that mandate. It aimed to promote sustainable resource use while simultaneously identifying
linkages between poverty and the environment.
INTRODUCTION
The radio series Friends of Wildlife (FW) was a cooperative project between the Lao National
Radio Station (LNRS) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). It ran for 13 months,
from 1 July 2004 to 31 July 2005. During this period, project implementation was generously
supported by the Canada Fund.
Wildlife is national property under Lao law. Legally, all people have the right to hunt for
personal consumption, but not for commercial purposes. The law’s aim is sustainable small-
scale resource use. Unfortunately, this goal has not been realized. The Lao PDR has
experienced large-scale habitat destruction and poaching for both domestic and international
wildlife trade. This loss of species and forest resources translates as a corresponding loss of
opportunity for ethnic and rural people, who still rely on the forest for their daily livelihood
needs.
A key factor contributing to the unsustainable use of forest resources is misunderstanding and
ignorance of the laws and regulations governing natural resources.
In particular, residents of
the rural and remote areas where Laos’ biodiversity is located, lack access to information from
newspapers and legal documents. Furthermore, they do not always realize the importance of
the natural resources on which they rely. As a result, resources are often used unsustainably;
this jeopardizes the peoples’ long term food security and also depletes biodiversity.
Radio is a media outlet that is widely accessible by both rural and urban people throughout the
Lao PDR. This makes radio an ideal medium for conservation education and awareness
projects. This project relied on a nationally broadcasted radio program to raise awareness
across the Lao PDR, by providing information on: forestry and wildlife conservation; the
importance of natural resources for rural livelihoods; and the need for sustainable use of plants
and wildlife.
METHODS -- Implementation of Radio Project
From 4 July 2004 to 31 July 2005, the Lao National Radio Station (LNRS) and the Wildlife
Conservation Society (WCS) implemented a public awareness project aimed at increasing
radio listener’s knowledge and changing attitudes about natural resources conservation,
particularly as they relate to threatened and endangered wildlife. The project had four main
components:
1. Training for radio Disc Jockeys (DJs),
2. Development of radio programs and spots,
3. Airing the spots and programs, and
4. Conducting an impact survey.
Mr Saysomdeth Duangsavath from the national radio station and Mr Santi Saypanya from
WCS coordinated this project. Throughout the project, Soulisak Vannalath, Troy Hansel,
Reneae Stenhouse and Arlyne Johnson provided support and technical assistance.
Radio DJ Training
At the project’s inception, 15 LNRS DJs (appendix 1) attended training on principles of
conservation, the status of wildlife in the Lao PDR, and various outreach techniques (appendix
2
Convention