Houaphan Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) of Lao PDR, has launched the Sustainable Wildlife Management (SWM) Programme to address critical challenges in biodiversity conservation, food security, and zoonotic disease prevention. Funded by the European Union and implemented in partnership with the Center for International Forestry Research and World Agroforestry (CIFOR-ICRAF) le Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the SWM Programme is developing and promoting sustainable wildlife management practices that benefit both rural communities and ecosystems.

Lao PDR, a country renowned for its rich biodiversity, faces increasing pressures on wildlife populations due to the growing demand for wild meat, illegal wildlife trafficking, and the risk of zoonotic disease transmission. Cécile Leroy, Programme Manager for the European Union (EU) Delegation in Lao PDR, emphasized the importance of the EU’s support through the SWM Programme: “Millions of people depend on wild meat for food security and income worldwide. If hunting for wild meat is not managed at sustainable levels, wildlife populations will decline with threat of extinction and people will suffer increased food shortage. This calls for a better engagement at local level”. The SWM Programme seeks to address these challenges through a holistic approach that integrates legal reforms and community-based interventions, through a One Health (OH) approach.

In Lao PDR, the SWM Programme will work towards three objectives. Firstly, the initiative aims to strengthening legal and policy frameworks for the sustainable management of wildlife and natural resources. This will be achieved by supporting inclusive, “bottom-up” policies, such as the 2023 Decree on Protected Areas, which introduces the “Guardian Villages” approach to empower local communities to co-management protected areas. Secondly, the SWM Programme aims to support OH interventions, both at the national and provincial levels. This work includes supporting the coordination of national OH planning and implementation and working with provincial authorities to develop responsive community-based networks to monitor and detect emerging zoonotic diseases.  Finally, in Houaphan province, the team will investigate wild meat value chains to assess their role in rural food security and incomes, while piloting community-based systems for early detection of zoonotic spillover events.

 “The Sustainable Wildlife Management Programme is not just about conservation—it is about empowering communities, safeguarding food security, and mitigating zoonotic risks. By working together, we can develop sustainable wildlife management models that respect the rights and needs of local communities while protecting biodiversity,” said Manon Mispiratceguy, FAO Project Coordinator, SWM Programme in the Asia-Pacific.

The SWM Programme is also identifying priority field sites for future inclusion in the initiative, both in Lao PDR and across the Asia-Pacific region. This will pave the way for scaling up community-driven strategies that enhance food security, reduce zoonotic risks, and protect biodiversity.

FAO extends its gratitude to its partners, including the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the EU, CIRAD and WCS, for their unwavering support and collaboration. Together, we are building a future where wildlife is managed sustainably, communities thrive, and zoonotic risks are minimized.

 For more information, please contact:

Manon Mispiratceguy, SWM AP Coordinator
Dr Watthana Theppangna, Department of Livestock and fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and forestry
Vilaylack Khounvisith, National Communication Consultant

Website: https://www.fao.org/swm-programme

About FAO:

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger and achieve food security for all. FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide to promote sustainable agricultural practices, improve nutrition, and support rural development.