Assessment of the management effectiveness and potential for ecotourism of the Dong Na Tard protected area in Lao PDR

This chapter reports the results of a study conducted in the Dong Na Tard Protected Area (DNTPA). Savannakhrt Province, LAo PDR to assess the management effectiveness and potential for ecotourism using the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT). Results of the study were based on data gathered from primary and secondary sources from relevant government offices, NGOs and private organizations. METT scores presented in terms of context, planning, input, process, output and outcome of the DNPTA showed generally high ratings. These are based on the data provided by the interviewees at the Forest Resources Management Section and villages adjacent to the protected areas (PA). The context component had the highest score of 98.04 percent, which could be attributed to the legal status and covenants made for the PA; planning was 85.29 percent, which indicates that a management plan for the PA was in place and subjected for scrutiny by various stakeholders; input was at 72.71 percent, which denotes that in spite of the presence of an organizational structure, there is inadequacy in the number of forest guards and budget allocation; and processes at 59.88%, which suggests that the management of the PA requires some improvements in terms of budget allocation and expenses. The PA seemed to be acceptable using METT because it garnered a mean score of 68.96 percent and for output, 72.55 percent, which suggest that facilities could still be further improved and developed. The outcome component earned in the lowest score at 58.86 percent, which means hat there is a need to further improve the present status of the PA. Current and planned ecotourism activities in the DNT PA could somehow affect the utilization and management of natural resources by local people and, consequently, lead the degradation of the natural ecosystem as shown by the decrease in the size of the area due to temporal changes of forest covers. For sustainable management and conservation of the PA, strategies should be considered for both natural resources and local people.