Workshop on Private sector engagement on REDD+ in Lao PDR

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 1^st 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

• Current REDD+ Status in Lao PDR – Khamsene Ounekham, Department of Forestry
• Overview of  Japan’s Activity  in the Forestry Sector – Kota Hirunuma FSCAP
• Overview of  Lao PDR’s Forestry Framework - Satoshi Fujita FSCAP
• Outline and progress of PAREDD project in REDD+ – Kenichi Takano PAREDD
• REDD+ Policy Development – Creating a business Friendly Regulatory Framework in Lao PDR – Gabriel Eickhoff CliPAD
• Financing the Implementation of a REDD+ Project: Weighing Costs with Forest Carbon Market Risks and the Opportunity of Other Finance Options – Majella Clarke SUFORD
• Importance of Social and Environmental Safeguards (FPIC) – Richard Hackman (Feature article forthcoming)
• Linking Forest Communities to the Voluntary Carbon Market – Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Connectivity – Robert Solar FAO
• Legislative Priorities for the Forestry Sector – Esa Puustjärvi SUFORD
• Private Sector Engagement in Forest Carbon Projects in Asia: Status and Lessons Learnt – Unna Chokkalingam, Forest Carbon Asia (Feature article forthcoming)
• The Verified Carbon Standard: scaling up REDD+ – Gabriel Eickhoff for VCS
• Discussion Forum – identifying private sector needs and experience on REDD+, feedback from participants