Advancing enhanced wood manufacturing industries in Laos and Australia

Abstract

In 2005, ACIAR began to invest in the plantation and wood products sector in Lao PDR. This project, FST/2016/151 ‘Advancing enhanced wood manufacturing industries in Laos and Australia’ (VALTIP3) was the third in a series commencing in 2007 and built on the results, findings and lessons from its precursors and other ACIAR forest-related projects in Lao PDR.
The VALTIP3 project undertook a range of research activities spanning entire plantation-wood value chains. These activities comprised mapping plantations and understanding why and by whom they were planted, exploring the roles of various specific actor groups such as traders and women; examining potential options for the development of new and innovative wood products, installing and demonstrating new processing technologies; developing capacity in operationalising these technologies; and assessing the policy, regulatory and strategic setting across all areas bearing on the value chains.