Healthy Forest, Healthy People II: Remote Sensing and Community Networks Extend the Benefits of Community Forestry in Thailand

Abstract

Thailand has historically been an area of very high rates of forest destruction. Responses have included designating forests as protected areas and restricting access and usage by forest-dwelling communities. Smallholder farmers in these communities have often found themselves faced with critical issues of environmental degradation and deforestation and without the appropriate channels to resolve them. Over several decades, community forest management (CFM) has gained global momentum as a potential solution with both economic and environmental benefits, but results have been mixed. In 2012 we presented a case study at the IEEE Global Humanitarian Technology Conference (GHTC) documenting the progress of the CFM program in the northern Thailand village of Huai Lu Luang. This village partnered with several non-government organizations, including Upland Holistic Development Project and Plant With Purpose, to implement CFM using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) remote sensing technologies for mapping and monitoring. At the 2012 GHTC we presented results showing significant improvements in both forest health and the community standard of living as a result of this combined approach. Now, six years later, not only has Huai Lu Luang village continued its efforts at CFM, but their success in community-based forest protection has expanded to the watershed level. Fifteen communities in the Huai Lu River watershed have created an effective CFM network to advocate for community forestry, and have expanded the use of remote sensing and mapping technologies to develop accurate village maps and relevant land management plans. This initiative has gained the active support of local and national government agencies. We provide evidence that the participating communities are experiencing greater economic stability and more sustainable farm systems. Using NDVI data, we observe a consistent increase in vegetative cover in the watershed relative to similar neighboring watersheds over a period of 7 years, indicating continuing improvements in forest health. These successes have made this watershed a model for others in northern Thailand and Burma who would use CFM and remote sensing technology to achieve environmental restoration and improve the standard of living for forest-dwelling communities.