Tämän tutkielman tarkoituksena on analysoida Laosin demokraattisessa tasavallassa hiljattain toteutettuja taludellisia uudistuksia. Kiinan, Vietnamin, Kamputsean, Thaimaan ja Myanmarin ympäröimä Laos on eräs maailman köyhimmistä kehitysmaista, jonka avautumisen jälkeen syntynyttä uutta tilannetta on määrittänyt politiikan ja talouden välisen tasapainon etsiminen. Maan hallitus on vapauttanut talouden sääntelystä ja toivottanut kansainväliset investoinnit tervetulleiksi, mutta samanaikaisesti se on pitänyt voimakkaasti kiinni yksipuoluejärjestelmästä. Kommunistisella puolueella on edelleen keskeinen asema maan kaikissa poliittisissa instituutioissa. Laosin sisäisen kehityksen ohjaaminen sekä globalisaation mukanaan tuomiin haasteisiin vastaamiin on osoittautunut vaikeaksi. Tästä huolimatta Laosissa, ja myös kansainvälisen yhteisön parissa, esiintyy toiveikkuutta ja pyrkimyksiä vaikuttaa myönteisesti maassa tapahtuvaan taloudelliseen ja inhimilliseen kehitykseen globalisaation aikakaudella. Tutkielmassa käsitelläänkin poliittisen vaikuttamisen mahdollisuuksia aikana, jolloin valtio ja markkinat on erotettu toisistaan. Laosissa tapahtuvaa transformaatiota määrittää parhaiten the New Economic Mechanism, joka otettiin käyttöön 1980-luvun puolivälissä. Kuluneina vuosina laajamittaisia maan sisäisiä uudistuksia on käynnistetty ulkomaankaupan samanaikaisesti kansainvälistyessä. Kaiken aikaa taloudellinen globalisaatio on kiihtynyt. Tutkielmani pyrkii vastaamaan kysymyksiin siitä, mitkä voimat ja toimijat ovat vieneet muutoksia eteenpäin Laosissa, kuinka uudistukset on toteutettu sekä koska ja missä olosuhteissa siirtyminen sosialistisesta suunnitelmataloudesta markkinatalouteen tapahtui. Tutkielman teoreettisen viitekehyksen tarjoavat tunnetut kehitysteoriat (Frank, Wallerstein jne.), globalisaatioteoriat sekä kansainvälisen politiikan teoriat (realismi ja institutionalismi). Tutkielmassa käsitellään sekä sisäisten että ulkoisten toimijoiden osuutta muutoksiin. Vuodesta 1975 vuoteen 1985 kestäneen eristyneisyyden ajan poliittinen ja taloudellinen todellisuus johdatti niihin sisäisiin paineisiin, jotka sysäsivät talousuudistukset liikkeelle. Ulkoisia vaikuttimia olivat niin kylmän sodan päättyminen, Kaakkois-Aasian integraatio (ASEAN) kuin globaalien markkinoiden mukanaan tuomat mahdollisuudet. Laosin oli avattava rajansa ja ryhdyttävä etsimään yhteistyökumppaneita sosialistisen leirin ulkopuolelta. Valtion mahdollisuudet onnistua tulevaisuudessa luomaan itselleen uusi rooli alueellisena kohtauspaikkana toimittuaan läpi historiansa puskurina suurvaltaintressien välillä riippuu pitkälti maan poliittisen järjestelmän uusiutumiskyvystä ja taidosta allokoida uudistusten mahdollisesti mukanaan tuomaa hyvinvointia tasaisesti.

Laos is one of the poorest countries in South-East Asia. Rural people’s livelihoods are mostly reliant on rice production and collection of forest products. There is very little research available about large-scale tree plantations and agroforestry in Laos. However, there is a clear need for information about the livelihood of the local people affected by companies that lease land from the local rural population for large-scale plantations in Laos. Stora Enso (SE) has trial plantations in Laos that combine tree-growing and food production. The Stora Enso Village Program (SEVP) focuses on sustainability that includes community engagement and helping local villagers to farm in safe conditions. The main aim of this study was to assess the productivity of taungya agroforestry systems in the SEVP trial plantations, and to measure the socioeconomic impacts at the village and household level. The following research questions are addressed: 1. To describe the Stora Enso Village Program in Laos, 2. To evaluate the conditions of the plantations established by SE in six villages in Saravan and Savannakhet Provinces, 3. To evaluate the socioeconomic impacts of the village program at the household and village levels in terms of: i) What kind of incomes do the local families get? ii ) How have the agricultural activities, which are part of the taungya agroforestry system, affected plantation productivity? iii) Who is benefiting from Stora Enso’s “village program” and how? Six research villages were selected, including five villages where Stora Enso operates and one where the company does not operate. Biophysical plantation measurements were done in 28 study plots in five villages. Plantation production was measured from the trees in the taungya agroforestry areas in each village. In each trial village, the Village Head was interviewed about basic village information such as population, livelihood and geographic information. Two Focus Group Discussions were conducted in each village, with information about villagers’ livelihoods and changes to livelihoods after the SEVP was started in the village. Participatory mapping exercises were carried out to determine the location of the households in the villages for random household selection. Interviews were conducted in 15 households in each village (90 households in total) to gather household-specific information such as incomes, livelihood activities and experiences of the taungya agroforestry sites. Village crop production in the taungya agroforestry sites were estimated at the household level. Results showed that employment opportunities increased in the village mostly in the first years of plantation cycle. The villagers were pleased with the land preparation carried out by Stora Enso and the crop yield in agroforestry areas, however, this was limited to when the plantation trees were smaller. Lack of labour, shade from plantation trees, and long distances to the plantation areas were the main reasons why villagers did not use the plantation areas for crop production. Plantations were generally in good condition, however, there were some insect and other stem damages. Lack of agricultural machinery and big distances from households to the agroforestry areas led to variation between villages´ crop production. There was limited work available for the villagers who wanted to work. The key findings of this thesis highlight the benefits of extra incomes and work opportunities for the local people in the villages and the positive outcomes in terms of the SEVP funds being used to build infrastructure and schools for the villages. The result of the study shows that the location of the villages affected negatively on villages that were far away from the market place and had limited possibilities to sell surplus crops. Cash crop production only occurred in the villages near the main roads and markets. Long distance to the taungya agroforestry area also limited the usage of the areas. This study has shown how the SEVP provides some benefits at both the village level and the household level. At the village level - positive impacts from village fund include improved infrastructure such as roads, water systems and electricity, while at the household level, positive impacts include employment opportunities and support to grow crops in the taungya agroforestry system. However, there are also challenges and limitations, such as agroforestry potential for producing crops between tree rows are not fully utilized during tree rotation, and most of the plantation employment opportunities are only available in the first years of plantation establishment. The SEVP is a trial program that attempts to integrate local communities’ needs by producing food and cash crops in the plantation area. The concept needs further development, more trials and research to improve the system, but has potential to be replicated in other places. It needs to be designed to suit the specific context of the local communities according to local culture and needs.

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are one of the major income sources for the rural population of Laos. An exploratory study was conducted to determine the role of non-timber forest products for rural communities of the study area. The study was carried out in two villages viz. Ban Napo and Ban Kouay of Sangthong district between January and March 2010. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather data from the respondents. Twenty-five respondents from each village were chosen based on their involvement in NTFPs collection and marketing activities. Statistically significant NTFPs income differences were not found between the villages and age groups of the respondents, however, significant differences were found in the annual incomes between farms size of the respondents. This study also analyzed the value chain structure of the three (See khai’ ton, Bamboo mats and Incense sticks) important non-timber forest products and the interactions between the actors in the case study areas. Barriers to entry the market, governance and upgrading possibilities have been discussed for each of the value chains. Comparison of unit prices at different levels of the value chains indicated uneven income distribution in favour of the intermediaries, factories and foreign buyers. The lack of capital, marketing information and negotiation skills restricted the villagers to increase their income. However, all the respondents have shown their satisfaction with their income from NTFPs.