ID: 1694

Ban Mae Sa Mai Forest Restoration, Thailand

The Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU) has been operating in Chiang Mai University’s Faculty of Biology for several decades, during which it has become a world leader in tropical forest restoration, developing and field-testing scientific methods for natural forest and ecosystem restoration. The Framework Species Method (FSM) for assisted natural regeneration originally developed in Australia depends on close spacing of a mix of 30 or more local pioneer, secondary succession and climax tree species. Following two years of weeding, protection and maintenance, the species assemblages attain heights of as much as 5m and usually, full canopy coverage after the 3rd rainy season, mimicking the structure and functions of the reference forest ecosystem. Ban Mae Sa Mai, located in the Doi Suthep – Doi Pui National Park (NP) near Chiang Mai City, was among the first test areas developed by FORRU in collaboration with the local Hmong ethnic minority community. The project developed an innovative approach for complementing assisted natural forest regeneration (ANR) with the planting of a diverse selection of native tree species on 33 ha of deforested uplands in an important watershed. The project, on behalf of Hmong ethnic minority communities, intervened with the Royal Forestry Department, enabling a variance in regulations to permit the communities to continue to reside within national park boundaries, in exchange for their commitment to forest restoration and sustainable management. FORRU has published dozens of scientific papers and training materials on ANR using the FSM in several languages to enable adoption and adaptation of ANR to local conditions and forest types in Cambodia, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Indonesia and China.

Planned actions

Protection of land/water

Education or awareness-raising

Management of land/water

Other

Species management