Integrated Nature Conservation and Sustainable Resource Management in the Hin Nam No RegionNature conservation and sustainable use of resources go hand in hand

L. to r.: Conservation through sustainable use

What we aim for

Laos’ biodiversity and nature are unique but threatened. To save Laos’ natural beauty, GIZ aims to support the implementation of a co-management approach to conserve the biodiversity of Hin Nam No. To do that, it works closely together with the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment and their provincial and district level counterparts.

Villagers are invited to participate in the establishment of natural resource management plans and take active responsibility for the protected area through conservation agreements. The project also wants to improve food security and generate alternative sources of income. Villagers can thus make money by becoming eco-tour guides, renting out boats, applying better agricultural techniques or selling non-timber forest products.

Project name Integrated Nature Conservation and Sustainable Resource Management in the Hin Nam No Region

Commisioned by Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Project Partners Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Department of Forest Resource Management

Project region Hin Nam No National Protected Area, Khammuan Province

Project volume 3,830,000 EUR

Duration November 2013 - October 2016

What we have achieved

Villagers and park authorities received training in park regulations and now jointly patrol the park. The Xe Bang Fai Cave River was made accessible for visitors. Green Discovery, an eco-travel agency, now offers tours to the park employing local guides.

Starting with 5 villages, the project implemented the ‘one village, one product’ concept. Women from Nyawet village for example are experts at weaving and selling bamboo handicrafts and are supported with expanding their business.

The Lao government is in the process of applying for UN World Heritage Site status for Hin Nam No, which will attract international attention, thus increasing income opportunities for the villagers.

Published by: In cooperation with:

‘My family and I have lived off the forest for generations. We hunt smaller mammals such as squirrels and rats all year round. We also collect various plants, such as bamboo shoots for our food and cut down trees to build our houses. I recently participated in a training on wildlife preservation given by the German Development Cooperation. I learnt that it is better to respect the breeding cycles of animals and only hunt when the baby animals are old enough to live independently. That way, we can be sure that there are enough animals for us to eat even in the next generation.’

Mr Saysomephone from Ban Dou village

Photos: © Joost Foppes, Mirjam de Koning

About GIZ LaosGIZ, as part of the Lao-German Development Cooperation, has been active

in Laos since 1993 and is currently implementing projects in two main

priority areas: rural development and sustainable economic development.

Moreover, we participate in regional projects on behalf of the German

Government, for example with the Mekong River Commission.

Please visit our website www.giz.de/laos for further information on GIZ’s

work in Laos and worldwide.

Published by: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH RegisteredofficesBonnandEschborn,Germany

Department of Forest Resource Management That Dam Campus Chanthabuly Distirct Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR T +856 20 5997 3025 F +856 21 243 083 www.giz.de/laos

Author(s) Magarete Magiera, Mirjam de Koning

Layout PRunit,GIZOfficeLaos

As at December 2013

GIZ is responsible for the content of this publication.

On behalf of Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)

Division Central Asia, East Asia, Laos, Cambodia

Addresses of BMZ Bonn BMZ Berlinthe BMZ offices Dahlmannstraße 4 Stresemannstraße 94 53113 Bonn, Germany 10963 Berlin, Germany T +49 (0)228 99 535-0 T +49 (0)30 18 535-0 F +49 (0)228 99 535-3500 F +49 (0)30 18 535-2501

poststelle@bmz.bund.de www.bmz.de

Left: Considering sustainable use of natural resources

Photo: © GIZ/Lucas Wahl

Background

Laos has 24 national protected areas and 2 corridors, one of the highest numbers in all of Southeast Asia, covering 15 per cent of the country. There are also numerous provincial and district conservation forests and if these are included as well, more than 20 per cent of the land area is under conservation.

Located on the Lao-Vietnamese border, the Hin Nam No National Protected Area with its 82,000 hectares forms part of one of the largest karst regions in the world. Hin Nam No’s landscape is spectacular, marked by unique limestone formations. It is home to endangered monkeys, deer, leopards and more than 520 plant species. About 22 villages with a total population of 7,000 people (2005) live around this National Protected Area, many of whom are ethnic minorities. All of them live off the land and forests. Poaching, illegal logging and weak enforcement of park regulations are putting pressure on Hin Nam No’s sensitive eco-system.

Contact person

Mirjam de Koning