Climate mitigation initiative yields fruit

A completed initiative to protect the climate has contributed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving livelihoods, and conserving precious and fragile biodiversity, a report has revealed.
 Initiated in 2011, the Climate Protection through Avoided Deforestation Programme (CliPAD), which ends this year, aimed to address the loss and degradation of natural forests.

 Authorities in charge recently held a meeting to review the outcome of the project. The three-phase project has been supported by the German government through assistance provided by German technical (TC/GIZ) and financial cooperation (FC/KfW). Head of Development Cooperation at German Embassy to Laos Dr Christina Seeberg-Elverfeldt and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Thongphat Vongmany chaired the meeting.
The programme demonstrated the technical and economic feasibility of the pro-poor Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) approach in the National Protected Area Nam Et-Phou Louey and adjoining areas, according to a press release from the project.
 One of the key activities has been support for relevant authorities at the national level and in the target province of Huaphan, as well as investments related to mitigation activities.
These included land use planning and village forest management planning. The project has also provided funding to Village Development Funds to ensure positive impacts on livelihoods.
The project has involved local authorities and provided performance-based payments to communities through a REDD benefit sharing and distribution mechanism.
By pursuing this outcome, it attempts to address the loss and degradation of natural forests in 70 villages in the districts of Xamneua and Huamuang in Huaphan province, as well as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition to the above objectives, the programme envisions contributing to the so-called REDD co-benefits, including improving the livelihoods of rural communities.
The Climate Protection through Avoided Deforestation Programme supports the Lao government in implementing priority policies mainly relating to the National Socio-Economic Development Plan, as well as meeting regional and international commitments relating to poverty reduction, biodiversity conservation, and climate change mitigation.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update December 22, 2020)