Informations sur le projet/l’activité

The aftermath of the Myanmar coup has driven its thousands of people into Thai's border areas, particularly in Tak and Mae Hong Son Provinces. This influx has led to escalated and large-scale deforestation, and hence a surge in illicit trade as well as loss of food security and livelihoods in the region for 25 vulnerable communities. The situation is very severe in Mae Hong Son Province where the refugee camps are located. The flighting along the borders is escalating and more intense in late March and April 2023. Furthermore, climate change and the threat of forest fires worsen the situation in the dry season and flash foods, making it even more precarious.

There is therefore an urgent need to counteract the immediate loss of local livelihoods and to halt the surge in illegal wildlife poaching and collection of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and the results of political conflicts and natural disasters.  The specific objective of the proposed project is to tackle continuing deforestation and forest degradation while sustaining livelihoods in the disturbed Thailand-Myanmar border areas. Two outputs are proposed including 1) robust forest monitoring system installation to assist local authorities and communities in monitoring forest loss and degradation through the application of using satellite and drone data, and 2) fulfilled requisite capacity enhancement of local authorities, community groups and youth in community forest protection and sustainable livelihood development.

Kasetsart University as the Executing agency in collaboration with the Royal Forest Department will work closely with Thai Army, the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, and Mae Hong Son Province to implement the planned activities. The project duration is 12 months (Started in 2024)) with the financial support from the Government of Japan (Japan Emergency Budget) of USD 278,078.48 through ITTO.)