My PhD research, Living in a watershed: the role of traditional and local practices, aims to understand the traditional/local knowledge and practices that are beneficial for watershed management in montane mainland Southeast Asia. In particular, my field site will be 2-3 villages comprising the Khmu and Hmong ethnic minorities in the watershed area of the Kuang Si waterfall, an iconic tourist attraction in Luang Prabang, Laos. My research fieldwork took place from mid-May 2019 till May 2020.

 

To carry out my fieldwork, I collaborated with the local organisation, CHESH-Lao (acronym: Centre for Human Ecology Studies of the Highlands – Laos). CHESH-Lao had recently implemented a land use planning and zoning project in 7-8 villages in the Kuang Si watershed area. I am also grateful for the funding support from the National Geographic Society’s Early Career Grant, my university faculty’s Graduate Research Support Scheme and my university’s Lee Kong Chian Graduate Fellowship.

 

At the Kuang Si waterfall in Luang Prabang, Laos