The project has brought positive changes to the communities. It is obviously that when rice production increased, it demonstrates how food security is, now villagers have sufficient rice for consumption for their family and less inputs. The new technique will be with communities forever to improve their livelihoods. In addition, the project has enhance their livelihoods in many ways, villagers can produce handicraft and sell them to tourists, they also can earn through serving food for tourists, taking tourists around the core zone or camping. Women of communities being presented all decision-making processes of the villages. Women are now participating in meetings expressed their opinion. This is positive impacts as the project has empowered women. One of the 16 communities has women as village head which never happened before for their entire generations. This is remarkable achievement of the project. The project also mobilized community as one to protect their natural resources.

RESILIENCE, ADAPTABILITY, AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY

With increasing cash crops plantation e.g. sugarcane, cassava for commercialization which has attracted some communities which are truly challenge because forests are under huge threats to be clear for those plantations. Therefore, the project worked closely with local authorities to understand longer term and sustainable benefits from protecting forests and endanger species which not only Lao PDR but also for other countries in the region and the world. For instance, promoting ecotourism could bring income to communities. Forests provide precious non-timber forest products that communities have been relied on for generations, e.g. villagers can collect seasonal mushrooms or catch flogs which are main source of income and food. Once the decree signed by Prime Minister to establish the first ever Wildlife Sanctuary in the country, then no concession project being allowed within protected areas.

REDUCED INEQUALITIES

The project fully supported minority ethnic group, empowered ethnic communities to protect and control their natural resources. The project support youth engaged in project implementation, especially tree plantation, nursery, ecotourism. The project implementation was joint effort of all groups of people in the communities participated in consultation, decision-making.

GENDER EQUALITY

One of the key outcomes of the project was on gender. Women empowerment was key success of the project. The project involved women in all activities implementation which set target at least 30% women needed to present. Women are leading group for handicraft production, family farming, nursery and tree plantation. Women played important role in the success of the project. Women were trained new skills, e.g. tailoring, producing cotton handicraft. In addition, through support of the project, young women of one of the 16 communities being elected as Deputy Village Head which is ever women leading the village of the Bru Ethnic group. This is great success of women if the village and this means other villages and other women can become leaders of their villages. And the same time, the project also helped men understand why it is important to help their wife or women taking their kids, cleaning and washing and so forth.