Basic guiding manual on initial land and forest allocation in Luang Prabang Province for Leading Committee and Technical Staff.

This Manual aims at providing advises for field work operations as well as principles for the evaluation, monitoring and control of works. After evaluating the present situation of the environment and forest resources in the province of Luang Prabang, the manual states the main objectives of the land and forest allocation method, which are: (1) to improve the living conditions of the population; (2) to ensure the proper management and protection of forest; (3) to ensure "clear ownership" of land or land parcel; (4) to support land reform and development; (5) to create zones for agricultural and forest production. Furthermore, it states "general objectives" (mainly relating to the production of food and commercial products) and "specific objectives" (to be achieved at the village level). Within said framework, the manual establishes policies and strategies regarding the organization of land and forest allocation, the cultivation of the land, the possession and right of use of the land. Further provisions are made with respect to mountain areas and plain areas to be allocated. Moreover, the following committees are established: (a) Leading Committee, consisting of the concerned Division committee and direction committee of the district and province; (b) Working Committee, under the control of the Leading Committee, consisting of the provincial forest service and working teams of provincial forest service, in charge of the implementation and execution of works; (c) Village Supporting Committee, consisting of the village administrative committee and a number of village volunteers, in charge of assisting the working committee in the implementation of the operations after the allocation of land and forest. Final provisions give definition of certain terms and establish the division of areas for the management of land and forest allocation operation.