Nakai - Namtheun | Conservation  |  Multiple Benefits

CONSERVATION

The Government has long recognized that it does not have adequate personnel or monetary resources to prevent the potential future degradation of the forest and wildlife resources in the Project area from uncontrolled human activity. It sees the Project’s implementation as one way to obtain these resources and implement an environmental protection and conservation plan. The Project will directly contribute funding of USD 1 million per year in each of the 25 years after the beginning of commercial operations in order to support the action of and provide technical management to the Watershed Management Protection Authority (“WMPA”), a special purpose Government entity established under the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for the management of the conservation in the Project watershed. An additional USD 6.5 million is contributed during the construction phase. Detailed conservation plans are provided in Social and Environmental Management Framework and Operational Plan (SEMFOP).

To see Video (RealPlayer ~1.9 MB)

Principles

Conservation is a prime objective of NBCA management, and enclave villagers’ livelihood and community development is an important way in which to achieve this objective. All development activities will be fully integrated with conservation. In this respect, NBCA managers and villagers are working on specifying clearly how each development proposal will benefit the long-term conservation agenda for the area. Officials concerned are continuing to pay attention to wildlife trade, and a special focus is paid to educate the local people on thee issues. Villagers have already established during previous consultations that the laying down of the rules in the conservation area should start at the village level – although national and international conservation guidelines and regulations would provide the overall framework.

The management of the area will be based on the integration of conservation objective with development activities. This means that certain areas in the NBCA are being zoned as totally protected, while other areas authorize a controlled use of lands for agriculture or other development. In addition, villagers are full participants in the management of the areas’ biodiversity and that farming and livelihood systems are in balance with the surrounding nature.

In addition, the development of access into and out of the NBCA is a prime consideration for the conservation plans. Environmentalists’ concern is that road access would encourage forest product and animal trade, which is harmful to the conservation area. However, local villagers are of the view that access is required for a range of socio-economic and conservation purposes. Accordingly, road access is being studied in detail, as well as the appropriate development and management of land and water based access.

Implementation Mechanisms and Budget

Over the Project concession period, NTPC will directly contribute funding of US$ 1 million per year in each of the 25 years after the beginning of commercial operations in order to support the action of and provide technical management to the Watershed Management Protection Authority (“WMPA”), a special purpose GOL entity established under the Prime Minister’s Office responsible for the management of the conservation in the Project watershed. An additional US$ 6.5 million will be contributed during the construction phase. NTPC will have a seat the Board of Directors of WMPA, and therefore will have a direct inside on its governance and efficiency.

Status to Date

The World Bank has requested that the Government and the local villagers, review some issues concerning the management of the NBCA to ensure that its long term management will indeed be effective in terms of conservation, biodiversity management and appropriate livelihood development of its ethnic groups. Process for such building of awareness involves gathering of all stakeholders from villagers to central government officials as well as district and provincial officials.

Current management of the NBCA is mostly limited to the implementation of the World Bank Learning and Innovation Loan (LIL) project towards the population currently living inside the area. However, such funding is limited and is more seen as a pilot effort for the development of the NBCA population through conservation activities. Patrolling and sensitisation of the population under the management of the WMPA has also started with anticipated funding of NTPC.

Top