Laos
Villagers take the initiative in protecting the forest and supporting activities to protect their livelihoods.
background: What kind of country is Laos?
Laos, the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia, is a country rich in forest resources along the Mekong River, which runs south of the Indochina Peninsula.
The country is a multi-ethnic country inhabited by the Lao tribe, which accounts for half of the population, and 49 other ethnic minorities, and is a one-party dictatorship socialism.
In recent years, the GDP growth rate of over 7% has been mainly supported by the export of electricity and raw materials, and the economic disparity has widened year by year due to large-scale development projects such as hydroelectric power generation by foreign direct investment, roads, mine development, and platation installation. I am.
background: How do people live?
More than 60% of the total population lives in rural areas, and even now, rice is produced in rain-fed fields and shifting cultivation, and various foodstuffs such as mushrooms and bamboo shoots, small animals and fish, fuels such as firewood, medicines and building materials are used in daily life. Many of the supplies needed come from the forests and rivers that surround the village.
In addition, these forest products are also a valuable source of cash income for purchasing other daily necessities, especially the poorer, who are more dependent on natural resources and the impact of deforestation from development is significant.
Contents of the support program
EARTH TREE has provided indirect support for the Laos project of the Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) for many years. In this project, JVC aims to realize natural resource management by residents in order to protect the lives and rights of people whose livelihoods such as agricultural land, forests and water are threatened by unilateral land expropriation and environmental destruction by development projects. Focusing on activities, we also make recommendations to the government.
In particular, Savannakhet Province, which is an active area, is located in the south central part of Laos, and with the support of Japan, the East-West Corridor (National Highway No. 9) connecting Thailand and Vietnam crosses the center of the prefecture, and a special economic zone is set up. Has been washed in. Furthermore, the current situation is that plantations (eucalyptus, rubber, sugar cane, etc.) are being developed more and more in various parts of the prefecture.
JVC’s main activities in the field
Collect and analyze basic regional data
Collect, analyze, map and share basic regional data on the management and use of natural resources. Through this activity, we aim to improve the abilities, independence, and organizational strength of the villagers.
Management of natural resources and their conservation
We will support the conservation of natural resources so that villagers can independently manage and use them. We will provide legal training to residents and the administrative officer in charge regarding the rights of residents to the management and use of natural resources that are indispensable for daily life.
Agricultural / rural development activities
In order to improve agricultural productivity and quality of life, we will provide various agricultural technical support based on the collected and analyzed data, and drill wells to secure sanitary water.
EARTH TREE activity
- In addition to supporting JVC’s local programs, we will collect local information and disseminate it domestically.
- We hold workshops in schools and communities to tell you what is happening in Laos and to know the connection with our lives in Japan.
- We will also consider forest issues in Japan while connecting with other organizations engaged in activities related to forest conservation.
Local partner
The Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC) is an international cooperation NGO that was established in 1980 to help Indochina refugees and is engaged in support activities in 10 countries and regions in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
We provide training and other learning opportunities so that people living in rural areas, which are exposed to rapid changes, can use local resources and wisdom to improve their lives. The Tree of the Earth sympathizes with JVC’s stance of “thinking about how to make things together, not giving what is missing,” and has continued to support through JVC since its establishment.