Mae Ping Watershed Forest, Chiang Dao Model

Forest and River Protection Project

Rational Criterion

The Forested area in Chiang Dao District, Chiang Mai with an area adjacent to Burma, is the origin of the Mae Ping River. Which is the main river that flows to nourish the city of Chiang Mai. It flows further down the Bhumibol Dam. It is also the main river that flows into the Chao Phraya River that nurtures Thai people throughout the country. The forested area of ​​Chiang Dao District is in the area of ​​the National Forest, National Park, Wildlife Sanctuary and it is a forest with great biodiversity and is of great importance to the ecosystem.

In the past 5-10 years, forest areas in Chiang Dao District have been encroached, cleared, and destroyed rapidly. This is caused by the expansion of the population that has increased leading to the expansion of living space and the arable land has encroached on to the protected forest area. Cash crops such as maize are grown, resulting in more severe forest fires and smog every year in the dry season. It also caused drought problems resulted in water shortages for agriculture. Many areas faced shortages of water for consumption, which in the past drought in 2016 was more severe than in the past several years. Including the problem of landslides and flash floods which flooded people's houses and agricultural areas which are damaged during the rainy season.

The solution to the problem must be a systematic solution. By educating and developing cooperation mechanisms between the public sector and government agencies.

Objective

1. To educate and develop a mechanism for cooperation from all parties in the conservation of watershed forests and Mae Ping River
2. To create understanding about forest protection and river conservation
3. To promote the process of building community forests, including reforestation in the original community forest area.
4. To raise awareness of forest protection and river conservation both for the youth in the tribal and lowland areas.

Operation area

Areas in 5 districts are Chiang Dao District, Mae Taeng District, Mae Rim District, San Sai District and Mueang Chiang Mai District. By working with ethnic groups who live in the mountainous area, villages in the plains along both sides of the Mae Ping River. We have also communicated with the urban community and government agencies. Such as Pha Daeng National Park, Sri Lanna National Park and Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuaries, as well as temples, schools and local administrative organizations such as municipalities, etc.

Operation Process/ Activity Process 

1. Promote community forests. Villages in Chiang Dao District are surveyed. Along with villages with community forests, are asked for needs or additional support to extend community forestry. For some areas, it may be a community forest in a reserved forest area. In the part of the village where there is no community forest, but there is a need for community forests. We will go to consult and help support and coordinate the creation of community forests. The presence of community forests will be beneficial to the villagers. 
2. Plant trees, restore forests. To increase the area of the ​​forest that has been encroached and destroyed. Seedlings are cultivated and distributed to communities in need.
3. Prevent and solve forest fire problems by collaborating with Greenpeace Thailand to recruit volunteers for forest fires. With an emphasis on volunteers both from the villages and from other places.
4. Promote the management of water resources in the เหมืองฝาย system. Especially the farmers where rice is mainly grown and เหมืองฝาย is established. According to the royal initiative to slow down the flow of water and create moisture for the forest.
5. Establish Fish Conservation Areas in front of temples. Twenty-eight villages in Chiang Dao District on both sides of the Mae Ping River. There have been Fish Conservation areas in 16 villages, but there is still a lack of continuity.

1. Promote knowledge in natural farming according to the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy. By coordinating with the Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education (NFE)  Chiang Dao District and the Office of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Chiang Mai to reduce the use of chemicals.
2. Promote the role of cooperation with localities, municipalities, schools, temples and government agencies (Department of Conservation, Department of Water Resources, Department of Harbor, Department of Land Development, Department of Forestry, Department of Fisheries)
3. Promote the role of youth living on hills and พื้นราบ, creating opportunities for education, imagination and inspiration in the form of youth camps.
4. Walking Dhammayatra from Mae Ping River, Muang Na Sub-district, Chiang Dao District, to Mueang Chiang Mai Districtใ With 4 sub-activities, namely Dhammayatra Walking, social communication, photo exhibition "From the forest to the river" and the forum on the breath of the river
5. Communicating with the public through various media such as television, local radio, Facebook, Line, etc.

This project has been in operation for a period of 4 years.