UNTS/LAO/015/GEF - Mainstreaming Agro-biodiversity in Lao PDR`s agricultural policies, plans and programmes (FSP)

Sustainable Crop Production Intensification, Biodiversity, ecosystem management, Agricultural policy

To objective of this project is to provide farmers with the necessary incentives, capabilities and supporting institutional framework to conserve agricultural biodiversity within fartming systems of Lao PDR.

1. Baseline data collection, information gap analysis and overview of resource trends for selection of areas for conserving and managing biodiversity in agroecosystems.

This will include: (i) Map and evaluate the status of biodiversity with a focus on biodiversity for food and agriculture, including wild relatives; (ii) Detailed assessment of existing threats to biodiversity for food and agriculture and the underlying causes; (iii) Characterization of production systems (including agro-forestry, and looking at farming practices); (iv) Characterization of land and resource tenure; (v) Identification and analysis of local, national and global environmental benefits; and (vi) Identification of project sites including criteria such as globally significant biodiversity, threat levels, and existing potential of improved efficiency. This will involve the preparation of relevant studies on the linkages between agroecosystems, biodiversity and farming practices, and the development of criteria for identifying project sites. Demonstration sites will be established and activities initiated. Technical meetings and workshops with relevant international and national agencies will be held.

2. Feasibility for formulation of marketing and financial strategies and identification of partnerships. 

This includes: (i) Analyze and evaluate market forces threatening biodiversity; (ii) Analyze the barriers but also options for marketing “agricultural-biodiversity friendly” products; (iii) Identify commercial agricultural companies to develop guidelines for more biodiversity-friendly practices that they can encourage their client farmers to follow; (iv) Analysis of market mechanisms and linkages of local communities to commercial agriculture companies; and (v) Explore options for niche markets and specialized crops.
These analyses will include the identification and valuation of specific markets by region/product and analysis of productive capacity, the costs of production and the viability of the market by product. This will contribute to the development of a market-based strategy for selected agro- biodiversity products managed by local communities. This PPG will analyze international and national market demand for the selected crops including costs of processing, production and certification.

3. Assessment of capacity needs and institutional strengthening for a conducive policy environment and development of appropriate tools for mainstreaming biodiversity into national policy.

Effectively supporting the capacities of national institutions including key government institutions to foster a more enabling environment for the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity in agroecosystems. More specifically, the PPG funds would be used to: (i) Analyze operational and technical capacities at central, intermediate and local levels, and identification of gaps and capacity building needs; (ii) Assess local stakeholder capacity analysis at the local level; iii) Identify and assess priority areas and alternative strategies for institutional strengthening of relevant institutions; iv) Analysis of the existing policy and regulatory framework, and existing relevant tools (e.g. EIA, life cycle assessment), at the national and local levels to support biodiversity conservation and sustainable management in agroecosystems; (v) Define effective coordination mechanisms between the project and the executing partners.

- Assess overall status of biodiversity in agroecosystems in proposed project areas.
- Assess areas in proposed project areas with globally important biodiversity.
- Assess existing threats to biodiversity in agroecosystems.
- Identify potential project sites.
- Provide an overview of the market trends in Laos.
- Identify forces threatening biodiversity.
- Analyze the barriers but also options for marketing “agricultural-biodiversity friendly” products.
- Identify commercial agricultural companies to develop guidelines for more biodiversity-friendly practices that they can encourage their client farmers to follow
- Analyze market mechanisms and linkages of local communities to commercial agriculture companies.
- Explore options for niche markets and specialized crops.
- Identify production systems (including agro-forestry, and looking at farming practices) in areas of globally important biodiversity.
- Identify gaps and opportunities for the conservation and management of biodiversity for food and agriculture, including wild relatives.
- Analyze issues related to land and resource tenure
- Map and evaluate the status of biodiversity with a focus on biodiversity for food and agriculture, including wild relatives
- Undertake detailed assessment of existing threats to biodiversity for food and agriculture and the underlying causes
- Characterize production systems (including agro-forestry, and look at farming practices)
- Characterize land and resource tenure
- Identify and analyze local, national and global environmental benefits
- Identify and propose project sites for selection, including through criteria such as globally significant biodiversity, threat levels, and existing potential of improved efficiency.
- Prepare relevant studies on the linkages between agroecosystems, biodiversity and farming practices, and the development of criteria for identifying project sites.
- Organize and conduct technical meetings and workshops with relevant international and national agencies as necessary
- Analyze and evaluate market forces threatening biodiversity
- Analyze the barriers but also options for marketing “agricultural-biodiversity friendly” products
- Identify and evaluate specific markets by region/product and analysis of productive capacity, the costs of production and the viability of the market by product.
- Identify commercial agricultural companies to develop guidelines for more biodiversity-friendly practices that they can encourage their client farmers to follow
- Analyze market mechanisms and linkages of local communities to commercial agriculture companies
- Explore options for niche markets and specialized crops
- Undertake study of opportunity costs and cost-effectiveness studies for these products.
- Develop a market-based strategy for selected agro- biodiversity products managed by local communities.
- Analyze international and national market demand for the selected crops including costs of processing, production and certification.
- Analyze operational and technical capacities at central, intermediate and local levels, and identification of gaps and capacity building needs
- Assess local stakeholder capacity analysis at the local level
- Identify and assess priority areas and alternative strategies for institutional strengthening of relevant institutions
- Analysis of the existing policy and regulatory framework, and existing relevant tools (e.g. EIA, life cycle assessment), at the national and local levels to support biodiversity conservation and sustainable management in agroecosystems.
- Define effective coordination mechanisms between the project and the executing partners.
- Organize and conduct workshops with all relevant institutions, as building partnerships and collaboration is an essential aspect.

 

Nov 2011 - Dec 2012

Laos