GRANTCommunity Forest Empowerment Program
Thailand’s community forests – spanning mangrove coastlines and upland forests alike – are vital for biodiversity and local livelihoods, yet many remain under-resourced and vulnerable to climate change. This project establishes Community Forest Learning Hubs in Saraburi and Krabi, offering hands-on training and intergenerational leadership development. By strengthening Non-Timber Forest Product value chains and mobilizing funding for Community Forest Management Plans, communities gain the knowledge, tools, and networks to manage their forests with confidence. With ECCA’s support, these two provinces have the potential to become national models for how people and forests thrive together – across both coastal and inland ecosystems.
Challenge
Photo by RECOFTCPhoto by RECOFTCThailand’s Community Forest Act (2019) recognizes local communities’ rights to manage forests — but excludes protected areas. This leaves many traditionally managed ecosystems, including mangroves, wetlands, and upland forests, without formal recognition or sustained support.
Capacity gaps are a major barrier. Communities often lack the knowledge, tools, and follow-through to develop the legally required Community Forest Management Plans (CFMPs). Government training is typically short-term with limited follow-up, and decentralized learning models remain rare.
Leadership succession is another concern. Many community forests are led by aging leaders, with few structured pathways to engage youth or transfer knowledge — putting long-term sustainability at risk.
Livelihood opportunities from Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) remain underdeveloped across both mangrove and upland contexts — with most communities selling raw products at low prices, without value addition, fair marketing, or equitable benefit-sharing. Access to sustained funding remains scarce throughout.
Photo by RECOFTCPhoto by RECOFTCApproach
Photo by RECOFTCPhoto by RECOFTCThe project builds local capacity through a co-developed training program with government agencies, supported by digital tools including a monitoring system and biodiversity database linked to Thaichote.org. Regional Community Forest Learning Hubs – in collaboration with local government and civil society – offer hands-on training on biodiversity surveys, forest health assessments, CFMP development, and long-term monitoring across both mangrove and upland forest contexts.
To ensure financial sustainability, the project supports enterprise development and fundraising – partnering with platforms like thaicfnet.org and Taejai to mobilize resources, while equipping communities with tools to build forest-based businesses focused on value addition, sustainable harvesting, and fair market access. Completed CFMPs are submitted to provincial committees for formal recognition, reinforcing legal and institutional support for community-led conservation.
Outcomes
By April
2028
Thailand’s community forests – from mangrove coastlines to upland forests – need sustained investment, capable local leaders, and systems that last. If you work in community forestry, forest-based enterprise, or rural livelihoods in Southeast Asia, we’d love to connect and explore what we can build together.
