Protection and Sustainable Use of Forest Ecosystems and Biodiversity (ProFEB)

Context

Laos is one of the most biodiverse countries in Southeast Asia. However, it has lost large parts of its biodiversity due to deforestation. Forests and the biodiversity are continuously threatened by agricultural activities, infrastructure developments and illegal wildlife trade. Despite low levels of environmental awareness among the population, the Lao Government has realised the importance of the forests. It has therefore committed to increase the forest cover to 70 per cent and has decided to nominate the National Park Hin Nam No for inclusion as a World Natural Heritage site. It will also enter into negotiations on a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) with the European Union (EU) to allow legal timber trade and to foster good forest governance

Objective

A multi-stakeholder approach has improved the regulatory and institutional framework in Laos to conserve forests and biodiversity

Approach

The project promotes inclusive multi-stakeholder processes to maintain forest resources and to protect biodiversity by:

establishing better framework conditions for the implementation of the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade - Voluntary Partnership Agreement (FLEGT-VPA) between Laos and the EU.

providing support for the transboundary World Heritage nomination of Hin Nam No National Park of Laos in partnership with the Vietnamese authorities.

supporting the establishment of the Environmental Education and Awareness Laos (EEAL) Alliance and developing the requisite capabilities among its members to carry out effective environmental education and awareness measures.

improving the cooperation between the Lao Government, official development assistance (ODA) partners and local people to effectively combat illegal wildlife trade.

Last update: September 2023