Workshop on sharing results on forest and forest land allocation for the community

• Community forest of 13 ethnic minority groups in Simacai (mostly Hmong ethnic people ) have been formed long ago. This model shows the vividity, diversity and adaptability to management and use of forests in an efficient manner . These forests are significance in the socio - cultural - economic and environmental aspects; that's the foundation for a stable life and sustainable development of ethnic communities living in the Simacai district .
  
  Since 2011, the Simacai DPC, Lao Cai Provincial Department of Forestry and Social Policy Ecology Resarch Institute (SPERI) - a member of the Livelihood Sovereignty Alliance (LISO) have joinly implemented a pilot on forest and forest land allocation on basis of the Joint Circular No. 07/2011/TTLT-BNN-BTNMT for Hmong communities in 8 villages in Lung Sui commune, Simacai district.
  
  Primary objectives of the pilot program are to:
  • Have a pilot model in terms of collaboration between different relevant agencies i.e. the Simacai DPC, Lao Cai provincial Department of Forestry and SPERI to co-implement forestland allocation to local communities in Simacai under the Joint Circular 07 as a basis for further studies, developing guidelines for expansion to other localities;
  • Promote and enhance awareness and capacity of local communities on government policies in management and use of natural resources, particularly the rights and responsibilities of land users;
  • Have suitable methodologies for resolving problems, disputes and overlaps of forestland boundaries in the process of forestland management in Simacai;
  • Contribute to enhance professional skills and forestland allocation approaches, particularly conflict resolutions for local government officials/technicians;
  • Ensure rights and responsibilities of different stakeholders, particularly local communities in the process of sustainable management and use of forestland resources, contributing to stabilize the lives of local people.   
   
  On the basis of the results of the pilot program implemented in 8 villages in Lung Sui commune, on 24 October, 2013 , the DPC Simacai and SPERI will organize a workshop on " Sharing results on forest and forest land allocation for the community". The workshop is held at the big hall of the Simacai DPC.
  
  Participants in the workshop include representatives of the Lao Cai Department of Forestry, Simacai DPC, Forestland Allocation Council of Lung Sui, Simacai District Office of Agriculture and Rural Development, Simacai District Office of Natural Resources and Environment, Simacai District Office of Forest Protection, Simacai Management Board of Protection Forest, 8 villages of Lung Sui, People's Committees of 12 communes in Simacai district and SPERI.  
   
  Contents of the workshop
  
  • Review results, measurement of forest and land of land users in Lung Sui commune - land overlaps and resolutions;   
  • Measurements of community based forest and land allocation in Lung Sui commune;
  • Draft manual of community based forest and land allocation;
  • Methods of development for customary law based regulation on forestland governance.