Mr Sousath Sayakoummane (right) exchanges signed agreements with Ms Fern Tan.

Eightfold Legacy Laos, agriculture ministry ink deal on sustainable forest management

Eightfold Legacy Laos Co., Ltd., with headquarter in Singapore, and Laos’ Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in relation to feasibility studies by the company on the Emission Reduction Projects.
Under the agreement, the company will support the Ministry to carry out the studies in the Laving-Lavern National Protected Area and the National Eld’s Deer Sanctuary, both located in Savannakhet province
 The Memorandum of Understanding was signed on Friday by the Director General of the Forestry Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Sousath Sayakoummane, and Chief Operating Officer of Eightfold Legacy Laos Company Limited,  Ms Fern Tan.
The signing ceremony was well attended by dignitaries like the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Mr Thongphat Vongmany, Deputy Chief of Mission and Second Secretary of the Singapore Embassy to the Lao PDR’s, Mr Kang Hong Lim and senior officials from the Ministry and Eightfold Legacy Laos Co., Ltd.
Under the agreement, the Ministry and the company will continue with plans to ensure a strong working relationship with  authorities at the national and sub-national levels as well as non-state actors to improve conditions for sustainable forest management, and specifically for Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+).
The project will continue strengthening the capacity of the Lao government sector and forest-dependent communities in the province to manage the country’s forests in a more sustainable manner and to protect them more effectively for the benefit of future generations.

Since May 2022, the company has presented proposals to the Ministry to request for support in the project, with a focus on feasibility studies on the development of the REDD+ project on land areas measuring a total of approximately 216,000 hectares. 
The REDD+ conditions in Laos will be strengthened by investing in agriculture and forest management to address the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.
The Lao government has set a goal of restoring forest cover to over 70 percent by the year 2025, so as to ensure long-term environmental protection and reduce the risk of natural disasters. In line with the government’s goal, this MOU signifies a significant milestone and strong commitment by both the government of Laos and Eightfold Legacy Laos Company to work together to protect forests and associated ecosystems in Laos to jointly achieve this aim.
Eightfold Legacy Laos has expressed that it is deeply humbled and grateful to be given this opportunity to collaborate with the Lao government, in particular with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on this meaningful project.

By Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
 (Latest Update November 1, 2022)