CliPAD on Track: Driving Change Towards Emission Reduction in Lao PDR
The project “Climate Protection Through Avoided Deforestation” (CliPAD) has passed the halfway point of its seven-year implementation period. Developed to respond to the steady decline in forest cover as a result of agricultural expansion, infrastructure development and timber extraction, the project supports villagers in land use planning processes in northern Lao PDR. Initially rolled out in three provinces (2019 to 2025), activities will now be implemented in three more provinces (2023 to 2027) covering all six provinces of the Emission Reduction Program (ERP) of Lao PDR. Altogether, a total of 11.7 million tons of emissions shall be mitigated over the project period.
The Government of Lao PDR has defined ambitious national contributions to climate protection, institutionalized a new forest law and developed a concept for “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation” (REDD+). With support from GIZ Laos, the Lao government has developed the “Lao PDR Emission Reductions Program” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. As a result, a Benefit Sharing Plan and an Emission Reductions Program Document (ERPD) were signed. This agreement gives access to performance-based payments of up to USD 42 million for emission reductions through the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPC).
18,855 villagers have been assisted to develop Land Use Plans for 240 villages to make land use more sustainable on more than 662,000 hectares. This way, the project promotes the establishment of deforestation-free production systems and sustainable forest management.
On village-level CliPAD contributes significantly to the objectives of the Emission Reductions Program through its approaches “Promotion of Sustainable Agricultural Practices” (PSAP) and “Village Forest Management” (VFM). So far, the project has trained more than 200 government officials on participatory land use planning, village forest management, and sustainable agriculture in the provinces Houaphan, Sayaboury and Luang Prabang. 4,863 families in 170 villages have selected sustainable agricultural practices from a so-called Whitelist and cultivated more than 7,100 hectares following those practices.
More than 45,000 villagers from 240 villages participated in awareness raising campaigns on climate change and impacts from deforestation and forest degradation. 12,412 villagers participated during the village forest management planning and more than 293,100 hectares of village forests are under sustainable management.
With the recent project extension to Oudomxay, Bokeo and Luang Namtha, activities will now be implemented in a total of six provinces and 530 villages. A new focus will be on Forest Landscape Restoration (FLR) and the promotion of regional dialog, learning, collaboration and coordinated action to mobilize the private sector and strengthen access to financial resources.
The project continuously aims to reduce barriers on local and national level further improving the enabling environment for forest protection. The multi-stakeholder and multi-level approach of CliPAD aligns with the current priorities of the Government of Lao PDR in promoting climate-resilient agricultural practices, deforestation-free production systems and supply chains as well as participatory land use planning (PLUP) and village forest management plans (VFMP).
Link to Further Materials
CliPAD Website
Contact Person
Jens Kallabinski
Key Buzzwords
Climate Protection, Sustainable Forest Management, Sustainable Agricultural Practices, Emission reduction, Lao PDR
