As the April heat reaches its peak in Vientiane, the families in our seven target villages around Nong Loup Ian wetland at Sikhottsbong district, Vientiane Capital, are preparing for the turn of the season. At the NATURA project, our work follows this same natural rhythm. We believe that protecting the environment is about looking after the people who live within it. This month, we are focusing on finding partners who will work hand-in-hand with us to find the solution for our community’s future.

WHY THE “SUB-CATCHMENT” MATTERS?

To a hydrologist, a sub-catchment is a defined drainage area shaped by topography and land cover. To a family around the Nong Loup Ian (NLI) wetland, it is simply the path the rain takes past their front door.

Think of the landscape surrounding NLI as a shared funnel. When rain falls on a rooftop, a paved road, or a recently developed plot of land, it follows invisible pathways through streets, channels, and soil before converging on the wetland below. Thus, rapid urban expansion has steadily replaced the natural surfaces that once absorbed rainfall, accelerating runoff and stretching the wetland’s capacity to buffer the communities that depend on it.

The full extent of these changes and the precise interventions needed to reverse them is exactly what the Sub-Catchment Management Plan (SCMP) will reveal.

The stakes are measurable. The Nong Loup Ian wetland currently stores up to 480,000 cubic meters of critical floodwater, directly protecting an estimated 20,000 urban residents. Yet, our baseline survey found that 76% of the population living around the wetland still report being negatively affected by frequent flooding. Mapping these sub-catchments is the first step toward reclaiming this protective shield, ensuring the wetland remains a safe and sustainable resource for the generations to come.

VILLAGE PLANS BUILT WITH COMMUNITIES

In April 2026, GGGI Lao PDR is actively seeking a qualified consulting firm or consortium to carry out two interconnected assignments: the development of a Sub-Catchment Management Plan (SCMP) and the co-development of Village-level Action Plans (VAPs) with the seven target communities of Sikhottabong district.

This procurement reflects a deliberate approach. Rather than applying a standard technical solution, NATURA is looking for partners who will integrate scientific assessment with genuine community engagement. This will serve:

• Guided Safety: The SCMP establishes a strategic framework to “make the invisible visible” by mapping critical flood retention zones and water flow paths connecting the landscape to the Nong Loup Ian wetland. By integrating hydrological data with authoritative land boundaries, it defines clear management zones including core protection and restoration areas to guide future nature-based interventions and urban growth.
• Localized Support: The VAPs translate the sub-catchment strategy into operational, community-led roadmaps for the seven target villages. These plans provide specific action matrices for infrastructure like drainage and waste management, while establishing a Monitoring Committee to oversee implementation and manage unplanned construction. For the three villages (Nonkhilek, Tadthong, and Nongda) directly bordering the wetland, the VAPs offer detailed urban control plans to secure local safety and support long-term environmental stewardship.

The community’s trust in this process is already established. Our baseline survey found that 98% of residents support the project’s interventions, giving the incoming technical team a clear mandate and a community ready to participate in building a sustainable future.

EXPERT’s VOICE

“The development of sub-catchment management plans and village action plans is not merely the production of technical reports; it represents a ‘pivotal step’ in integrating scientific data with the local knowledge and experience of the community into our planning. We are committed to ensuring that every target community is involved in the planning process and takes collective ownership of implementation, for the future and sustainability of the community.” – said hongsavath Somdachit, Project Officer, Water and Wetlands, NATURA Project, GGGI Lao PDR.

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.

Download the full story: NATURA-monthly-story_April-2026.pdf

Learn more about NATURA project: Nature-Based Solutions for Urban Adaptation in Lao PDR (NATURA) Phase I — Global Green Growth Institute