Lao PDREnergy & Enviroment for Sustainable Development |
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Protecting the environment and sustainable use of natural resources in Lao PDR is vital for poverty reduction and economic growth. Recent studies carried out by the UNDP supported project to develop the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan reveal that some 80 percent of the Gross National Product (GNP) directly derives from natural resources. Hydropower, agriculture, timber production and tourism depend to a very large extent on natural resources. Ninety percent of the poor in Lao PDR live in rural areas practicing agriculture and hence completely depend on natural resources for their survival. At present, many Lao PDR natural resources, including forests, rivers, wetlands and other natural environments are under threat. This in-turn threatens economic growth, and makes the realization of poverty reduction targets increasingly difficult. Projects in Energy and Environment for sustainable developmentUNDP is working towards providing strategic support to assist the Government of Lao PDR meet the MDG Goal 7 to Ensure Environmental Sustainability. At present, UNDP works in the following areas:Frameworks and strategies for sustainable developmentLao PDR is party to a number of international environmental agreements. Among the most important of these are the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) and Convention on Combating Desertification (CCD). (click here for a complete list)After ratifying these conventions, Lao PDR has several legal obligations to uphold under international commitment. UNDP is helping the government to implement these agreements and meet their obligations by strengthening the capacity of and enhancing the coordination between the ministries and departments concern. This will be done through raising awareness, strengthening the data and information management, and knowledge sharing as well as establishment of coordinating mechanism. In addition UNDP supports the government of Lao PDR in the area of climate change vulnerability and development of Second National Communication on Climate Change. Currently UNDP is working towards providing support on agrobiodiversity, ecotourism and sustainable land management. Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversityMekong CooperationThe Mekong is one of the largest river systems of the world. It contains invaluable biodiversity, including threatened species such as the Irrawaddy Dolphin, Siamese Crocodile, Sarus Crane and Giant Catfish. More importantly, over 55 million people in the region directly rely on the river for their livelihood.The UNDP supported regional Mekong Basin Wetlands Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use Programme (MWBP) is working to help protect this valuable resource. The UNDP-IUCN-MRC joint programme is the first of its kind to undertake a combination of assessments, dialogues between regional governments and pilot projects to address a range of ecological, economic and social challenges to the region. Environmental governance is one of the newer areas of support. UNDP supports Mekong River Commission (MRC) and National Mekong Commitees to enhance their capacity on the environmental governance through the regional project covering four Lower Mekong countries The Mekong River Commission (MRC) was established in 1995 by Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand and Viet Nam to manage the Mekong resource. UNDP supports the MRC with a number of projects. Presently, UNDP is helping the MRC relocate it's secretariat from Phnom Penh to Vientiane with a training programme for the newly recruited Lao PDR staff. |
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