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TABI

The Agrobiodiversity Initiative TABI



TABI is a long term commitment by the Lao Government and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) which seeks to conserve, enhance and manage the biological diversity found in farming landscapes in order to improve the livelihoods of upland farm families in northern Laos. During its first phase (2009-2012) TABI is geographically focusing on Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang Provinces in the north of Laos

 

From Biodiversity Conservation to Agrobiodiversity Management

Conventional conservation efforts world-wide have tended to focus on establishing protected areas to conserve critical ecosystems that support biodiversity resources. More recently conservationists and scientists have recognised that protected areas are necessary but not sufficient and focus began to turn to the role of multifuctional landscapes as important contributors to the management and conservation of biodiversity. In recognition of this, the Third Conference of Parties to the CBD, MAF endorsed a National Agricultural Biodiversity Program in 2004 as the framework for implementing a long-term, coordinated approach to improved the management of agricultural biodiversity.

 

Agrobiodiversity in the Lao PDR.

The Lao PDR is well endowed with productive and ecologically unique forests and farming landscapes, rich in biodiversity.  These resources are not only vital for providing essential ecological services, but they also play a key role in adapting to global economic or climate changes.  Agrobiodiversity is crucial to the national economy, with some 66 percent of GDP depending directly on natural resources. Over 80 percent of the Lao people live in rural areas and are highly dependent on the local environment for subsistence farming, family nutrition and livelihood activities. Consequently, biodiversity also has a key role to play in the quality of rural life, ethnic cultures and poverty reduction.

 

Agrobiodiversity is Under Increasing Pressure

Due to the rapid, ongoing transition from subsistence farming to a market economy, agrobiodiversity resources in Lao PDR are coming under increasing pressure. Short-term profit goals not only threaten the country’s biodiversity resources but also erode the livelihood base of millions of rural families.