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Workshop on Private sector engagement on REDD+ in Lao PDR

External Reference/Copyright
Issue date: 
July, 2011
Publisher Name: 
ForestCarbon Asia
Publisher-Link: 
http://www.forestcarbonasia.org/
Author: 
Unna Chokkalingam
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In the last months, the Government of Lao PDR received proposals from numerous private enterprises seeking to develop forest carbon projects in Laos. To facilitate information-sharing with and feedback from the private sector, the Department of Forestry organized a workshop “Private sector engagement on REDD+ in Lao PDR” on Friday, July 1st 2011. The workshop was sponsored by FAO and supported by the bilateral and multilateral projects CliPAD, JICA, SUFORD; and by Forest Carbon Asia. Participants included representatives from the government, the private sector, NGOs, and bilateral and multilateral projects.

 

Information was presented on current status of REDD+ in Lao PDR, policy development, opportunity costs and financing options, importance of environmental and social safeguards, linking communities to the voluntary forest carbon market, private sector experiences in developing forest carbon projects across Asia, and the Verified Carbon Standard.

 

Mr. Bounthang from Prime Consultancy Co., Laos enquired about the schedule of policy development which in turn would clarify scope and process for private sector engagement. Mr. Oupakone Alounsavath, Director of the Planning Division, Department of Forestry, responded that the RPP gives a time frame of 2013 for completion of the national policy and institutional development for REDD+ implementation.

 

The presentations were followed by a discussion forum where the private sector participants spelt out their needs and raised their concerns. Mr. Bounthang mentioned the challenge of obtaining information such as GIS, social data and history of the project sites. He requested easily accessible public data and government support for the projects to proceed quickly, and ultimately a comprehensive legal framework providing an enabling environment.

 

Mr. Aimilios Chatzinikolaou from the World Bank’s IFC indicated that they were looking to partner with large plantation companies with global experience such as Stora Enso, OJI and Birla to support agroforestry models outside their concession areas in Laos and determine whether carbon finance could provide adequate social revenue. Lack of knowledge on where to start and how to proceed was the biggest issue they faced.

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Powerpoint presentations from the workshop, July 1st 2011

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Extpub | by Dr. Radut