Forest Restoration PES Project
This project, based in Ban Mae Sa Noi, Chiang Mai, addresses the long-term need for sustainable forest and community development. Despite receiving short-term forest fire prevention funding, the area lacks integrated, systematic solutions. The project proposes a four-part plan: 1) Forest Restoration – Rehabilitating degraded pine forests by planting native species along old firebreaks to form natural fire barriers. 2) Sustainable Agriculture – Transitioning from high-impact crops (e.g., cabbage) to sustainable, high-value alternatives like herbs and greenhouse-grown vegetables, with a share of income (10%) contributing to an environmental management fund. 3) Ecotourism – Developing nature-based tourism focused on forest restoration, involving local guides and educational trails, with revenue also supporting the community’s forest fund. 4) Scholarships – Offering educational and career development support to local youth to build future community leaders and promote sustainable livelihoods aligned with forest conservation. This integrated approach aims to build a self-reliant, environmentally responsible, and economically resilient community.
Impact Value Chain
Arrows mean “leads to” · bars show progress towards the target
| Indicators | Measures | Unit | Baseline amount | Target amount | Time or duration of data collection | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Increase in household income | Outcome Increase in income | Baht | - | - | Start Aug (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| Forest fire management and conservation activities conducted by the community. Refer to: - Data of forest management fund - Data from regenerative tourism | Outcome Effective engagement of local community in supporting forest management | - | - | - | - | No readings yet. |
| Revenue of community enterprise | Outcome Increase in income of the community enterprise | Baht | - | - | Start Aug (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| Reduction of burn scar | Outcome Effective prevention of the spread of forest fire and minimize loss | - | - | - | End of raining season (Dec) | No readings yet. |
| Official registration of community enterprise for sustainable agriculture | Output Community enterprise for sustainable agriculture established | - | - | - | Jul | No readings yet. |
| Increase in knowledge and skills | Output Youth receive sufficient knowledge and skills to work in agriculture in the community | - | - | - | Oct | No readings yet. |
| Increase in household income | Outcome Increase in income | Baht | - | - | Start Oct (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| No. of youths engaged in employment | Outcome Increase in distribution of income among community members | Youths | - | - | Start Oct (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| Length of forest fire barrier strengthened | Output Forest fire barriers strengthened | km | - | - | End of raining season (Dec) | No readings yet. |
| เอกสารขอใช้พื้นที่ (agreement between community and the Department) | Output Reduce conflicts with the local community | - | - | - | Sep | No readings yet. |
| Survival rate of the trees planted | Outcome Positive environmental impacts derived from regenerative tourism | % | - | - | - | No readings yet. |
| Able to launch pilot trips | Output Able to operate tour activities | - | - | - | Oct | No readings yet. |
| Official registration of community enterprise for tourism | Output Community enterprise for tourism established | - | - | - | Sep | No readings yet. |
| Amount of forest management fund contributed from community enterprise | Outcome Community enterprise contributes to forest management fund | Baht | - | - | Start Oct (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| Growth rate of trees planted | Output Forest fire barriers taken care of on an on-going basis | % | - | - | End of raining season (Dec 2025, Dec 2026) | No readings yet. |
| Amount of forest management fund contributed from community enterprise | Outcome Community enterprise contributes 20% of revenue to forest management fund | Baht | - | - | Start Aug (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| No. of youths who decide to pursue employment at the community | Outcome More youths choose to pursue employment in their community | Youths | - | - | Dec | No readings yet. |
| No. of youths who decide to pursue employment at the community | Outcome More youths choose to pursue employment in their community | Youths | - | - | Dec | No readings yet. |
| Tour program developed | Output Tour program developed based on the concept of regenerative tourism | - | - | - | Oct | No readings yet. |
| Community rules documented | Output Community consensus and regulation in tour operation | - | - | - | Jul | No readings yet. |
| Revenue of community enterprise | Outcome Increase in income of the community enterprise | Baht | - | - | Start Oct (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| No. of travelers visiting the community | Output Increase in awareness of forest conservation | Travellers | - | - | - | No readings yet. |
| Survival rate of trees planted | Output Forest fire barriers taken care of on an on-going basis | % | - | - | End of raining season (Dec 2025, Dec 2026) | No readings yet. |
| Monthly income from tourism activities that goes to the department | Outcome Able to generate additional income from tourism activities conducted within national parks | Baht | - | - | Start Oct (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| Additional land area freed up after farmers switch to alternative farming | Outcome More land space freed up for reforestation | rai | - | - | Dec | No readings yet. |
| No. of new agricultural activities set up | Output Set up of new agricultural activities | - | - | - | Start Sep (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| No. of trees planted | Outcome Positive environmental impacts derived from regenerative tourism | Trees | - | - | Start Oct (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| No. of students who receive scholarship | Output Students from poor family able to continue education | Youths | - | - | - | No readings yet. |
| No. of trees planted | Output Forest fire barriers strengthened | Trees | - | - | End of raining season (Dec) | No readings yet. |
| No. of households switching to new agriculture activities | Output Farmers households switching from cabbage farming to new alternative agriculture | Households | - | - | Start Sep (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| Increase in knowledge and skills | Output Youth receive sufficient knowledge and skills to work in tourism and agriculture in the community | - | - | - | Oct | No readings yet. |
| No. of students who complete their study for the academic year as per conditions required by the scholarship (ปพ 1) | Outcome Students complete education for another academic year | Youths | - | - | - | No readings yet. |
| No. of jobs created | Outcome Increase in distribution of income among community members | - | - | - | Start Oct (monthly) | No readings yet. |
| No. of elderly engaged in employment | Outcome Increase in distribution of income among community members | Elderly | - | - | Start Oct (monthly) | No readings yet. |
About the project
Problem
Forest fires account for a significant proportion—65%—of all burned areas in Thailand over the past decade (2010–2020), and they remain a major contributor to PM2.5 air pollution. In northern Thailand, these fires are often human-induced, as local communities burn forest areas to collect forest products or clear land for farming—activities rooted in traditional practices. However, this is often driven by necessity: many locals have limited livelihood options and rely on forest burning as a means of survival. To effectively prevent forest fires and restore damaged ecosystems, it is essential to promote community-based forest stewardship. Many communities living in protected or conservation forest areas are well-positioned to serve as active partners in forest protection and restoration. However, these communities often lack critical resources—such as funding, tools for creating firebreaks, and materials for reforestation and ecosystem conservation (e.g., biodiversity enhancement, water retention, and soil erosion prevention). Strengthening their capacity through targeted support would be key to reducing fire risks and building long-term environmental resilience.
Solution
The project aims to reduce the community’s dependence on traditional forest-burning practices by supporting the development of alternative, sustainable livelihood options, which include ecotourism initiatives that leverage the community’s unique environmental assets, as well as modern, climate-resilient agricultural practices that minimize land degradation. By creating new income streams, these economic alternatives help alleviate the need for harmful forest use, while simultaneously generating revenue that can be reinvested into long-term community-led forest management.
- Budget
- 710,000.00 Baht
Impact Goals
SDG 8 · Decent Work and Economic Growth
To foster sustainable economic development in local communities through alternative employment that diversifies income sources and mitigates pressure on forest resources.
- 8.2 Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors
- 8.9 By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products
SDG 15 · Life on Land
To establish sustainable funding mechanisms for PES by leveraging the new economic activities developed
- 15.2 By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
- 15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development
- 15.a Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems
Stakeholder
Local community members (tourism)
Description
บ้านแม่สาน้อย community members who are engaged in tourism activities
Problem / opportunity / challenge encountered by this stakeholder
บ้านแม่สาน้อย holds strong potential to develop regenerative tourism by leveraging its pristine forest landscape. However, community members still require capacity building to effectively implement and manage such initiatives.
Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
Description
The Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation is the key gatekeeper in approving tourism activities conducted within national parks
Problem / opportunity / challenge encountered by this stakeholder
Strict enforcement of national park laws—such as blanket bans on all activities—can create tensions between the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and local communities, especially when traditional livelihoods are affected. A more collaborative approach, supported by effective communication and partners like ไทยรักษ์ป่า, can help ease conflicts and foster mutual understanding. With limited staff and vast areas to manage, the Department could also benefit from engaging local communities as partners in forest protection, tapping into their local knowledge and presence to strengthen conservation efforts.
Travelers
Description
Thai and international travelers interested in ecotourism activities. The number of visitors that communities can host will depend on the area’s ecological carrying capacity.
Problem / opportunity / challenge encountered by this stakeholder
Although ecotourism has started to gain traction in Thailand, understanding of what constitutes true ecotourism (i.e., low impact, conservation-focused, community-benefiting travel) is still shallow among the broader public. Education may be necessary to ensure travelers respect cultural norms and environmental rules (e.g., no littering, no off-trail hiking), understand the impact of their visit, and contribute meaningfully to the area they visit.
Local community members (forest restoration)
Description
Local community members engaged in forest restoration activities, i.e. tree planting for forest fire barrier.
Problem / opportunity / challenge encountered by this stakeholder
บ้านแม่สาน้อย has a long-term plan to establish forest fire barriers by planting trees at strategic locations, covering a total of XX kilometers. However, the community currently lacks sufficient resources and funding to implement the plan.
Local community members (alternative agriculture)
Description
At present, most farmers in the community grow cabbage, which requires extensive land and relies heavily on chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Three households are planning to transition to more sustainable agricultural practices, such as pig farming, setting up botanical gardens, and growing medicinal herbs.
Problem / opportunity / challenge encountered by this stakeholder
Cabbage and other monocrop farming require large land areas and heavy chemical use, leading to soil degradation, while generating low market value. In contrast, alternative agriculture enhances land use efficiency and increases the value of produce, offering higher income and improved livelihoods for farmers.
Youths in the local community (vocational training - tourism)
Description
Local youths who are interested in pursuing career within their community
Problem / opportunity / challenge encountered by this stakeholder
Local youths often leave the community to seek employment elsewhere due to a lack of local economic opportunities. The absence of new generation poses challenge to the community's long term development especially in terms of forest restoration.
Youths in the local community (vocational training - alternative agriculture)
Description
Local youths who are interested in pursuing career within their community
Problem / opportunity / challenge encountered by this stakeholder
Local youths often leave the community to seek employment elsewhere due to a lack of local economic opportunities. The absence of new generation poses challenge to the community's long term development especially in terms of forest restoration.
Youths in the local community (scholarship)
Description
Local school-aged children from poor households who lack the resources to pursue further education
Problem / opportunity / challenge encountered by this stakeholder
Children and youth with limited access to education often face restricted career opportunities. Many school dropouts end up following their parents into unsustainable agricultural work. Access to higher education can open up a broader range of livelihood options and pathways to long-term sustainability.
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