Thai CF Net — Civic-sector community forest database
A community forest database compiled through collaboration between government and civil society by RECOFTC Thailand. It covers nearly 800 community forests nationwide.
Translated from Thai · reviewed by the CF team
A shared space for community forest practitioners
Thai CF Net is a database compiled through collaboration between government and civil society groups that manage forests through participatory approaches. It serves as a central source of information on Thailand’s community forests and connects community forest practitioners with interested people, enabling them to learn, exchange knowledge and collaborate.
From a database to a self-assessment tool
In addition to profiles of individual community forests, the network has developed the CF-NET Index, a tool for communities to assess and improve their forest management. It is linked to ESG concepts to attract support from the business sector.
Create a shared space
For discussion, consultation and exchange among community forest groups, agencies and various networks.
Policy coordination mechanisms
Promote provincial and regional coordination mechanisms, as well as legal and policy proposals.
Develop leadership capacity
Develop first- and second-generation leaders, women, ethnic groups and young people.
Community forest database
The website thaicfnet.org is the network’s main data infrastructure.
CF-NET Index
A tool for communities to assess and improve their own forest management, linked to ESG concepts.
Among the community forests registered in the system, there are 10,559 community forest committee members (7,656 men / 2,903 women), including 4,362 women leaders and 2,599 youth leaders. Recorded activities include 454 forest restoration planting activities, 456 forest fire management plans, 129 biodiversity surveys, 60 carbon surveys, 179 community enterprises, 320 entries on local knowledge and traditions, and 336 ecotourism activities.
Key partners
RECOFTC Thailand (data owner) and ChangeFusion (system developer)
Network partners
V4MF, Phatthana Phak Nuea Foundation, Community Organizations Development Institute (CODI), Royal Forest Department, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
Supporters
European Union (EU), Corporate Governance Fund (CGFund), Darwin Initiative, UK aid, HAND SE, Sweden and Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC)
The network is continuing to develop the CF-NET Index, a self-assessment tool linked to ESG concepts, to attract support from the business sector.
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Choose the question that fits your role. Answers are summarised from our own records of the work, and you can talk to the CF team from any card.
What change does this work create, and how do we know it is effective?
We have a community forest database and records of various activities to track our work, but we have not yet recorded verifiable changes or methods for evaluating outcomes.
Thai CF Net collects community forest profile data and records of activities to provide a central database and connect practitioners with people who are interested in learning and exchanging knowledge. This Project
The system contains profiles of 788 community forests across 53 provinces, and records of 454 forest restoration planting activities, 456 forest fire management plans, 129 biodiversity surveys and 60 carbon surveys. This Project This data shows the scope of the database and the activities recorded, but it is not yet evidence of how forests or quality of life have changed. This Project
We have not yet recorded verifiable changes or details of how to evaluate the outcomes brought about by the tools and network.
How was this work carried out, and what lessons can be applied going forward?
We collect community forest data, connect practitioners, and develop the CF-NET Index so communities can assess themselves, but we have not yet recorded lessons from implementation.
We use Thai CF Net as a central database of community forests, established through collaboration between government and civil society, and as a space connecting practitioners and interested people to learn and exchange ideas. This Project
The stated approaches include creating spaces for discussion and consultation; advancing provincial or regional coordination mechanisms and legal and policy proposals; and building the capacity of first- and second-generation leaders, women, ethnic groups, and young people. This Project The community forest profile database is the network’s infrastructure, while the CF-NET Index is a tool for communities to assess and improve their own forest management, linked to the concept of ESG. This Project
We have not yet recorded lessons from implementation, limitations, or what we have tried that has or has not worked, so we cannot yet conclude how the approach should be adjusted when applied in the future.
What kinds of areas is this approach suitable for, and what do we need in order to get started in our area?
The system contains community forest data from 53 provinces, along with approaches for building a database, networks and self-assessment tools. However, it has not documented the conditions or resources needed to get started in a new area.
Thai CF Net has profiles of 788 community forests in 53 provinces, so it covers information from many areas. However, we have not documented criteria for which types of areas are especially suited to this approach. This Project
The approach includes collecting community forest data; creating spaces for exchange among community forest groups, agencies and networks; promoting coordination mechanisms at provincial or regional level; and building leaders’ capacity. This Project Another component is the CF-NET Index, designed to enable communities to assess and improve their own forest management and connect it with ESG concepts. This Project
We have not documented what people, budget, information or other conditions a new area needs in order to get started. Nor have we recorded details of the initial steps for your area.
What methods or tools can we start using right away?
The tools mentioned are the community forest database and the CF-NET Index for self-assessment. The Index is still under development, and there are no details yet on when it will be introduced.
The main tool of Thai CF Net is the website thaicfnet.org, which is described as the network’s main data infrastructure. The database contains profiles of 788 community forests. This Project The recorded data also covers activities such as restoration planting, forest fire management plans, biodiversity surveys and community enterprises. This Project
Another tool is the CF-NET Index, designed to enable communities to assess and improve their forest management themselves, with links to ESG concepts. This Project However, the network is continuing to develop this tool. This Project
We have not documented the steps or conditions for accessing the database, and there are no details yet on when or how communities can begin using the CF-NET Index.
How does this work connect to systemic issues, and what kind of collaboration is needed?
Work to connect community forest databases and networks with policy coordination. The forests issue needs funding to support communities and mentoring organisations, but partner roles have not yet been recorded in detail.
Forest issues are connected to community livelihoods and the air quality, water sources and ecosystems that support people in downstream urban areas. The approach of this Issue supports communities in having the resources to care for forests and monitor outcomes using verifiable data. IssueForests and Community Livelihoods Thai CF Net helps connect community forest practitioners with interested people, compile data, and develop ways to create spaces for exchange and mechanisms for policy coordination at provincial or regional level. This Project
The system’s main partners are RECOFTC Thailand, which owns the data, and ChangeFusion, which developed the system. The network partners include the agencies and organisations identified in the Project. This Project For the Forests and Community Livelihoods Issue, funds are being raised for the B.E. 2569 fire season to support Forest Guardians and mentoring organisations. This includes funding for firefighting equipment and its maintenance, firebreaks and patrols, and economic development that supports forest care. IssueForests and Community Livelihoods
We have not yet recorded in detail the roles or forms of collaboration expected from each partner group.