Posted on July, 04 2007

Currently, Thailand 's forests areas are decreasing with the present number at a mere 56,443,200 rai or 17.16 percent of Thailand 's total areas even though these are the very forest that hosts headwaters from which 63 million people of this nation are fed. One of the methods that is used to restore the forests to be as close as it could be like in the past is to plant trees. If the success of tree planting, which has become popular all over Thailand, and whether such action can return the forest and biodiversity that has been lost, is still questioned, then the Framework Species Method for Forest Restoration, by FORRU, Chiangmai University and WWF Thailand is the answer to the success of an evergreen hill forest restoration, a significant headwater forest of Northern Thailand.

The Framework Species Method for Forest Restoration places importance in research that presents native tree species for selection. The details placed in cultivating the seedlings in the nursery, the selection of appropriate planting areas, and maintenance following planting that stresses on participation from all stakeholders whom use the forest are all procedures of this method.

For more than 10 years, a Hmong Hilltribe from Bahn Mae Sa Mai village, have used Doi Suthep National Park property for agriculture causing a shift in ecosystem from rich forest to over 28 , 000 rai of cropland. During the rainy season of every year, the baskets on the villagers' back carries saplings that will be grown in place of the cabbage and carrot that was once grown. The playful sounds of the children, stained with dirt on their clothes and hands, create a joyous atmosphere on the hillsides. In this learning environment, the children once asked why trees need to be planted as the agriculture way has seem to be able to support their ancestors for hundreds of years. However, today they understand the reasons behind the change in their parents and others' actions, and why their village chose to cross the hillsides to restore the lost forest.

Part of the Hmong Hilltribe relocated from the old Bahn Mae Sa (Bahn Mae Sa Kao) village to the new one (Bahn Mae Sa Mai) nearly 20 years ago due to the decrease in water from the springs that use to feed their forefathers . According to Hmong belief, if there is relocation of villages, a place for the guardian spirits must also be established to protect the village. Therefore, the mountain located behind their village has been designated as a protected area called “Dong Seng” forest. The belief is that in conserving the natural resources and environment, the villagers began to see the changes that will lead to the return of the forest. They have learned that without the forest, there is no water. During the initial stages, villagers and local agencies planted eucalyptus and pine trees. After some time, villagers found that such species use up a large amount of water, but returning little moisture back into the forest, contrary to what occurred in the original forest

Yua Saeson, a Hmong villager, have joined in reforestation for more than 10 years and explains,” I have joined in planting trees in the area that used to be an old cabbage field, without knowing the benefits of the forest, only that it provided water that villagers use. Villagers from more than 200 households, bringing their children big and small, to help protect the forest by taking shifts in monitoring the area. However, before this area was planted, we looked up to see that on the other side, trees were still being cut down, but it is getting better. The villagers are starting to understand that with forest comes water.” From the need to reforest an area with native species, in an area that used to be a Eucalyptus and Pine stand, the area was perfect for the FORRU team of Chiangmai University (CMU in using the Framework Species Method of Forest Restoration. The method was developed first in Queensland , Australia and has been altered to better fit the ecosystem of northern Thailand , where forest species are planted and the restoration of the biodiversity accelerated. Planting framework species is appropriate because these species are fast-growing and have high survival rates. They are also easily maintained in a nursery as well as have large canopies that provide shade for understories to grow, are fire-tolerant and attract wildlife.

Neng Tnomworakul, Village Committee member of Bahn Mae Sa mentions, “ We journey into the forest everyday like we always have, but before, we always head into for forest products and farm, but now, we have to look all around us, searching under the native trees and dig in the soil to collect seeds to take back for cultivation back in the village nursery. Some seeds survive, while others die, thus villagers collect all they can, but only ones that are ripe. You can tell ripe seeds by the color of the fruit or fruits that have opened up. Villagers monitor the growth of the plants periodically, with all plants having records in case of cultivation on other properties.”

Dr. Stephen Elliot , Ecologist at FORRU adds that “ By using the Framework Species Method for Forest Restoration will conserve the highest amount of biodiversity because these are fast-growing species, with wide canopies. These species are originally those in this forest and their seeds from the actual forest. Because they are fast-growing, they produce fruits in a short period, further attracting wildlife, whom can use the forest as a food source and habitat. Once wildlife feed, they will defecate and germinate the seeds. From regular research and statistics, there are approximately 10-20 species of birds living in the open fields. After 6 years, the number rose to 87 species. Initially, 30 tree species were selected for reforestation, later ww found 61 species, of which we did not plant. The additional species were the result of germination by birds in the area. Furthermore, villagers have noticed an increase in wildlife, hearing the calls of the barking deer, that have not been heard for over 10 years. Surveys on tracks also presented wild boars, leopards, pangolins, the silver-star bamboo rats and many more other species.”

The Framework Species Method for Forest Restoration is part of the conclusion that planting trees to make a forest is not an easy task because time is crucial for the details in each step of necessary research so that a development plan for other areas can be used. Each year, 20 rai of forest can be returned to this nation. FORRU and WWF Thailand have proved that an evergreen forest ecosystem can be restored, just that in every step of development, focus needs to be placed on the quality of the area more than the quantity of areas reforested.

Supol Jitvijak, Acting Head of Forest Resources Management Unit, WWF Thailand remarks “Reforestation by the aforementioned method has been successful at the national and Southeastern Asia level. Even though the past 10 years, only 154 rai of Doi Suthep has been reforested by this method, there still remains nearly 30,000 rai of agriculture fields in this headwater forest. This number is what is worrisome. Furthermore, springs have begun to dry up. Such activities is a mirror to the critical situation occurring to forests of northern Thailand, meaning negative effects that do not only have consequences to the local, immediate areas but also connecting to the communities of the Ping River down to Chao Phraya river alike. It probably does not need to be explained if the forests with headwaters deteriorate, what will happen to the people of Bangkok .”

“One hope that we still have is in creating forest restoration programs that stress on quality not quantity. Furthermore such program will stress on participation by all stakeholders at all levels, starting from local communities (Hmong villagers from Bahn Mae Sa), educational institues (Chiangmai University), government (Doi Suthep-Pui National Park), private organizations (WWF Thailand) and the business sector (King Powe Duty Free Co., Ltd.) is the correct path for sustainable conservation of natura resources.” Supol adds.

Even though we cannot bring back the forest as it use to be within a wink of an eye or even within hours, simply initiating with the available manpower and determination, this makes every step taken into planting trees more worthy especially once people think to plant a large forest and are willing to learn through research and local wisdom. Locals not only want to protect their water source and assure such resource is available to them and others of the hiltribes, but they also understand that in forests restoration, they are also providing water for millions of lives residing in cities; all whom depend on such resource equally.