Melbourne School of Land and Environment Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science

Somvang Phimmavong

Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science
The University of Melbourne, Burnley Campus
500 Yarra Boulevard, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
Email: s.phimmavong@pgrad.unimelb.edu.au
Curriculum Vitae: (pdf)

Degree

PhD

Thesis title

The effect of forest plantation development: Evidence from regional economic analysis in Khammoune, Central Laos

Supervisors

Prof Rod Keenan
Assoc Prof Barbara Ozarska
Prof Ian Ferguson

Project Outline

Over the past couple of decades, many parts of the world have witnessed a strong increase in the development of forest plantation. Most of these plantations are expected to provide environmental and social benefits to human societies and their economies. Globally, they currently supply almost half of the world’s wood consumption and this has consequently led to reductions in the destruction of natural forest. Furthermore, environmentally, about a quarter of the world’s forest plantation was established primarily for protective purposes.

While governments in many countries are trying to promote forest plantation through different kind of subsidies and incentives, on the other hand, it is argued that the establishment of new plantations particularly fast growing industrial plantation in many Southeast Asian countries has come into conflicts with interest of the local communities. Owing to the fact that the economies of the communities are interlinked with traditional (subsistence production) sectors, the transformation from the traditional sectors to a new agricultural model might have serious economic consequences to the regional economy and local communities. Therefore, the intent of the PhD project is to investigate the effect of the plantation development both direct and indirect on the local and regional economy.

In order to capture those full impact (direct, indirect and induced) of the plantation development on local and regional economy and examine the effect on total household income in the future, input-output analysis and  a computable general equilibrium model (CGE) will be employed in this study. Significantly, I hope that this PhD Project will bring a significant value not only to the Lao forestry and local communities but will also provide a crucial contribution to the plantation forestry Science.

Qualifications

2002-2004  Master of Tropical Forestry and Management, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products, Dresden University of Technology, Germany.
1996-2000  Bachelor of Science in Forestry, Faculty of Forestry, National University of Laos.

Selected Publications and reports

Phimmavong, S. and L. Boupha (2006). "Laos Resource Mapping and Farmer Input Market Studies part of the Vietnam: Laos Bamboo Sector Feasibility Study”: Paper presented in Mekong Bamboo Sector Feasibility Study, Intra-Study Review Workshop,  Conference 29-30th  May 2006, Hanoi, Vietnam."

Phimmavong, S. and O. Lakham (2006). Preparatory Study for Capacity Building for Strengthening of Agriculture Statistics System The report was submitted to Japan International Cooperation Agency by TVS Consulting Co. Ltd.

Saignaleuth, S. and S. Phimmavong (2006). "The Investigation to life of Indigenous ethnic “Phouxang”  People in Samphan District, Phongsaly Province, Northern Laos." Journal of National University of Laos 3(3): 17-18.

Phimmavong, S. (2004). The Effects of Industrial Eucalyptus Plantation on Distribution of Income: Evidences from Regional Financial Analysis in Hinboune District, Central Laos (Master thesis), Dresden University of Technology, Germany     www.forst.tu-dresden.de/Inter/pdf/master.pdf

Phimmavong, S. (2000). Assessment of Foreign Visitors’ Perception to Eco-tourism Development in Lao Pako Resort, Laos, National University of Laos, (Unpublished BSc thesis).

Previous work experience

2004-2007

Head of Planning and External Cooperation Unit, Faculty of Forestry (FOF), National University of Laos, Vientiane, Laos

Oct-Dec 2006

A short term consultant to Top Value Service (TVS) Consulting Co., Ltd in order to assess the impact of The Capacity Building Project for Strengthening of Agricultural Statistics System interventions financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency

Oct. 2005 & Apr. 2007

A casual consultant to TVS Consulting Co. &  Madecor Career Systems, Inc.  in order to assess the impact of the Second Education Development Project II financed by  world bank.

Jul. 2005 to June 2006

Team leader of Mobile Conservation Education Unit (MCU) financed by The World Bank Small Grants Program. The aim of MCU is to provide wildlife and biodiversity Conservation training to increase public awareness around the National Protected Area of Lao PDR.

Awards/scholarships

 

 

 

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