Mekong - U.S. Partnership
USAID’s Grassroots Equity and Enhanced Networks in the Mekong (USAID GREEN Mekong) program completed its grassroots consultations on equity in forest-based climate change mitigation with a series of three focus group discussions held at the provincial level in Lao PDR and organized in collaboration with the Department of Forestry.
Over 80 civil society and grassroots stakeholders from across the country learned more about different elements of equity, including clear and relevant rules and regulations, transparency, fair share of benefits, participation, gender and resource access rights. Participants discussed experiences, perspectives and recommendations on how local forest management could be made more equitable.
All three workshops were co-facilitated by provincial forestry officials who are members of USAID GREEN Mekong’s Regional Learning Group on Equitable Forest Governance, enabling them to practice their new skills and knowledge of equity and local engagement. USAID GREEN Mekong will consolidate the results of the Lao consultations in a soon-to-be-released regional synthesis on equity in forest governance in the Lower Mekong.
Source: USAID/RDMA Regional Environment Office Weekly Update
