Participatory zonation using customary rights and knowledge
The Lao law requires zonation inside National Protected Areas to identify Total Protected Zones (TPZ) for protection of biodiversity and to regulate limited access and use to Controlled Use Zones (CUZ). Participatory zonation based on local knowledge and existing customary rights is an essential tool for local communities to engage in co-management. In order to divide the work between the 19 villages surrounding the park it was necessary to clarify which area should be monitored and used by which village and boundaries were determined based on used trails and customary rights of villages. Trail mapping and data collection on important features, biodiversity and threats was done by village rangers. Based on the trail maps produced, villagers were asked to define areas they need for collecting NTFPs and aquatic products. They were also asked to define areas which are inaccessible and areas that should be left alone to protect wildlife. In total the villages which control land inside the HNN NPA propose 87% of the area to be TPZ and 13% as CUZ.
Respect for knowledge and interests of guardian villages by hosting well facilitated meetings • District officers were capacitated to listen and value local knowledge and interests • GIS support provided clear maps based on the information gathered by the villagers. Both parties learned to visualize and share knowledge and decisions based on maps and local names that can be understood by both parties (villagers and protected area authorities)
The process of participatory mapping of trails and the subsequent selection of key trails for regular monitoring led to a clear agreement on which area should be monitored by which village. This led to a de-facto delineation of village areas of responsibility within the Hin Nam No PA. The basic rules and regulations governing the access and use of the proposed TPZ and CUZ are stipulated in the Forestry Law and in the co-management agreements that have been approved by the District Governor of Bualapha. The CUZ can be used by the villagers for subsistence purposes according to their customary rights. More discussions are needed to elaborate these use rules in more detail in the future to prevent unsustainable use by villagers and outsiders. Elderly people have important knowledge and connectedness, especially resulting from the Ho Chi Min War when many people had to hide in caves for a period of 9 years.