Inauguration of the SMART station in Ban Laksip

The Sustainable Mountain Agroecosystems Research and Training (SMART) station was inaugurated on Tuesday November 19, in the presence of the Vice-Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Dr. Chanthakhone BOUALAPHANE, Her Excellency the Ambassador of France in Lao PDR Ms. Siv-Leng CHHUOR, and the Vice-Governor of the Luang Prabang Province Ms. Siliphone SOUPHUNTHONG. The SMART station is the outcome of a long-standing partnership between the Department of Agricultural Land Management (DALaM) and the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD), with the support of the Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office (PAFO) in Luang Prabang.

The inauguration started by visiting the main long-term monitoring station of the environmental observatory M-TROPICS, located at the outlet of the Houay Pano experimental catchment, followed by a lao traditional baci ceremony, speeches, ribbon cutting, visit of the SMART station, and eventually a meal shared between officials, researchers, and villagers. The inauguration was nested within the 2-day IRD Scientific and Strategic Steering Committee (CPSS) held in Luang Prabang on November 18-19.

The event provided an opportunity to discuss the fragility of mountain socio-ecosystems, the susceptibility of soils to erosion, and the importance of wetlands in regulating stream water quality. From a One Health perspective, and in a context of climate change, it seems more necessary than ever to promote sustainable land use management.