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Forest for All Forever Centralized National Risk Assessment for Lao People´s Democratic Republic FSC-CNRA-LA V1-0 EN FSC -CNRA-LA V1-0 EN FSC-CNRA-LA V1-0 CENTRALIZED NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR LAO PEOPLE´S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC 2017 – 1 of 264 – Centralized National Risk Assessment for Lao Title: People´s Democratic Republic Document reference FSC-CNRA-LA V1-0 EN code: Approval body: FSC International Center: Policy and Standards Unit Date of approval: 15 December 2017 Contact for comments: FSC International Center - Policy and Standards Unit - Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5 53113 Bonn, Germany +49-(0)228-36766-0 +49-(0)228-36766-30 [email protected] © 2017 Forest Stewardship Council, A.C. All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the publisher’s copyright may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, recording taping, or information retrieval systems) without the written permission of the publisher. Printed copies of this document are for reference only. Please refer to the electronic copy on the FSC website (ic.fsc.org) to ensure you are referring to the latest version. The Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) is an independent, not for profit, non- government organization established to support environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management of the world’s forests. FSC’s vision is that the world’s forests meet the social, ecological, and economic rights and needs of the present generation without compromising those of future generations. FSC-CNRA-LA V1-0 CENTRALIZED NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR LAO PEOPLE´S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC 2017 – 2 of 264 – Contents Risk assessments that have been finalized for Lao People´s Democratic Republic ... 4 Risk designations in finalized risk assessments for Lao People´s Democratic Republic .................................................................................................................... 5 Risk assessments ..................................................................................................... 7 Controlled wood category 1: Illegally harvested wood ........................................... 7 Overview ........................................................................................................... 7 Sources of legal timber in Laos .......................................................................... 9 Risk assessment ............................................................................................. 10 Recommended control measures .................................................................. 133 Controlled wood category 2: Wood harvested in violation of traditional and human rights ................................................................................................................. 141 Risk assessment ........................................................................................... 141 Recommended control measures .................................................................. 141 Detailed analysis ........................................................................................... 142 Controlled wood category 3: Wood from forests in which high conservation values are threatened by management activities .......................................................... 215 Overview ....................................................................................................... 215 Experts consulted .......................................................................................... 221 Risk assessment ........................................................................................... 221 Recommended control measures .................................................................. 232 Information sources ....................................................................................... 233 Controlled wood category 4: Wood from forests being converted to plantations or non-forest use ................................................................................................... 238 Risk assessment ........................................................................................... 238 Recommended control measures .................................................................. 254 Controlled wood category 5: Wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are planted ........................................................................................................ 255 Risk assessment ........................................................................................... 255 Recommended control measures .................................................................. 264 FSC-CNRA-LA V1-0 CENTRALIZED NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR LAO PEOPLE´S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC 2017 – 3 of 264 – Risk assessments that have been finalized for Lao People´s Democratic Republic Risk assessment Controlled Wood categories completed? 1 Illegally harvested wood YES 2 Wood harvested in violation of traditional and human rights YES Wood from forests where high conservation values are 3 YES threatened by management activities Wood from forests being converted to plantations or non- 4 YES forest use Wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are 5 YES planted FSC-CNRA-LA V1-0 CENTRALIZED NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR LAO PEOPLE´S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC 2017 – 4 of 264 – Risk designations in finalized risk assessments for Lao People´s Democratic Republic Indicator Risk designation (including functional scale when relevant) Controlled wood category 1: Illegally harvested wood 1.1 Specified risk 1.2 Specified risk 1.3 Specified risk 1.4 Specified risk 1.5 Specified risk 1.6 Specified risk 1.7 Specified risk 1.8 Specified risk 1.9 Specified risk 1.10 Specified risk 1.11 Specified risk 1.12 Specified risk 1.13 Specified risk 1.14 N/A 1.15 N/A 1.16 Specified risk 1.17 Specified risk 1.18 N/A 1.19 Specified risk 1.20 Specified risk 1.21 N/A Controlled wood category 2: Wood harvested in violation of traditional and human rights 2.1 Low risk 2.2 Specified risk for right to freedom of association and collective bargaining and for child labour. Low risk for forced labour and for discrimination against women and non-Hmong ethnic minorities in the labour market. 2.3 Specified risk Controlled wood category 3: Wood from forests where high conservation values are threatened by management activities 3.0 Low risk 3.1 Natural forests:Specified risk Plantations: Low risk 3.2 Natural forests:Specified risk Plantations: Low risk 3.3 Natural forests:Specified risk Plantations: Low risk 3.4 Specified risk 3.5 Natural forests:Specified risk FSC-CNRA-LA V1-0 CENTRALIZED NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR LAO PEOPLE´S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC 2017 – 5 of 264 – Plantations: Low risk 3.6 Low risk Controlled wood category 4: Wood from forests being converted to plantations or non-forest use 4.1 Specified risk Controlled wood category 5: Wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are planted 5.1 Low risk FSC-CNRA-LA V1-0 CENTRALIZED NATIONAL RISK ASSESSMENT FOR LAO PEOPLE´S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC 2017 – 6 of 264 – Risk assessments Controlled wood category 1: Illegally harvested wood Overview The forest cover assessment undertaken by the Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in 2010 estimated forest cover in Laos to be 9.5 million hectares, or 40.3% of the total land area, down slightly from the 41.5% reported in the preceding assessment in 2002. At the end of 2015, the Department of Forestry reported an increase in forest cover to 47%, but there were no reasons provided for such a sudden increase. Existing forest law recognises three forest categories: conservation (28%), protection (33%) and production (15%) forests, which together comprise 76% of the current forest area. The remaining forest area is unclassified. Thus, a significant share of current forest is located outside the three mentioned forest categories. All natural forests and forest land in Laos are state-owned and managed by state agencies at three levels of government (national, provincial, and district), while individuals and organisations are not permitted to own natural forest. According to official statistics, while forest cover is estimated at 9.5 million ha, the tree plantation area has reached 406,000 ha. Households and individuals can be granted the right to use and inherit plots of degraded forest land for agriculture and tree planting, and can potentially obtain full property rights and title after an initial three-year trial period, but these may not be transferred or used as collateral. Foreigners do not qualify for land titles in Laos, but are eligible as foreign investors to lease degraded land from the state for tree planting. Over 700,000 ha of concessions for rubber and eucalyptus plantations have already been granted; a government strategy set a target of 500,000 ha of tree plantations by 2020. According to official data, the cumulative plantation area reached 406,000 ha in the 2012/2013 Lao Fiscal Year. At that time, rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis for latex extraction) accounted for 79% and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus spp. for pulp and sawn wood) for 14%. Of the remainder, 7% is teak (Tectona grandis), which is considered the most important species. Current legislation does not allow the allocation of concessions for commercial timber harvesting in natural forests. All intended timber harvesting in plantation and natural forests shall be included in the annual logging plan approved by the
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