Activity Summary

• Location: Vientiane Capital
• Date: February 14, 2026
• Activity Type: Community Outreach for the Nong Loup Ian (NLI) Wetland Restoration
• Outcome: Over 70 participants

Key Findings

• Female Leadership: over 70% of active participants were women, the primary stakeholders for food security and traditional crafts.
• Vanishing Heritage: Pollution has halted the “natural factory” (carpet weaving and lotus harvesting) once led by village elders.
• Restoration Baseline: Memories from elders (ages 60–73) provide the target “vision” for ecological recovery.

Traditional Knowledge and Cultural Heritage

In Tadthong Village, environmental restoration is not just about engineering; it is about preserving memories. During a recent NATURA outreach event at Tadthong Temple, two women shared stories that reminded everyone how Nong Loup Ian wetland continues to be the heart of their family histories and local economy.

The Thread of Memory

One villager stood before the “Pledge all” with a story spanning thirty years.  “I used to hand-weave carpets from wetland plants – bulrush (ຜື) – with my mother,” she recalled. “It was how she made our living, and it was fun helping her.” When her mother passed away 30 years ago, the weaving stopped. Uncertain land rights made her afraid that harvesting would be seen as “illegal.” Today, she keeps her mother’s last hand‑woven carpet as a sacred heirloom. “I want to pass it to my children,” she said, “and I will weave again if I can safely access the wetland.”

The Lost Lotus

Nearby, another woman shared why she stopped entering the water. For her, the lotus was a “perfect plant” for a micro-business; she harvested seeds and roots for food, and flowers for temple offerings and sale. “I stopped because the water became too dirty,” she explained. “I became afraid of the leeches that thrive in the pollution.”

A Shared Journey

These stories highlight the micro-economic potential of Nong Loup Ian. When healthy, the wetland functions as a natural source of raw materials. By exploring Nature-based Solutions, the NATURA project aims to raise awareness of the importance of clean natural spaces and of the potential to restore safe access, potentially making these traditional livelihoods viable again.

However, this vision is not guaranteed by the project alone; it is an invitation for everyone to participate. Success depends on the active role of every villager—from authorities demarcating a protected public area, to families managing waste to keep the water clean. By working side by side, the people of Tadthong are encouraged to transform their cherished memories into a sustainable future they help build with their own hands.

We are not just supporting wetland restoration; we are bringing back the joy of protecting and sustainably using our lands, and the pride of passing a living legacy to our children.

Strategic Opportunities

• Economic Revival: Using Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to restore ecosystem services can “reopen” high-value micro-enterprises like weaving.
• Management of protected area: Defining a public protection area and formalizing A Wetland Custodian Committee, will turn villagers into active guardians.
• Waste Synergy: Pledges to end littering provide an opening for community-led waste management to protect the restoration.

This story was developed through the NATURA Project, supported by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) in partnership with the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Government of Lao PDR.

Learn more about NATURA project: https://gggi.org/project/nature-based-solutions-for-urban-adaptation-in-lao-pdr-natura-phase-i/ 

Download the story: https://gggi.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/NATURA-monthly-story_Feb-2026.pdf