In demand as food and medicine
Non-timber forest goods are an important source of livelihood for families as food or for medicinal purposes. Cardamom and resin are particularly central. Although the products are in high demand on the market, there are problems with exports. Obstacles include poor product quality and lack of access to markets.
Managing forest products sustainably
Forest products can be cultivated sustainably in a targeted manner. Cardamom, for example, needs shade and can therefore be integrated into forests in an environmentally friendly way. Farmer families only need to invest in seedlings. Since cardamom needs neither fertilizer nor pesticides, it can easily be certified organic.
Achieve a supportive environment
The producer families receive training on the cultivation, processing and marketing of their products as well as entrepreneurial and legal knowledge. At the same time, they learn to organize themselves in order to effectively represent their concerns vis-à-vis authorities and service providers and to bring about supportive framework conditions.
The smallholders in the highlands of Laos should be able to secure their incomes in the future through sustainably obtained forest products such as resin and spices (not wood). To this end, they learn the technical, organizational and entrepreneurial skills. By establishing stable value chains, the economy in the region can thus be set up in a fundamentally sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
