LocationsIn Xonnabouly District, Savannakhet Province
Final Annual Review Meeting of the SAFE Ecosystems Project
February 3, 2022
For Lao Press Release ສຳລັບບົດຂ່າວພາສາລາວ
Co-chairs present at the final SAFE Ecosystems Project Annual Review Meeting to review 2021 results and the Terminal Evaluation report. Image by: SAFE-Ecosystems project.
Savannakhet Province, 03 February 2022 – Provincial and District Government leaders have gathered in Xonnabouly District for the final SAFE Ecosystems Project Annual Review Meeting to review 2021 results and the Terminal Evaluation report. The project, which is coming to an end of its six-year project life in May 2022, has been supported by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implemented by the Department of Forestry.
Over the past six years, the SAFE Ecosystems Project has sought to address two general categories of threats to Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Savannakhet Province. Firstly, conversion and degradation of natural habitat and ecosystems; and second, overharvesting of biological resources, bringing about the long-term solution via the facilitation of a transformative shift from unsustainable to integrated sustainable land and forest management in the Dry Dipterocarp Forest landscape of five Districts in Savannakhet Province.
The project has been instrumental in bringing about several global environmental benefits, including creating a new National Protected Area (the National Eld’s Deer Sanctuary) covering an area of 130,745 ha. The project also initiated the reforestation process in 3,788 ha of forest land through the re-planting of 768 ha and setting aside 3,020 ha for natural regeneration. More than 9,100 direct beneficiaries have been involved in the project, the largest proportion of which has been from the village communities in the project areas. 43 communities have been involved in not only village forest management planning, but also protected area ranger work and the undertaken reforestation efforts.
Ms. Catherine Phuong, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Lao PDR emphasized the importance of the SAFE Ecosystems Project in supporting the Provincial Government’s efforts to manage its natural resources. She highlighted that “over the past six years, the SAFE Ecosystems Project has been supporting the Government of Lao PDR with managing protected areas within the Dry Dipterocarp Forest landscape through developing clear policies, regulations, and coordination mechanisms.” She added that “the preliminary result of the Terminal Evaluation indicate that forest and land resources within Xonnabouly, Palanxay, Phone, Songkhone and Thappangthong Districts are under improved management now as a result of the SAFE Ecosystems Project.”
The Terminal Evaluation was an evidence-based assessment, which relied on feedback from individuals who have been involved in the design, implementation and supervision of the SAFE Ecosystems Project. The overall approach and methodology for the review followed guidelines as outlined in the UNDP and GEF guidance of conducting Project Reviews. Preliminary results show that SAFE Ecosystems Project has received a “Satisfactory” rating for overall effectiveness based on the assessment of 21 indicators providing valuable insights, lessons learned and recommendations for the implementation of future GEF projects in Lao PDR.
Mr. Bounphone Sangthong, Acting Director General of the Department of Forestry stated that, “we are very proud of what the SAFE Ecosystems Project has accomplished. International best practice activities in this project, such as Community Conservation Agreements, have never been done before in
Savannakhet. Everyone involved, especially at the District and Community level have learned so much and are able to better protect the forest.” He added that, “we hope to continue the momentum that has been created by the SAFE Ecosystems Project, but this requires financial resources. The Protected Areas Decree, which is currently being revised, contains Articles for the exploration of innovative financial mechanisms to enable the funding of Lao’s Protected Areas. Options such as Debt-Swap-for Nature are currently being examined by the Government of Lao PDR with support from UNDP to achieve this.”
Over the next few months, the SAFE Ecosystems Project will completing final activities with the Government of Lao PDR and rural communities within the five target districts of Savannakhet Province. It is expected to close all operation on schedule by May 2022.
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Funded by the GEF and UNDP, the Sustainable Forest and Land Management in the Dry Dipterocarp Forest Ecosystems of Southern Lao PDR (SAFE Ecosystems) project is jointly implemented by UNDP Laos and the Department of Forestry of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
The project is being implemented in the forested landscape of Savannakhet province in order to secure the critical wildlife habitats, conserve biodiversity and maintain a continuous flow of multiple services through (i) assisting government agencies in developing enabling policy environment, (ii) strengthening resource management of government agencies, local communities and private sector actors, while (iii) developing sustainable financing mechanisms and programs (including ecotourism and livelihood programs) that can ensure the sustainably of land use and resource management approaches.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Thome Xaisongkham
Programme Analyst, Natural Resource Management and Climate Change
United Nations Development Programme, Lao PDR
Lane Xang Avenue, P.O. Box 345, Vientiane, Lao PDR
Office: +856 21 267 710 EXT: 782
Mobile: +856 20 22234436
Ms. Aksonethip Somvorachit
aksonethip.somvorachit@undp.org
Communications Analyst, United Nations Development Programme, Lao PDR
Lane Xang Avenue, P.O. Box 345, Vientiane, Lao PDR
Office: +856 21 267 710 EXT: 778
Mobile: +856 20 55021550
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