Managing complex landscape mosaics in areas dominated by poverty often requires addressing conflicting objectives and managing trade-offs, e.g. between maintaining/enhancing ecological functions and improving livelihood. Laos, like many other developing countries depending on agriculture and natural resources for the subsistence of a mostly rural population, has used land-use planning (LUP) as a core policy instrument towards sustainable development. However, previous reviews of LUP implementation showed large discrepancies between policies and practices and between the intended goals and actual outcomes.

There is a need for increased participation, improved integration of scales, harmonization of superimposed plans, and enhanced coordination between implementing agencies and other stakeholders.

As a consequence, former normative approaches to LUP have been gradually replaced (at least on paper) by a new paradigm. Participatory land-use planning (PLUP) has recently become one of the flagships of donor-supported programs in developing countries.

Example of PLUP implementation in Laos here (video)