A total of eight projects were evaluated which could help local communities in improving rule of management, natural resource management, sustainable application of non-timber products, participation to natural resources preservation, sustainable planning of management of forest resources, reduction to risks of population decline particularly Eld?s deer. These projects have been primarily utilized for local community livelihood and health of the environment. Ideas are constantly improving as evaluated from the study which also encourages project management.
As it analysis of the SGP through case studies, the result will be disseminated and distributed in the form of a case studies handbook. Distribution of lessons learned will not be restricted to academics institution but also intended to policy makers. This is primarily important for the policy makers to formulate regulation that attract sustainably concept of district lead small scale community-based projects.
Project sustainability
As it is a publication based project the long term impact to sustainability is significant.
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
Evaluation suggest that lessons learned are being gained by local community especially the cessation wildlife hunting during breeding season, reduce access to forest on Buddhist day and prohibition of entry to "sacred forest". Indigenous peoples are now knowledgeable in sustainably utilizing their natural resources e.g. cultivation of sub palm forest project. Palm leaves are mainly use in roof building, roof materials for livestock barn and is use as weaving materials for fishing and other palm-made livelihood equipment. The case studies were focused on diverse ethnic minority groups such as Latry , Phouthai, Meuy Laotheung and Kmong ethnic.
Notable Community Participation
GEF support faculty of forest National University of Lao for evaluation 8 projects who had been given by SGP fund. The intended period of evaluation is 15 months. The project research in land use and management, participatory of natural resource management and utilization including bamboo,
sub palm forest and other non-timber crop, participation on forest management and participatory Eld?s deer conversation. Local community from 8 projects participation on implementation as, planning, survey, organize regulation of their community for management project, determine area of the project, design planning of protection fire burning forest , conservation water, obligation of land use rule of management natural resource, campaign conservation natural resource, forest and water.
Local community from each project of 11 villages, 8 district and 8 provinces cooperated with student research team for evaluation their activities all technique process of study which made evaluation success as planning.
Capacity - Building Component
Project team organized training for students on statistical analysis which will be applied for research and writing report for the case studies. The training course is intended to contribute to the capacity of project team in learning methodologies of research.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
The area including community production forest, protective forest an reserve forest. More than The 10,000 hectares from 8 projects had been evaluated by the lecturer and student from the Faculty of Forestry, National University of Lao and the result of the evaluation of the project will be disseminated to students and academics of Agriculture & Forestry giving an overall purpose of the project.
Policy Influence
The project is geared towards publication and assessment of the SGP supported projects. Publication of lesson learned and assessment of Small-grants project will be distributed to academics and policy makers alike. As a consequence, these lessons learned will serve as guidelines to indirectly promote good governance by providing sound project management.
Project Results
Project team has a chance to participate in each project to support ideas on planning, natural resources and non-timber application & management, learning the obligation and needs of local people to implement the regulation specifically on the preservation of the environment. According to evaluation, the process and methodology of project management from government authorities in district level has to be carried out in a participatory manner, particularly encouraging and engaging local people to partake on participatory preservation of environment which suggest working closely with the people at any means. The case studies will ultimately assist SGP country management team to understand the full details of the progress in 8 projects and its effectiveness where funding has been allocated. This allows SGP Lao PDR team to formulate a strategic plan that will coincide with the present national priorities of Government of Lao. Currently, there are several meetings and trainings conducted together with villagers at eight districts and participants from Faculty of Agriculture with a total of 138 individuals participated. A follow up meeting by the project team has also been completed in 10 villages. Summary of indicators were analyzed using SPSS. A survey was also conducted by interviewing related department and data gathering was completed for 6 projects. A general summary of the completed projects will be written in the evaluation process. As of this time, correction and printing of general summary of six projects and 16 meetings has been completed.
