Assessment of the management effectiveness and potential for ecotourism of Dong Na Tard Protected Area in Lao PDR

The study was conducted in Dong Na Tard Protected Area (DNT PA), Savannakhet Province, Lao PDR to assess its management effectiveness and potential for ecotourism using the Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool (METT). Results of the study were based on primary and secondary data from relevant government offices, NGOs [Non Government Organizations] and private organizations. METT is an assessment tool used to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of existing management strategies and systems being implemented in the DNT PA. Key Informant Interviews were conducted to determine the threats and/or stressors in the DNT PA. A number of threats surfaced which include housing and settlement; hunting, killing and collecting terrestrial animals; garbage and solid waste; and habitat shifting and alteration. The METT scores presented in terms of context, planning, input, process, output and outcome of DNT PA by the interviewees at FRMS and villages adjacent to PA showed a generally high rating. The context component got the highest score of 98.0% which could be attributed to the legal status and covenants made for the PA; planning (85.29%) which indicates that a management plan for the PA was in place and subjected for scrutiny to various stakeholders; input (72.71%) denotes that in spite of the presence of an organizational structure, there is inadequacy in the number of forest guards and budget allocation; processes (59.88%) which suggests that the management of the PA requires some more improvements in terms of budget allocation and expenses. The PA seemed to be acceptable using the METT because it garnered a mean score (72.75%) for output (72.75%) which suggest that facilities can still be further improved and developed; and the outcome component earned the lowest score of 56.86% which means that there is a need to further improve the present status of the PA. The METT scores (e.g. for threats, planning and output components) reflect the present condition of the DNT PA in relation to ecosystems quality, policy implementation and enforcement. Current and planned ecotourism activities in DNT PA could somehow affect the utilization and management natural resources by local people and consequently lead to degradation of natural ecosystem as shown by number of area decreased and temporal changes of forest covers in the area. For sustainable management and conservation of the PA, strategies should be considered for both natural resources and local people. Collaboration among concerned government agencies should be enhanced and all policies strictly implemented, Nong Kolm pond/swamp should be established into an important bird area (IBA) and aquatic habitat, local people should practice proper garbage disposal in PA, develop and improve ecotourism facilities, and charge entrance fees from visitor's service. Concerned institutions and community groups should be involved from planning to implementation processes of management strategies towards sustainable natural resources conservation. Ecotourism activities could support the sustainable management and biodiversity conservation in DNT PA. However, efforts from the community are minimal and there is no specific allocation of payments for ecotourism for sustainable management at the village level.