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Press Coverage: National Workshop on Forest Tenure and Policies in Lao PDR
Click here for the final agenda of the National Workshop on Forest Tenure and Policies in Lao PDR
Click here for a brief note on Lao WS on forest tenure and policies
Forest resources require protection
November 29, 2011
Forest tenure, regulations, laws and policies are important factors to
ensure the sustainable management and protection of forest resources.
A two-day workshop in Vientiane this week is focusing on these
aspects, as officials from the Department of Forestry of the Ministry
of Agriculture and Forestry discuss forest tenure and policies.
The workshop will review and reflect on the existing status of forest
tenure, policies, laws and regulations in Laos and provide inputs for
policy revision and planning processes, said Deputy Minister of
Agriculture and Forestry Dr Ty Phommasack.
It is also expected that the workshop will help in building a better
understanding of the desirability of forest policy change, tenure
reform and community rights amongst national stakeholders, and more
specific inputs and recommendations for the ongoing revision of forest
policies, laws and regulations will be provided.
Dr Ty said he hoped participants representing government agencies, the
National Assembly, civil society groups and international
organisations in Laos will share their experiences of re forming
forest tenure.
The workshop aims to continue the process of learning about tenure
reform from various countries, reflect on the experience of senior Lao
officials' visit to China and determine the pathways to forest tenure
reform in Laos.
According to a report from FAO, Laos is one of the most forested
countries in South East Asia, with 68 percent of total land (15.54
million hectares) categorised as forest.
There is a great opportunity to use forest resources for the economic
development and livelihoods of local communities and indigenous people
in Laos, if it is properly managed and a clear tenure arrangement
established to enable local people to benefit optimally.
Government agencies along with international organisations have been
working to advance forest policies, national tenure and rights agenda
for the last three decades. There is now a strong political will to
reform forest tenure and related rights in Laos.
Recent issuance of communal land titling in Sangthong district is
evidence of a government move toward diversification of tenure rights
over forests and woodlands.
The recent government decision to revise forest policies, laws and
regulations pertaining to forests, land and mining in Laos, and
related restructuring of government institutions are indicative of the
serious intent of the government.
Posted By Angela Strader at 1:59pm on December 02, 2011
Comments: 0
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