Remote Sensing-related Activities of Forest Management in Lao PDR

Some information about how Remote Sensing Technology is and should be used in forest management in Laos.

http://www.restec.or.jp/geoss/materials/PDF/ForestFire/2day/2day_5_Sengtianthr.pdf

Non-Wood Forest Products Marketing and Small Enterprise Development for Poverty Alleviation in Lao PDR

A presentation material that may give you an idea about what non-wood forest products mean in Laos.

http://cecoeco.catie.ac.cr/descargas/Vongvilai.pdf

Sugarcane in Phongsaly: Story of a forecast disaster

Short but informative paper. It discussed conditions, under which replacing slash and burn farming by cash crop production might be a solution to forest preservation. Though not discussed explicitly, the paper also provided first hand information on the question why it was difficult to make the contract farming work.

http://mekonginfo.org/mrc_en%5Ccontact.nsf/0/2B49690F4E42255487256906003074BE/$FILE/pddp.pdf

Forest extraction or cultivation? Local solutions from Lao PDR

I myself have actually come across a few Lao who spending most of their schools days without cashes, but had made it to universities abroad. I think Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) were what made this possible. The following paper may give you an idea about how NTFPs are still important to Lao livelihoods.
http://www.etfrn.org/ETFRN/WORKSHOP/BIODIVERSITY/documents/foppes1.pdf

Use of Natural Biological Resources and Their Roles in Household Food Security in Northwest Laos

A study that focuses on agriculture-forestry-based livelihood systems of Northwestern Lao people through village studies, including semi-structured group interviews, questionnaire survey, participatory observation and wealth ranking in Luang Namtha province. The paper can be downloaded from http://www.cseas.kyoto-u.ac.jp/seas/41/4/410402.pdf