Catch-Up.
Comprehensive Analysis of Trajectories of Change in the Uplands.

This component of the 'practice and policies' research axis aims at defining mechanisms to mobilize the knowledge acquired about the problems related to rapid changes in land use (Axis 1) on one hand, and the potential solution, successfully tested in Lao PDR or neighboring countries (Activity C1) on the other hand in a context of land use planning (studied in Activity B2). Depending on the scale of intervention, a policy dialogue involved multiple stakeholder groups (e.g. integrated management of the Nam Khan Watershed - Xieng Ngeun district) or a negotiation platform (e.g. village and village cluster level land use planning in Viengkham district) involving village communities, local authorities and land use planners.

• To explore scenarios and problem solving pathways that combine top-down and bottom-up approaches to land use planning; and to support land use planning exercises addressing the issues of Axis B with a multi-scale perspective.
• To facilitate the emergence of institutional and policy framework favorable to the diffusion of promising innovations and supportive to the replication and/or generalization of success stories towards a better governance of natural resources.

1. Participatory simulations

Participatory simulations of land use changes contributed to a better understanding of the local strategies in matters of natural resources management. Simple simulations of landscape changes were used as a basis for negotiation involving multiple groups of stakeholders (i.e. local communities, village authorities, district officers).

2. Land use planning scenarios

Scenarios were developed in a participatory manner to explore adaptive modes of natural resource management, and assess possible development pathways from the perspective of local and regional stakeholders. All scenarios were assessed collectively with respect to their respective impact on the natural resource base and welfare of the different stakeholder groups. Once a consensus is obtained about a direction or a goal to endeavor, prospective analyzes facilitate the collective learning process that may bring the 'system' from its current status to a new, more desirable, one. Such analyses reveal to what extent the various goals can be met, given the existing constraints. They provide estimates of the trade-offs between costs and benefits incurred in order to attain the various goals.

1. Policy dialogue for integrated management of the Nam Khan Watershed

Scenarios and problem solving pathways have been explored collectively by combining top-down and bottom-up approaches to integrated watershed management. A policy dialogue was organized in Luang Prabang in February 2010 that involved key stakeholders: district governors, planners from different line agencies, etc. Based on this original experience, we have reported on the conditions of emergence of an institutional and policy framework favorable to the diffusion of promising innovations and supportive to the replication and/or generalization of success stories.

2. Negotiating sustainable development through Participatory Land Use Planning in Lao PDR

At the end of 2009, a manual for Participatory Land Use Planning (PLUP) was published by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and the National Land Management Authority (NLMA) to provide a common basis for PLUP implementation in the country. This manual determined the important principles of PLUP implementation, especially in relation to community participation in the process. A diagnostic study conducted a few months later in a project implementing PLUP along the new guidelines showed that on-the-ground PLUP implementation was still problematic as some tools and methods had not been detailed in the PLUP Manual (Activity B2).

A specific research was developed in connection with a PhD study to develop practical tools and methods that facilitate the negotiations during the process of land use planning. Scenarios were developed in a participatory manner to explore the impact of different land use plans on local livelihoods and landscape quality in term of carbon sequestration and biodiversity value. The tools developed (e.g. 'PLUP Fiction' role play game, Participatory 3D modeling) were tested and refined in 6 villages of Viengkham District in 2010, and then applied in 23 more villages in 2011 in partnership with a food security and rural development project.

Lessons drawn from this experience have been gradually incorporated into the tools and procedures described in a Handbook that was published in 2012 in both English and Lao languages as a reference guide for PLUP practitioners. A PhD thesis on this topic was defended Jeremy Bourgoin at the University of Queensland in December 2011. Several scientific articles have also been published. Beyond addressing academic and policy spheres the results of this research on integrated land use planning have been applied to many more upland villages in collaboration with a development projects. The impact pathway of our research results in intimately linked to capacity building of district staff so that they can implement our innovative participatory land use planning (PLUP) method without further research backstopping.

1. Policy dialogue for integrated management of the Nam Khan Watershed

Action research in Xieng Ngeun District, Luang Prabang Province, was supported by the EU funded Ecovalley project.

2. Negotiating sustainable development through Participatory Land Use Planning in Lao PDR

Action research in Viengkham district was supported by SDC funded Landscape Mosaics project (NAFRI-CIFOR) and by SIDA funded NAFRI-URDP project. The European Union (EU)-funded Agrisud Project was instrumental in building capacity of district partners for large scale implementation.