ODOP certification for bamboo producers around Nam Ha ASEAN Heritage Park

On February 8th 2019, an awarding ceremony was held for the first One District One Product (ODOP) certification in Luang Namtha district in Northern Laos. The ODOP certification was given to the bamboo producer groups of Sin Oudom village, one of the target villages under the ASEAN-German cooperation project called “BBP” which is piloting biodiversity-based value chains in pilot sites in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

 

Lao bamboo weave

Local villager participates in sustainable production of bamboo handicrafts

It is a very important step in the biodiversity-based value chain, which helps to promote bamboo products in the bufferzone of Nam Ha National Park as it will create a channel for pro-poor market access for the bamboo producer groups. This certification is a recognition of the hard work of the local communities on sustainable production of bamboo furniture and handicraft and of the continuously improved quality of the bamboo products as a special product of Luang Namtha district.


Lao bamboo productsProvincial and district offices of Agriculture and Forestry as well as Industry and Commerce in Luang Namtha worked closely together to assess the bamboo products for certification according to the criteria developed by MoIC Department of Trade Promotion and Product Development for awarding the One District, One Product (ODOP) label. The ODOP label ensures certain quality control and the special characteristics, which symbolise local products. Most importantly, the raw materials to be used in the manufacturing process should be sourced locally and should be planted, raised and naturally grown under systematic protection and management – this goes hand in hand with the criteria for the development of biodiversity-based value chains under the BBP project. In addition, the production and design should be unique and related to local culture and the fine traditions of Laos. To ensure legal protection, the owner of the products will appear on the registration of the trademark with the relevant government sectors to identify the uniqueness of their products as well as avoid product imitation.

The “Biodiversity-based value chains as an economic source for the improvement of livelihoods and biodiversity protection” - or in short “BBP project” - is a ASEAN-German Cooperation project, funded through the German Ministry for Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) through GIZ. On behalf of the German Government and in close cooperation with the respective national governments in the 03 pilot countries of Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, the BBP Project is implemented in cooperation with the ACB (ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity) in the Philippines by GFA Consulting Group GmbH.

             Nam Ha bamboo products

The main objective of the BBP project is to balance the need for economic development of local people living around protected areas and the better protection of the national parks and their rich biodiversity. To fulfill this objective, selected biodiversity-based products, or biodiversity-based value Chains, shall contribute to the improvement of livelihoods and protection of biodiversity.