PDMS and Drone in Bokeo

Strengthening Sub-National Forest Monitoring under Climate Protection through Avoided Deforestation (CliPAD)

In February 2026, a five-day technical training was conducted in Mueng District, Bokeo Province, focusing on strengthening operational capacity for the Provincial Deforestation Monitoring System (PDMS) and the integration of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)/Drone technology into forest monitoring processes.

The activity was implemented under Climate Protection through Avoided Deforestation (CliPAD), a EUR 62 million project co-financed by Germany and the Green Climate Fund. CliPAD contributes to Lao PDR’s Emission Reduction Programme and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) by creating incentives to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

Why this matters?

While national-level systems such as the National Forest Monitoring System (NFMS) provide strategic oversight, effective forest governance depends on strong implementation capacity at provincial and district levels. Sub-national authorities are responsible for verifying forest disturbance alerts, conducting field inspections, and generating structured monitoring reports.

Strengthening their technical and operational capacity ensures that monitoring systems are actively used for timely and transparent forest management.

What was covered?

The five-day program combined theory, system configuration, and practical application:

• Operational management of the Provincial Deforestation Monitoring System
• Data upload, dashboard interpretation, and report generation
• Standardized monitoring report development
• Field simulations for disturbance verification
• Hands-on deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (DJI Air 2S) for aerial validation and visual documentation

Participants also discussed institutional roles and coordination mechanisms to ensure long-term sustainability of monitoring systems at sub-national level.

So what?

By strengthening the operational use of the Provincial Deforestation Monitoring System and integrating Unmanned Aerial Vehicle technology into verification processes, the initiative:

• Improves timely detection and validation of forest disturbances
• Enhances transparency and accountability in reporting
• Strengthens provincial ownership of monitoring systems
• Contributes to climate mitigation efforts

By the end of the project, these combined efforts aim to reduce 11.7 million tons of CO₂ equivalent, while strengthening sustainable livelihoods at village level.