Good forest management: benefits land and people

"This project began when Ratchaburi Electricity Holding approached the Royal Forestry Department and proposed a project to promote conservation of forests and the environment. So we considered how to achieve this, with the goal of allowing people and forests to coexist in a balanced and sustainable way. The Royal Forestry Department also applies the philosophy of sufficiency economy to the project," said the department's Deputy Director General, Chonlatid Suraswadi.

He said it was agreed that communities with good forest management would be selected to serve as an example for others, and that this led to a contest between community forests selected from different provinces and regions. The Khao Wong community forest in Chaiyaphum became the winner of the first national contest in 2008.

To qualify for the contest, communities must have a systematic preservation plan for their forests covering the ecological, economic and social aspects. The plan must be in line with the philosophy of sufficiency economy; there must be participation from local residents; and the community forest has to be registered with the Royal Forestry Department.

At present, there are 7,306 registered community forests all over the country, with a combined area of about 2.5 million rai (400,000 hectares).

Last week, the Royal Forestry Department and Ratchaburi Electricity Holding held a seminar for representatives of winning communities at the Khao Wong community forest.

"The seminar was aimed at allowing representatives from different communities to share their views and experiences about forest preservation. They could also learn from the national winner, the Khao Wong community forest, so that they can adapt the new knowledge to their communities," Chonlatid said.

Prayut Thongsuwan, assistant managing director of Ratchaburi Electricity Holding, said the programme would encourage the development of a strong community forest network throughout Thailand.

"The company will extend the activity and programme to upgrade standards for further protection and development of our national resources," he said.

The Khao Wong community forest has an area of 6,250 rai and is adjacent to the Sai Thong National Park. It is managed by a network of community forest committees from five villages around the forest.

Pluem Piromphak, a former village headman who initiated the Khao Wong community forest, said that in the past, people living in the forest mostly earned money by making charcoal, and they cut a lot of trees in the process. In 1996, the village committee agreed that if things were allowed to go on like that, the forest would soon be gone. So they came up with a campaign to preserve the forest. People were gradually relocated out of the forest and the Khao Wong community forest was set up.

"Later we campaigned for villagers to stop making charcoal. We encouraged them to take up organic farming, breed fish and raise pigs. The people have now nicknamed their village 'City of Sufficiency'," said Pluem.

Sunthorn Amnat, a kamnan from Tambon Wang Takhe and chairman of the Khao Wong community forest, said during the seminar that local residents are now less dependent on forest products, thanks to the knowledge they received about mixed farming. With reduced human dependence on the forest, it has become healthier, he added.

"In the past, locals competed with one another to get as much as possible from the forest. With the community forest and systematic management, everybody now gets equal benefit from the forest. There are rules for making use of the forest. For example, you need permission from the committee to cut a tree for personal use. You are allowed to cut only fully-grown trees and you need to plant new trees in their place," Sunthorn said.

He added that with the forest becoming healthier, local residents can make use of it more effectively by collecting seasonal mushrooms, vegetables and insects. The committee has rules about collecting forest products to ensure that everybody benefits equally.

Sunthorn is part of the second generation in the Khao Wong community forest and gives lectures about the success of the programme. Local youths also take part in the community forest's activities and act as guides for visitors.

"We have to allow the younger generation to take part. When the older people are gone, they will be able to carry on our ideas of protecting the forest," he said.

Representatives of the four regional winners who took part in the seminar were from the Mae Han community forest in Mae Hong Son, the Non Yai community forest in Si Saket, the Phu Yang community forest in Ratchaburi, and the Tham Phueng community forest in Surat Thani.

Sanan Khundet, who represented Phu Yang, said illegal logging was rife in the community forest. However, in 2001 when a deadly landslide in Phetchabun was caused by severe deforestation, local residents agreed to the need for forest preservation.

He said that the community forest plan initially ran into problems similar to those experienced elsewhere. There was discontent among influential figures who were benefiting from the forest. However, with unity among the villagers, the project finally overcame those obstacles.

Kanueng Panrangsi, a representative from Tham Phueng, said encroachment was very severe before the community forest began seven years ago. But the community forest has been turned into a tourist attraction, with home-stay services for visitors. Over the past five years, the home-stay business has earned this community in Surat Thani about Bt300,000 each year. The business is managed by a cooperative in which local residents are shareholders.

Pralong Dumrongthai, director of the Bureau of Community Forest Management, said the Royal Forestry Department was collecting statistical data to measure the success of setting up community forests. Comparisons would be made about changes after community forest set-up, in terms of forest resources and the well-being of local residents.

"It is said that the wellbeing of people has improved. We now have to prove that statement. With the study, we will find out how good the improvement has been," he said.

At present, Thailand's forests cover about 33 per cent of the country, and the Royal Forestry Department aims to increase the figure to 40 per cent, according to Pralong.