The political culture of corruption in the Lao PDR

Stuart–Fox, Martin

doi:10.1080/10357820500537054

Cited by 59 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…However, it should be pointed out that the Lao-based organisations are highly regulated by the state and their freedom of action and expression is still tightly monitored. In fact, the so-called "mass organisations" are one of the four key institutions where leading figures are party members [45]. During this study, we found that the national CSOs were not yet actively involved in the REDD+/FLEGT processes.…”

Section: Civil Society Organisations (Csos) In Lao Pdrmentioning

confidence: 83%

Resources and Rules of the Game: Participation of Civil Society in REDD+ and FLEGT‐VPA Processes in Lao PDR

Mustalahti

Cramm

Ramcilovic‐Suominen

et al. 2017

Forests

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Abstract:Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) aims to achieve its purpose by working across multiple sectors and involving multilevel actors in reducing deforestation and forest degradation in tropical countries. By contrast, the European Union (EU) Action Plan on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) and its Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) focus on forestry and functions at a bilateral state level. The FLEGT Action Plan specifically aims to tackle illegal logging and improve forest governance in countries exporting tropical timber to the EU. Since illegal logging is just one driver of forest degradation, and legalisation of logging does not necessarily reduce deforestation and forest degradation, the two instruments differ in scope. However, by addressing the causes of forest degradation and their underlying governance issues, the FLEGT VPAs and REDD+ share many functional linkages at higher levels of forest policy and forest governance. The contribution and participation of civil society organisations (CSOs) and other actors are imperative to both processes. Our study is based on a survey of key actors (national and international) in REDD+ and FLEGT VPA processes in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). Our analysis was guided by the theoretical perspectives of the policy arrangement approach and examination of two specific dimensions of this approach, namely resources and rules of the game. This paper argues that participation of CSOs in both processes is crucial because it facilitates and nurtures much needed cooperation between other national and international actors. The paper concludes that participation of CSOs could bring valuable information and knowledge into REDD+ and FLEGT VPA processes, thus contributing to increased legitimacy, justice and transparency.

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Section: Civil Society Organisations (Csos) In Lao Pdrmentioning

confidence: 83%

Resources and Rules of the Game: Participation of Civil Society in REDD+ and FLEGT‐VPA Processes in Lao PDR

Mustalahti

Cramm

Ramcilovic‐Suominen

et al. 2017

Forests

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“…The Lao PDR was formerly named Lang Xang, the "Land of a Million Elephants" (Stuart-Fox, 1997), yet little research has been undertaken regarding Lao mahouts or elephants. Obtaining accurate data for Lao captive elephant populations is difficult due to a lack of funding, capacity and a restrictive political environment (see Duckworth, Salter, & Khounboline, 1999;Lair, 2004;Norachack, 2002;Phanthavong & Santiapillai, 1992;Sukumar, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Elephant Ownership and Employment in the Lao PDR: Implications for the Elephant-Based Logging and Tourism Industries

Suter

Hockings

Baxter

2013

Human Dimensions of Wildlife

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Communities in the Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) have been utilizing captive Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) for centuries. The elephant handler (mahout) profession has remained fundamentally unchanged. Captive elephants, however, are no longer necessary in roles where they were once considered vital, particularly the logging industry. To gauge mahout demographics and assess problems associated with elephant industries, we surveyed 133 mahouts in the Lao PDR. We found that mahoutship is an aging industry with a vanishing family association. Contrasts between logging and tourism mahouts were apparent when observing family tradition, finances, and industry-related experiences. Logging mahouts rely on tourism to provide them with future employment; however, tourism cannot currently employ elephants on a scale similar to that of logging operations. The need for the traditional mahout and a large population of captive elephants may have reached its finality in Laos.

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“…However, several obstacles still exist at local and national levels that make it difficult for the rural poor all over the world to: participate in natural resource management; secure their rights in decision making; and gain access to land tenure, valuable natural resources and markets, and investment opportunities related to such resources (Sivaramakrishnan 2000;Brown et al 2002;Larson 2003;Walker 2004;Taylor 2005;Hyakumura and Inoue 2006). With regard to forest management and utilisation, the key issue is how to achieve a balance between harvest, forest protection and tree planting, and to minimise the negative impacts on the poor and generate benefits for them (Steel 2005). The basic assumption of this paper is that participatory forest management (PFM) is balancing the three aspects of sustainability, environmental sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability, as it aim to contribute to conservation and sustainable use of resources and to income-generating practices as well as to participation of poor or minority groups in forest dependent communities (FAO 2001;Grimble and Laidlaw 2002;CIFOR 2005;Sunderlin 2005;Durst et al 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sustaining Participatory Forest Management: Case Study Analyses of Forestry Assistance from Tanzania, Mozambique, Laos and Vietnam

Mustalahti

2008

Small-scale Forestry

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This paper introduces case study analysis against an illustrative model, the 'house model', which contains a number of key elements for sustaining participatory forest management (PFM). In theory, the elements in the model are basic requirements for ensuring that the participation of local people in forest management will continue after external donor support ceases. In practice, the study shows that none of the four case study projects managed to build the whole 'house' nor did they have tangible impacts on all the elements, and long-term sustainability of PFM is still questionable. All four donor-supported projects had limited tangible impacts on access to information and benefits, especially with regards to long-term extension services, markets and marketing information. These were the most difficult elements to influence during and after the projects in all four cases. It is concluded that in order to sustain PFM, there needs to be a solid institutional foundation which as a minimum ensures local people's access to information and benefits from forests under the PFM.

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The political culture of corruption in the Lao PDR

Cited by 59 publications

References 6 publications

Resources and Rules of the Game: Participation of Civil Society in REDD+ and FLEGT‐VPA Processes in Lao PDR

Resources and Rules of the Game: Participation of Civil Society in REDD+ and FLEGT‐VPA Processes in Lao PDR

Changes in Elephant Ownership and Employment in the Lao PDR: Implications for the Elephant-Based Logging and Tourism Industries

Sustaining Participatory Forest Management: Case Study Analyses of Forestry Assistance from Tanzania, Mozambique, Laos and Vietnam

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