Laos and the Republic of Korea are strengthening their partnership in climate action and sustainable forest management as they move closer to implementing a major REDD+ programme in Phongsaly province, with both sides turning long-term climate commitments into practical action on the ground.
The Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in cooperation with the Korea Forest Service and the ROK–Lao PDR REDD+ Cooperation Center, convened a Validation Workshop on the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) for the Laos–Korea Sub-national REDD+ Programme in Vientiane on August 28.
The workshop brought together senior representatives of the Lao and Korean sides, including the Deputy Director General of the Department of Forestry, Mr Orlahanh Bounyaphalom, the Counselor at the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Laos, Ms Eunshil Han, the Assistant Director of the Korea Forest Service, Ms Soo-Ji Oh, and the Director of the Phongsaly Provincial Agriculture and Environment Office, Mr Thongly Aly.
The Laos-Korea Sub-national REDD+ Programme in Phongsaly reflects the shared commitment of the two countries to address climate change, protect forests and advance the goals of the Paris Agreement.
The partnership was strengthened at COP28 in Dubai in 2023, when the then Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos and the Korea Forest Service signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a long-term framework for cooperation on the programme.
Running from 2023 to 2032 with a budget of US$10 million, the programme aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, while conserving and enhancing forest carbon stocks.
Beyond climate mitigation, the programme places strong emphasis on sustainable forest management, sustainable land use and improved livelihoods for local communities in Phongsaly province.
The initiative is being developed under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement, creating potential for the credible generation and transfer of mitigation outcomes, including internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs), while supporting the climate commitments of both Laos and Korea.
At the centre of the workshop was the validation of the Strategic Implementation Plan, which serves as the programme’s main roadmap for coordinated implementation, concrete actions by identifying priority activities, implementation locations and timelines, responsible institutions, and mechanisms for coordination, monitoring and evaluation.
The validation process, therefore, represents an important step in moving the programme from planning toward coordinated implementation at the national and provincial levels.
The progress follows the establishment of the ROK-Lao PDR REDD+ Cooperation Center in October 2024, and the opening of the Provincial Project Management Unit in Phongsaly in January 2026, demonstrating the efforts of the two countries to build the institutional foundation needed for long-term cooperation.
In his opening remarks, Mr Orlahanh emphasised that the programme represents an important area of cooperation between Laos and Korea under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement and has the potential to contribute to international climate action through the ITMO mechanism.
He stressed the importance of contributions from all participating institutions in ensuring that the SIP is comprehensive, practical and suited to the realities of Phongsaly province.
“The consensus and contributions of all participating institutions will provide an essential foundation for ensuring that the SIP is comprehensive, practical and responsive to the realities of Phongsaly province,” he said.
He encouraged participants to provide open and constructive feedback to strengthen the plan ahead of its formal endorsement at the Fourth Joint Committee Meeting.
The workshop provided an opportunity for participants to offer final comments, confirm that recommendations from previous consultations had been appropriately incorporated, and agree on the next steps for implementation.