In Lao PDR, 67% of the population is rural and relies on natural resources for livelihoods and income generation. Over 50% of the country’s wealth is its natural capital, being a globally important biodiversity hotspot. Forests cover a total of 13.7 million ha (58% of the country’s surface), of which 3.1 million are classified as production forests. As such, Lao PDR was part of the 8 pilot countries of the Forest Investment Program (FIP). The 2011 Lao PDR FIP investment plan identified production forests as a key focus area to address drivers of deforestation and forest degradation, and thus the three approved projects outlined in the investment plan focused on different dimensions of production forestry from complementary perspectives to be consistent with FIP’s programmatic approach.
This case study reviews thematic areas of the World Bank (WB) implemented FIP Sustainable Forestry for Rural Development – Scaling Up (SUFORD-SU) project, which will conclude March 2020. Data collection combines a review of available primary and secondary documentation with in-country discussions with key stakeholders. Findings reflect the main contributions of the SUFORD-SU project with regard to Reducing
Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+), participatory sustainable forest management, village livelihoods development, social safeguards, governance & law enforcement, and finally private sector & stakeholder coordination.