Southeast Asia Information Port (www.dnyxxg.com) – The Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in conjunction with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the European Union, launched a new initiative, "Laos Nature Guardians," aimed at further strengthening the management of protected areas and biodiversity conservation in the country. A memorandum of understanding for the related project was officially signed in Vientiane on Thursday.
The signing ceremony was jointly presided over by Dr. Somvong Phimavong, Director General of the Lao Forestry Department, Mr. Marc Gallagher, EU Ambassador to Laos, and Mr. Santi Saypanya, WCS Country Director for Laos. The three-year project's core objective is to strengthen the leading role of civil society and local communities in the joint management of protected areas, forest ecosystems, and wetlands, promoting the coordinated advancement of ecological protection and community development.
The initiative will focus on three key areas: first, strengthening the participation and influence of civil society organizations in natural resource management; second, improving participatory management models for protected areas and wetlands through the implementation of village-level management plans, thereby enhancing grassroots conservation effectiveness; and third, empowering civil society to effectively participate in the formulation of national land ownership and forest management policies, ensuring that policies are more aligned with actual needs.
At the signing ceremony, Dr. Somvong Pimavong expressed his sincere gratitude for the long-term assistance from the European Union and the support from WCS as a reliable development partner. He emphasized that multi-stakeholder collaboration is key to achieving Laos' national forestry and environmental development goals, and the core of this initiative is the "Forest Development Village" model—a model recognized by the Forest Law's protected area decree, which will empower villagers and government departments around protected areas to directly collaborate and jointly protect natural resources.
Mr. Marc Gallagher, EU Ambassador to Laos, added that the project builds a virtuous cycle of "conservation, livelihoods, and local governance." "Through this project, communities will truly have the capacity to protect their own environment," he stated. "At the same time, the project will further enhance public awareness of ecological protection and more effectively convey the idea that 'nature is vital to Laos' future development.'"
Mr. Santi Saypanyah, WCS Laos Country Director, stated that when communities receive the necessary tools and support to protect nature, people's livelihoods and ecosystem protection will benefit mutually. The "Laos Nature Guardians" project is reportedly implemented through a collaboration between WCS and the Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Development Association (SAEDA), with coordinated efforts from central, provincial, and county-level government departments.
As a conservation organization deeply rooted in Laos, WCS has been working locally since 1993, focusing on capacity building for government officials, community participation in wildlife habitat management, and combating wildlife trafficking, thus laying a solid foundation for ecological and environmental protection in Laos.
