Environmental protection key to poverty reduction

Vientiane times, 25 Sep 2009

The Lao government and international organisations are working towards
joint coordination on projects relating to agriculture, and forestry
and land management to reduce environmental impacts and reduce
poverty.

More than 50 representatives from the Lao government and international
organisations yesterday gathered at a coordination workshop for
collaboration and linkage through co-development of projects in the
southern provinces of Laos .

The workshop was held in Vientiane and supported by the Asian
Development Bank, UN Development Programme, UN Environment Programme,
International Fund for Agriculture Development, Ministry of
Agriculture and Forestry and Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The workshop focused on the Sustainable Natural Resource Management
and Productivity Enhancement Project (SNMAPEP) and the Poverty
Environment and Energy for All Initiative.

“We need to look at how to link projects to the Vientiane Action
Programme and various funding sources. We should coordinate to link
with the working plans of other similar projects to facilitate poverty
eradication in Laos ,” said Director General of the Agriculture and
Forestry Ministry's Planning Department, Dr Puangparisack
Pravongviengkham.

He said the SNMAPEP faces challenges in creating land management
capacity and raising funding. Development initiatives must be linked
to environmental protection and be sustainable.

The workshop would divide into small groups to research and contribute
comments to improve the project, which operates in Savannakhet,
Saravan, Champassak, Xekong and Attapeu provinces.

“Effective land management is a key factor in helping Laos to
eradicate poverty,” Dr Puangparisack said.

According to project Head Vinoad Vansy, the project will run for five
years, ending in 2015.

“The project will address poverty reduction in mountainous areas by
ensuring food security and in plateau and plain areas by focusing on
productivity, especially in agriculture,” he said.

He said the project would assist the government's economic growth
efforts.

“Providing land concessions may result in negative impacts for local
people. However, we will address national management of the issue to
ensure poverty reduction and sustainable development.”

“Our project will focus on linking agricultural related organisations
into projects at the provincial, district and village levels,” he
said.

Mr Vinoad said the workshop provided an opportunity for domestic and
international organisations to understand the history and work plans
of the projects, as well as giving participants the chance to provide
comments and input.

“Consideration of environmental factors and climate change in poverty
reduction activities is very important and necessary because
environmental problems directly impact poor and vulnerable people,”
said Director General of the Investment Promotion Department, Mr
Houmpheng Souralay.

He said the Lao government gives high priority to promoting and
attracting investment, particularly foreign investment, as a key to
achieving annual GDP growth of 7.5 percent.

Doing so would also create employment opportunities for local people
and assist in alleviating poverty in the country, Mr Houmpheng said.