Nam Theun 1 Power Company Limited (NT1PC) recently reviewed the first year of implementation of its Watershed Management Program, reaffirming its commitment to environmental protection and sustainable community development in Bolikhamxay Province.
Implemented in compliance with the Concession Agreement between NT1PC and the Government of Lao PDR, the program aims to protect, improve, and expand forest areas, conserve water resources, aquatic life, and wildlife, and enhance the livelihoods of communities living within the watershed areas.
The Nam Theun 1 watershed covers approximately 236,271 hectares across upstream and downstream areas. The upstream area lies outside protected zones, while the downstream area is located within the Nam Kading National Protected Area, spanning four districts: Viengthong, Bolikhan, Pakkading, and Khakerd. NT1PC provides financial support to relevant government agencies and works closely with provincial and district authorities to monitor progress and ensure effective implementation.
A coordination meeting was held at the Bolikhamxay Provincial Agriculture and Environment Department to review achievements under the Forest and Forest Land Management Program in both upstream and downstream areas.
The Watershed Management Program is structured around five key components:
- Administrative Management
- Watershed and Waste Management, including community participation in waste management activities
- Biodiversity Management, with financial support provided to the Provincial Forest Protection Unit for the installation of inspection checkpoints and regular patrols in protected forest areas
- Community Livelihood Enhancement, supporting local production, marketing, and capacity-building through training programs
- Promotion of Nature-Based Tourism, including assessments of tourism potential and development of collaboration frameworks between public and private sectors
Between 2024 and 2025, numerous activities were implemented in 19 targeted villages within the watershed areas. These included land-use reviews; surveys of plantation areas along riverbanks to identify interested households and land sizes; community-based waste management initiatives; construction of two recycling collection centers; completion of six landfill sites in six villages; and ongoing landfill construction in an additional 15 villages.
Further efforts included inspections to prevent forest encroachment along reservoir banks in areas of former relocated villages, the establishment of waterway regulations, and strengthened downstream forest protection. Throughout the year, the Provincial Forest Protection Unit, in collaboration with the Provincial Military Command and district agriculture and environment offices, operated three inspection checkpoints and conducted regular patrols.
The review meeting also identified ongoing challenges, including livestock grazing and land clearing in protected areas, illegal hunting and logging, forest encroachment for agricultural expansion, forest burning, and the use of destructive fishing methods in restricted zones.
To address these issues, participants proposed several measures, such as strengthening law enforcement in accordance with existing regulations, increasing patrols in high-risk areas, deploying additional personnel and equipment to remote locations, engaging technical experts to support capacity-building for provincial and district staff, and improving budget planning to ensure the effective implementation of conservation activities.
Through continued cooperation with government authorities and local communities, NT1PC remains committed to protecting forest resources, conserving biodiversity, and promoting sustainable development within the Nam Theun 1 watershed area.