Reflections from the 2025 MRLG regional learning exchange on customary tenure recognition in Luang Prabang
From June 10–12, 2025, over 50 participants from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam gathered in the beautiful and culturally rich city of Luang Prabang, Lao PDR, for MRLG’s second Regional Learning Exchange on Customary Tenure Recognition. Organized under the MRLG-led Regional Alliance on Customary Tenure Recognition, the event brought together government officials, civil society organizations, and development partners to connect and share strategies, tools, and challenges of recognizing customary land tenure across the Mekong region. Holding the exchange in Lao PDR was fitting, given recent promising sub-legislation, including the National Resolution 57 (2024) which allows land titles to be issued in forestlands for the residents of the 3,167 villages that are located within state forestland, marking a turning point in the country’s approach to recognising rights of forest-dependent communities.
The three-day event included expert presentations unpacking recent legislative developments in Laos, featuring a high-level panel with the Director General of the Department of Forestry, Dr. Somvang Phimmavong, and the Deputy Director General of the Department of Land, Dr. Leevameng. This was followed by a session, led by regional partner NTFP-EP – focused, using the ASEAN Regional Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Handbook as a reference, on tools and methodologies of partners from Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar to operationalised FPIC. Regional partner RECOFTC facilitated two interactive sessions sharing manuals on gender equity and the voluntary carbon market, with contributions from national and regional partners. The event wrapped up by focusing on pathways to sustain momentum and collective action on customary tenure recognition post-2025.
A more detailed blog with country highlights, tools and reflections will be published soon – stay tuned for more details!
