Enhancing Food Security through Sustainable Management Plan for Non-Wood Forest Product - FNPP



(Photo Sophie Grouwels)(Photo Sophie Grouwels) Background information

In 2003, the Government of Lao, with lead technical assistance from FAO, developed a comprehensive National Agricultural Biodiversity Programme (NABP) to act as a framework and a long-term strategy for implementing a coordinated approach to better using, developing and conserving agricultural biodiversity.

The NABP was endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) in 2004, and selected activities from the NABP have been implemented by the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) and its research centers, through the FAO-Netherlands Partnership Programme (FNPP) support.

Project objectives

The FAO-Netherlands Partnership Programme aims at enhancing food security through sustainable use of NWFP. It is important to understand the strong links that exist between food security, forest foods, and resource conservation and to incorporate this into sustainable village forest management strategies. In this context, the specific project objectives are:
  • demonstrate to policy makers the importance of NWFP biodiversity for food security and poverty alleviation, the need to integrate the NWFPs into forest management plan to ensure the long term access to food for the rural community; and prove the usefulness of the Market Analysis and Development (MA&D) approach.
  • demonstrate to local community the importance of NWFP biodiversity in regards to the socio-economic development of the village (food, culture, medicine, incomes).

Project implementation

The project on Enhancing Food Security through Sustainable Management Plan for Non-Wood forest Product (NWFP) started in the November of 2006 and its activities are being implemented in Savannakhet province. The duration of the project will be one year.

MA&D methodology and other tools

The Enhancing Food Security through sustainable management plan for NWFPs project has applied the Market Analysis and Development (MA&D) approach. This approach has been used in the FAO Technical Cooperation Project "Marketing system development for non-wood forest products in Lao PDR” (TCP/LAO/3002)  started in 2004 in order to assist the Government of Lao PDR in its efforts to reduce rural poverty in the country and to promote sustainable forest management through the environmentally friendly, socially equitable and economically viable use of NWFP.

In addition, the project used other methods and tools to carry out the specific activities such as:

  • Impact assessment on agro biodiversity and food security (nutrition and economic impacts) of forest conversion to rubber plantation in Nathomkhok village.
  • NWFPs management plan in Khon Khen, Sa Le Tai and Aluay kham noi villages where they have shared forest borders in collaboration with SUFORD activities in this District.
  • Nutrition study in collaboration with Institute of public health, Ministry of Public Health.


(photo: Sophie Grouwels)(photo: Sophie Grouwels) Project outputs

    1. Integration of NWFP resources into forest management plans for food security and sustainable socio-economic development of the villages
    2. Better understanding of existing NWFP relevant to food security and sustainable livelihoods
    3. Better understanding of human management of and economic markets for NWFP contributing to food security and sustainable livelihoods
    4. Demonstrate sustainable and profitable participatory management (harvesting, processing, marketing, domestication and cultivation) of NWFP at pilot project field sites (both sedentary and rotational cultivation).

Relevant documents:
 Enhancing Food Security through Sustainable Management plan for Non-Wood Forest Products 
The Contribution of NABP activity on Non-Wood Forest Products (NWFPs) to National policies relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of NWFPs of Agricultural 
The importance, role and value of Non -Wood Forest Product for Laotian food Security, nutrition and livelihoods 
Enhancing Food Security Through Sustainable Management Plan For Non-Wood Forest Products 
last updated: Friday, May 30, 2008