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SURVEY REPORT Local Agro-Biodiversity Initiative Under Agro-Biodiversity Project Phonexay District, Luang Prabang Province September, 2016

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SURVEY REPORT Local Agro-Biodiversity Initiative Under Agro-Biodiversity Project Phonexay District, Luang Prabang Province September, 2016 SURVEY REPORT Local Agro-biodiversity Initiative under Agro-biodiversity Project Phonexay District, Luang Prabang Province September, 2016 Report prepared by: Ole S. Pedersen Fuevue Chertchai Amphone Chanthavang Xia Khamvang Bouphan Yoysaykham Acknowledgements The authors gratefully thank the villages in Naxaithong, Paen and Poungman for their hospitality and patience in providing information on the use of the local aquatic biodiversity. Special thanks go to Prof. Dr. Kongmany Soudaya and Mr. Onevilay Souliya of the Institute of traditional Medicine and Ms. Somsanith Bouamanivong of the Biotechnology and Environment Institute for helping out with the scientific plant names and to Dr. Brian Stuart of the Museum of Natural Sciences of North Carolina for adding insights into the reptile group. Finally, the authors are much indebted to Mr. Wihane Sibounheuang of the ABP project for his tireless efforts in helping out with a number of difficult species. Summary document A summary of this report has been presented as part of a side event during the FAO Council Meeting, June 2014, Rome and can be downloaded at http://www.fao.org/3/a-i3841e.pdf. Front page clockwise from top: Siamese fighting fish, four-striped skink, fern, rice field crap, swamp eel, grasshopper, apple snail, and green algae. ii List of Contents SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................................... iv 1. BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................ 1 2. METHODOLOGY ......................................................................................................................... 2 3. FARMING SYSTEM ..................................................................................................................... 3 3.1 Naxaithong village ........................................................................................................................ 3 3.2 Paen village ................................................................................................................................... 4 3.3 Poungman Village ......................................................................................................................... 4 4. RESULTS ....................................................................................................................................... 4 4.1 Plant species .................................................................................................................................. 5 4.2 Insect species ................................................................................................................................ 7 4.3 Fish species ................................................................................................................................... 8 4.4 Amphibians ................................................................................................................................... 9 4.5 Reptile and annelid species ......................................................................................................... 10 4.6 Molluscs ...................................................................................................................................... 11 4.7 Crustaceans ................................................................................................................................. 11 5. TOOLS AND COLLECTION METHODS.................................................................................. 12 6. LOCATION OF SPECIES IN THE ECOSYSTEM ..................................................................... 13 7. TREND OF BIODIVERSITY ...................................................................................................... 13 8. UTILIZATION OF AQUATIC SPECIES.................................................................................... 14 9. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION .......................................................................................... 16 10. FOLLOW-UP ............................................................................................................................... 18 10. REFERENCES .............................................................................................................................. 19 11. SUGGESTED READINGS ........................................................................................................... 19 iii SUMMARY In Lao PDR, the rural population has a long tradition of making use of the animal and plant aquatic organisms from the paddy rice based ecosystem. These organisms are an important part of the agro-biodiversity and an essential contribution to food security and a balanced diet. However, existing information is limited and often relying on interviews only and rarely accompanied with photographic documentation and scientific names. During the 2013 wet season, the GEF funded Agro-biodiversity project in partnership with the FAO Regional Rice Initiative, conducted a field assessment in three remote villages (Naxaithong, Paen and Poungman) of Phoukhout District in Xieng Khouang Province of Northers Laos. The survey area is situated in a larger area of 200 ha of scattered paddy rice fields with well- connected smaller streams, earthen irrigation canals and small trap-ponds. Data collection was carried out and photographs were taken from early August to middle of October 2013, by two local university graduates, 2-3 times per week, A total of 95 species were photographed and recorded during the survey. The plant and insect species made up two-thirds of the total species (39 and 21, respectively), followed by 13 fish, seven amphibians, five reptiles, five molluscs, four crustaceans and one annelid. The species were dominantly used for own consumption and to less extent for sales at local markets. Three plant species and the freshwater leech were only used as medicine. Compared to initial discussions with villagers, the number of photographed species was slightly lower than the number informed beforehand. Compared to an earlier study 10 years ago, this assessment has a higher number of species mainly due to a higher number of insect and plant species, which is most likely stemming from the fact that the farmers in the area are not applying pesticides to their rice fields. Twenty different fishing and collection methods were photographed, including baskets, nets, traps, but also glue and sticks were used. No illegal fishing tools were recorded, although occasionally practiced in the area. The survey underscored that the upland rural population in Laos makes good use of a the large number of aquatic animal and plants species supporting their livelihood in terms of diverse nutrition, better health, as well as income from sales at local markets. iv 1. BACKGROUND Agro-biodiversity in the paddy rice-based ecosystems is very important for the people of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and especially for the rural population, many of whom rely on paddy rice plus a huge number of other species. The eco-system yields plants and animals that are sources of protein and micronutrients, traditional medicine as well as income. Capturing animals and gathering plants is generally seasonal and specific to groups of animals and plants. In Lao PDR, nearly 500 fish species (22 exotic) have been recorded, however, other aquatic animals (shrimps, frogs, crabs, molluscs, insects, grubs, worms, etc.) and plants are less studied, in particular their use by farming communities in the upland areas (Phonvisay, 2013). Some 97 percent of the population in Lao PDR eat 160 different insects (ant eggs, crickets, grasshoppers, cicadas, worms, bugs, wraps, flies, etc.) containing 20–70 percent dry weight protein. During the rainy season of 2003, a field assessment on aquatic biodiversity in paddy rice-based ecosystems was carried out in Khoum and Hok villages, Kham District of Xieng Khouang Province and in Xieng Louang Village Viengxai District of Huaphan Province. The study revealed a total of 82 species and stated that due to short duration of the study, not all species could be recorded, (Choulmany, 2005). Another study from Xieng Khouang and Luang Prabang (Gregory et al. 2007) noted that the diversity of aquatic species used by villagers is highly dependent on location, and noted that at least 20 species of fish, four species of frogs, three species of molluscs, and 22 plant species were regularly consumed by upland villagers. The species were given in local names without accompanying photos and scientific names. The same study reported a significant reduction of species during the last decade. Part of the survey area In May 2013, the Lao Agro-biodiversity Project (ABP)1 was invited to become a partner to the FAO Regional Rice Initiative (RRI). Subsequently, ABP carried out this assessment of aquatic organisms in rice-based ecosystems in Phoukout District of Xieng Khouang Province in conjunction with similar assessments in Indonesia and the Philippines. 1 Full title of the project: Mainstreaming Biodiversity in Lao PDR's Agricultural and Land Management Policies, Plans and Programmes (GEF/UNDP: 0075435 and FAO: UNTS/FAO/015/GEF). 1 2. METHODOLOGY a) Initial Training Two university graduates from the area were trained for one day at the Department of Livestock and Fisheries in Vientiane on the overall assessment methodology, background material and data sheets. b) Site selection
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