How can governments in developing countries act together with local people to promote sustainable forest land use? Based upon an initial review of man's use of natural resources in Southeast Asia over 100 years, an interdisciplinary approach to strategic planning based on interaction among stakeholders is outlined. A case study in a water catchment area in Laos, dominated by shifting cultivation, is used to test and illustrate the approach, which includes interviews with local people about historical events and socioeconomic and environmental conditions. The study also includes field point sampling, remote sensing, official records and a simulation tool (the Area Production Model), for verification, calibration and supplementation of the information provided by villagers. By presenting the consolidated data to the villagers and giving them opportunities to consider their landuse and explain discrepancies, and comment on the conclusions, a dialogue on land-use strategies was initiated.

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The objective of our study was to examine the biomass and carbon contents (including soil) of two six-year-old native species, Anisoptera costata and Dalbergia cochinchinensis. Forest plantation is an important strategy to restore degraded forest ecosystem not only for increasing timber supply, but also for socio-economics, environmental and biodiversity purposes. In addition, forest plantations helps to increase the biomass density and carbon content besides improving soil conditions. Increasing forest plantations can help reduce carbon dioxide emission in the atmosphere. In this study, the biomass and carbon contents of trees and soil in plantations were determined. The two species A. costata and D. cochinchinensis, both planted June 2002, were selected for this study. Stem, branch, leaf and root components were measured to obtain biomass and carbon contents. Results of the study showed that a total biomass of 5.63 ±1.23 t ha-¹ and 5.42 ±0.94 t ha-¹ were accumulated in A. costata and D. cochinchinensis, respectively. Meanwhile, the carbon contents recorded were 2.58 ±0.45 t ha-¹ and 2.50 ±0.32 t ha-¹ in A. costata and D. cochinchinensis, respectively. However, soil organic carbon content was found to be higher in D. cochinchinensis 0.68 ±0.05% than A. costata 0.57 ±0.02 %. These data will be useful in designing forest plantation for long term management using native tree species.