2027 and is being carried out in partnership with humanitarian organizations targeted on neighborhood growth and environmental safety.

Enhancing Conservation, Group Livelihoods

Khammouane is dwelling to wealthy biodiversity, together with the Nakai-Nam Theun Nationwide Park, which is a part of the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. Nonetheless, the province faces persistent environmental challenges equivalent to floodingdroughts, and deforestation. Unsustainable farming and logging have precipitated extreme harm, affecting each ecosystems and the livelihoods of communities who depend upon these assets.

Chanthaboun Vongsouthi, Director of the Yommalath District Administration Workplace, emphasised the importance of the mission in addressing the district’s environmental challenges.

“Yommalath is dealing with difficulties with locals increasing agricultural land, significantly encroaching into protected forests for cassava farming,” he defined.

4 villages in Yommalath are focused because of their proximity to strategic places, together with protected forests, conservation areas, and land adjoining to the nationwide park

“This mission is essential as a result of forest conservation is a high precedence for authorities. It is going to assist elevate consciousness amongst locals in regards to the significance of biodiversity safety and forest restoration,” Chanthaboun mentioned. “The coaching offered in sustainable livelihoods will uplift the well-being of the neighborhood by creating various sources of earnings.”

The principle purpose of the mission is to preserve biodiversity whereas supporting native communities. By working with 600 farmers and their households, the initiative will introduce sustainable farming practices, improve earnings, and improve meals safety.

A key a part of the mission includes giving communities possession over forest conservation, guaranteeing long-term sustainability by involving residents in managing and defending their pure assets.

The mission shall be carried out in 12 villages throughout Yommalath, Khounkham, and Mahaxay districts. These communities will interact in actions that mix forest restoration with income-generating alternatives.

Farmers will study climate-smart agriculture, and nurseries shall be set as much as develop 200,000 native tree seedlings, medicinal vegetation, and non-timber forest merchandise. This may assist reforest degraded areas whereas offering new earnings streams for native individuals.