Ministry of Communication Transport Post and Construction Department of Roads Poverty and Environmental Nexus on Road Case Study In Kaluem and Ngot Ou District of Lao PDR Vientiane, 1-2th, August 2005 Presented by: Somsanouk Vongsomphou

Contents of Case Study Introduction Objectives Methodology of Study Profile of Study Area The Result of Study Area Comparison between Villages have Road and no Road Access The Linkage between Environment, Poverty and Road Access Conclusion and Suggestion

PEN phase I, completed in October 2002: the finding showed a strong linkages between poverty and environment the following indicators: deforestation, fragile land, outdoor and indoor air pollution, access to clean water and sanitation which this work had mainly driven by immediate research objectives by the World Bank PEN II work has to be undertaken at the disaggregated/local levels like district, village and households in order to clarify poverty environment linkages This case study mostly relevant data/information and policy guideline for the National and Provincial Committee on Poverty Eradication through the access to roads and other services Introduction:

Because on above reasons, this case study have to find the relationship between the Environmental, poverty on Road Development. NGPES: Investment in infrastructure particularly road, it continue to be an essential component in promoting economic growth nation wide, comprehensive infrastructure is essential to help farmers access improved services and local, national and regional market.

- The Objectives: + To study the natural resources status (NTFP) in the villages with road access and without road access. + To study the livelihood of poor villages and household with the road access and without. + To study the decline of NTFP between villages with road and without road access + This case study implemented in 2 poorest districts (Representative of first priority of the 47 poorest Districts: Kaluem and Yot Ou)

- Methodology: - Main contents of questionnaire: + Poverty status in villages with road and without road + NTFP status in villages with road and without + Types of transportation use in 2 districts + Questionnaires were used for interviewing in Villages chief and households + Observation in the field + Group discussion in Provinces, Districts and villages

- Data Analysis: + Secondary data was used: road network, maps, books, reports, Govn. Policy documents. - Villages selection: + Selected the villages with road and without road (6 villages in Kaleum “ 3 Villages o road access” and 4 villages in Ngot Ou “ 1 villages no road and 1 village with new road”). Selected new and focal villages. Selected 142 households for 2 districts (kaluem = 70 HH, Ngot Ou = 72 HH) + SPSS and Excel software was used for data interpretation.

Profile of Study Areas Ngot Ou District Lamam Vietnam Dakchym Saravan Kaluem District National Road Network

Ban Tak Ban Hat Pae Ban Yorn Ban Pakxai Ban Chale Ban Vak Nuea Lamam Vietnam Dakchym Saravan Kaluem Map

District Name Natio nal Road Provin cial Road Distric t Road Urban Road Rural Road Tracking Road Special Road Tota l Kaleum Kaluem District located in the southern part of Sekong Province, Land cover 351,750 Km2 = 95% is mountainous areas, population of 12, 053 of which 6,300 are women, Kaluem District Forest covered 323,400 ha, and agriculture and livestock land there is 2,330 ha of all district area. The paddy field there is ha and shifting cultivation area is ha within district area. and rainy season started early from April to October, it cause of flooding but some time it was drought. Most of population live along the Sekong River, remote and mountain areas mainly 8 ethnic groups namely Katou, Ngey, Chatong, Ta Oy, Ta Lieng, Pako, Alak and Lao Loum. Road Statistic

Ban Long Thang Ban Cheow Chai Ban Som Heung Ban La Ngot Ou Map

Ngot Ou District Ngot Ou District is located in the north-western part of the Phonsali Province, is the sole district the provinces sharing a border with China and Vietnam It occupies an area of 3,318 km2; there are 91 villages, with population of 27, 235 people and 13, 400 women, 4,328 households population composes of mainly 11 ethnic groups such as Lie, Ho, Yao, Khea, Kor, Tainea, Sida, Yang, Lolo, Hagy and Phounoy The forest covered 70% of whole area, paddy field there were 2, ha occupied 38% of paddy field in Province, irrigated paddy field covered about ha, shifting cultivation covered 1, ha about 10% of whole shifting cultivation in Province District Name National Road Provinci al Road District Road Urban Road Rural Road Special RoadTotal Nhot Ou Road Statistic

+ Population Viallges Name Ethnic Minority Ban Yorn Ta Oi Ban Pakxai Ta Oi Ban Tak Ngae Ban Hatpae Ngae Ban Chale Ngae Ban Vakneau Ngae Ban La Lue Ban Somheuang Kuer Ban Cheowchai Tai Nuea Ban Longthang Cida + Agriculture land Villages Name Area of paddy fields Paddy fields with irrigated HH with paddy field Yorn101 Pakxai15020 Tak0.301 Hatpae000 Chale16828 Vak Neua La Somheung Cheaw Chai25028 Long Thang Result from study areas

Village Name Number of buffal oes Number of cow s Number of pigs Yorn12020 Pakxai Tak21038 Hatpae Chale30250 Vak Neua La Somheung Cheaw Chai Long Thang Big Animals

DistrictVillage NameVillage located by all season road Village has access road (accessible by truck) Kaluem Yorn NoYes Pakxai NoYes Tak No Hatpae No Chale NoYes Vak Neua No Yot Ou La NoYes Somheung Yes Cheaw Chai Yes Long Thang No + Road Condition Ban Vaknuea Ban Longthang

The understanding of Local people in Natural Resources The reasons of Natural Resources preservation + Forest and people understanding Ite m The reasons for natural use No. of respondencePercent 1No responding74.9 2To preserve river107 3 Sources of food and timber Sources of food product Sources of income Sources of material to build house, boat, fence, fuel wood Total142100

The Reasons for NTFP Collection in villagesThe Reasons for NTFP Collection in villages NTFP StatusNTFP Status Comparison between villages have road and no road

The Place of NTFP SellingThe Place of NTFP Selling

Natural Resources and Poverty in villages

Poverty and Road Access Facilities Equipment in villages

The linkage between Env., Poverty and Road Access ItemFactorsStatusProblem 1Population increasingNo flat land to do the farmShifting cultivation 2No irrigationNo irrigation in dry season for farmShifting cultivation 3Big AnimalDo not know how to use animal for farm To kill animal for spirit praying when they ill Some animals were died Shifting cultivation Increase poor Not enough time to travel to villages cause constraint of road access 4No road access to villages No job opportunity, during rainy, dry season they stay in villages. No high education, no teacher to teach in their village Increasing fuel wood for using in that time, Disconnect to district and province 5ForestryThey provided for food, timber to build house, fence, fuel wood They use only for villages consumption 6NTFP (villages without road) NTFP collecting for HH use =13%, selling= 12%It is provided for food, medicine 7NTFP (villages within road) NTFP collecting for HH use and selling =26%, selling= 21% For additional income 8Place of NTFP selling (No road access) Villages 45%, Market = 55%They use for food, exchange for clothes 9Place of NTFP selling (with road access) Villages=31%, Market = 69%NTFP increase to sell in market but not much 10Forestry and poverty (there is no road access) People go to forest for NTFP collecting = 12, paddy field = 25, hunting =7 They collect also collect fuel wood for using during the rainy and dry season It was used for HH

ItemFactorsStatusProblem 11Forestry and poverty (there is road access) People go to forest for NTFP collecting = 68, paddy field = 71, hunting =17 It was increased cause additional income, increase product 12Road density (Kaluem) There is no district road, urban road is limited but high the tracking road, no national road People still spend the time to walk to district, living of standard is not improve, people still poor 13Road density (Ngot ou) There is high national road but there is no district, urban road but there some rural road There is not enough of rural road it is the main constraint to improve living of standard 14When people has road access to their villages People has more facilities equipment like tractor (Ban La), TV, CD player, Tap record More traveling time to district and province 15When people has no road access to their villages People has limited facilities equipment to use in HHThey do not have much time and money to go to district and province The linkage between Env., Poverty and Road Access (Continue)

Conclusion Population increase in rural area then they increase their shifting cultivation cause they has limited paddy field and opportunity to go to outside for job People collect NTFP for their household using only but some time they sell it for additional income, when the road access to their village they may increase a little bit harvesting Local people has limited facility equipments to use in their HH cause they have not much chance to go to district and province particularly in rainy season Local people use forest for house’s material building, fence making and fuel wood using

During the planning of road construction should involve with other sectors for natural resources management in national, province, district and villages Suggestion Rural road is very important and it is the main factor for poverty eradication like mention on NGPES (to improve the arterial network, to facilities for po0rest districts, giving them year round access to basic service, market and new opportunity)