Objective 1 To explore, test and demonstrate effective methods and mechanisms in generating sustainable flow to closely related stakeholders
OUTPUT 1 Forest land use plan at district and village levels developed
Activity 1.1 Develop strategic forest land use plan at 3 pilot districts
Activity1.1.1 Review forest land uses in 3 pilot districts
Review will be conducted on forest land use and forest land use plans at the three selected districts to analyse the gap and needs to develop/update forest land use strategic plan. The analysis will mainly focus on forest related policies and laws, the information on socio-economic development plans including forestry and agriculture development plans, and problems and challenges in the current forest land use plans in the three districts.
Activity 1.1.2 Establish GIS-based forest land information system
GIS-based forest land information system will be established to facilitate integrated land use planning in the 3 districts by producing land use maps and supportive information for decision making. A working team in each district will be established and trained to collect and analyse data and maintain the system.
Activity 1.1.3 Interpret the satellite images
Satellite images for the 3 districts will be purchased. A working team in each district will be established and trained to interpret the satellite images. The information resulted from satellite images will be input into GIS-based forest land information system, contributing to producing forest land use mapping in the districts.
Activity 1.1.4 Conduct ground truth
Based on the analysis of the data from activity 1.1.3 and data on land zoning and current forest inventory in Laos, the ground truth will be conducted for boundaries and zoning correction, reclassifying the forest categories. Forest land use maps will be produced.
Activity 1.1.5 Develop strategic forest land use plan
Based on the data collected, consultation meetings will be held to draft strategic forest land use plan for each district. The Plan shall be consisted of forest land use maps, adjustments on land use and planning, implementation safeguards for forest land use plan (i.e. organizational, technical and financial supports), the management plan for the conservation, protection and production forests and plan for reforestation and afforestation as well as policy recommendations on how to integrate the strategic forest land use plan into socio-economic development plan at district or even provincial level.
Activity 1.2 Develop a participatory land use plan at 3 pilot villages
Activity 1.2.1 Conduct baseline survey on land uses in the pilot villages
On the basis of results from activity 1.1, detailed surveys will be carried out for all types of land, mainly focusing on production forest land, village use forest land and agriculture land. Information on socio-economic development, forest resources, wood products and NTFPs, forest management practices and traditional knowledge, the attitude and behaviours on forest management of villagers will be collected and analysed. Constraints, problems and challenges on land use and forest management will be identified.
Activity 1.2.2 Develop forest land use plan
A land use plan for each village will be drafted on the basis of the reasonable balance among ecological protection, biodiversity conservation, village development demand and land resources availability etc. A forest land use plan will be developed for village use forest, protection forest and conservation forest. The safeguards for the implementation of the forest land use plan will be proposed. The participatory approaches such as questionnaire, semi-structure interviews and group meetings will be applied to collect views and opinions from villagers and related stakeholders.
Activity 1.3 Develop a manual on forest land use planning
The consultants will be contracted to compile a manual on forest land use planning based on the reports and outcomes resulted from activity 1.1 and activity 1.2. The manual will be written in English and translated into Lao language.