Preserving Agrobiodiversity in Lao PDR

• Forschungsstelle: DEZA
• Projektnummer: 7F-05450.01
• Projekttitel Englisch: Preserving Agrobiodiversity in Lao PDR

Schlüsselwörter (Englisch)

Lao
PDR
Biodiversity
Agrobiodiversity
Agriculture
Natural Resources
Bio-Resources

Kurzbeschreibung (Englisch)

Lao PDR is a biodiversity hotspot being a centre of origin of glutinous rice and harbouring a largest reservoir of forest resources in South-East Asia. The national economy heavily depends on natural resources since an important part of the population still relies on rotational farming (shifting cultivation) and the collection of forest products for subsistence, while timber and electricity generated by hydropower are major export products. The natural resource base is fragile, especially in the mountainous northern region, an area made up of slopes with thin soils prone to erosion and inhabited various culturally diverse ethnic minorities relying on subsistence agriculture and counting among the poorest segments of the population. Recent developments show an acceleration of deforestation and land transformation coupled with the displacement of communities, thus threatening their traditional access to and control over land and bio-resources. This process results in erosion of agrobiodiversity and the degradation of vital catchment areas, thus menacing both the national economy and the existence of the population in the uplands.

Projektziele (Englisch)

Key objectives for the preparatory phase of the SDC Agrobiodiversity programme

Based on the conceptual framework as outlined in the entry proposal, the Preparatory Phase from June 01, 2007 to November 30, 2008 has the following three key objectives:

· To establish an institutional set up of the programme and a platform for knowledge sharing and policy dialogue for the whole phase

· To assess the current situation of agrobiodiversity in the project area and prepare and launch first activities in the field

· To prepare and submit complete the ProDoc and Credit Proposal for the Programme Phase 1 running from 1/6/2007 to 31/5/2010.