Lao/SUFORD-SF Sustainable Forest Development

Description What is done in the programme or project and why, what results are pursued, who benefits from the activities and who are involved in the implementation.

Finnish support to the forest sector in Lao PDR started in 1995 with the Forest Management and Conservation Project (FOMACOP), which piloted an approach to participatory management of production forests called ‘Village Forestry’. 2004 through 2008 began the initial phase of the Sustainable Forestry for Rural Development (SUFORD) Project in the form of parallel financing with the World Bank. The overall objective of SUFORD AF is to support the sustainable management of natural production forests in order to alleviate the rural poverty in the project provinces. In recent years, SUFORD has been the largest development assistance project operating in the forest sector in Lao PDR and is recognised as an important resource in supporting national-level strategic decision-making with the information and knowledge accumulated from the ground. SUFORD has been approached by GoL to assist them in regulatory development for benefit distribution schemes. Several other partners are increasing their support with particular interest upon forestry issues related to climate change. There have been ongoing efforts to develop research, pilot activities, and support for developing a Lao national program in Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+). Additionally, the programme is seen by GOL as an input into its broader rural development activities. Sustainable Forest Development - Sustainable Financing Phase Project, SUFORD-SF defines the Lao – Finland cooperation in the forest sector for the period of 2013 – 2016. It is envisaged to be an exit phase of the long time support. It is designed to be tied with the World Bank’s Forest Investment Programme (FIP)/ IDA programme; where the Government of Finland support is mainly in the form of Technical Assistance (TA), while the FIP/IDA programme provides the operational resources. The structure, objectives and results have been adjusted to the FIP/IDA programme. The Project aims to secure effective implementation of sound policy and legal frameworks and forest management practices enabling environmentally, socially and economically sustainable management of production forests and enhanced contribution to poverty alleviation.