Search every Issue, project, update and blog post
Ban Mani Phruek, Nan: From firebreaks to a learning centre for coffee under the forest canopy and ecotourism
The Ban Mani Phruek community forest in Thung Chang District, Nan Province, is planning fire prevention alongside the development of an ecotourism learning site and coffee production under the forest canopy, with RECOFTC as its mentor organisation.
From solo boat guides to a community kayak cooperative: Ban Thale Nok expands island tours with income reinvested in conservation
A group of 10 fishers who used to take tourists to the islands independently came together to form a cooperative and jointly manage kayak activities after receiving funding from the Sea Guardians project.
Launching the community economy pillar: TSWA and ChangeFusion provide seed funding to 7 communities to develop resource-based businesses
After establishing the LMMA system in the first year, TSWA and ChangeFusion jointly conducted a process to listen to communities’ needs before providing seed funding of around 100,000 baht per area in 7 of the 15 pilot communities.
Year one closes with 6 MOUs covering 58 agencies across all 4 provinces
The project closed its first year by signing 6 memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with government agencies in 4 provinces, piloting 3 different collaboration models tailored to local contexts.
"2 communities, 2 systems, 1 MOU": Talo Sai and Lom Pun show that cooperation does not have to be centralised
Two communities in Satun Province with overlapping conservation areas chose to maintain separate management systems but coordinate through a single MOU, resolving conflict over overlapping areas.
"3 areas, 1 network": Khlong Khut, Laem Din and Chai Khlong open up a network-based LMMA model
Three geographically separate communities around Songkhla Lake in Phatthalung Province are connected by a single MOU, showing that ecosystem-level conservation does not require contiguous areas.
Shortlisted 28 entries and conducted site visits nationwide
From more than 157 applicants, the committee used 5 criteria (5 points each) to shortlist 28 entries before conducting in-person site visits from 2-18 September B.E. 2568.
Ban Boe: Khon Khlan upgrades its traditional small-scale fishing boundary to an officially recognised LMMA
Khon Khlan community in Satun Province has had its own rules to protect the sea since B.E. 2566. The Sea Guardians Project helped upgrade these into an officially recognised LMMA, with a patrol system staffed by 24 volunteers.
Huai Pla Lot: from a bald mountain to forest and coffee beneath large trees
The Black Lahu community in Tak Province restored the forest with more than 400 check dams, generating total household income of more than 14 million baht per year. The Project supported 2 water sources and a 5-kilometre wet firebreak.
Plearnprai Organic: Matching a branding mentor with organic farmers in Chaiyaphum to reach new customers
One of three pilot enterprises in B.E. 2568 under the new-model growth acceleration project, paired with a mentor specialising in brand strategy and marketing to expand its customer base beyond its previous reliance on word-of-mouth marketing.
BNC Group: Strengthening online marketing strategy to reach the adult children of older people
One of the three pilot enterprises in B.E. 2568 under a new-model growth acceleration programme, matched with a mentor specialising in online marketing and CRM strategy to expand its customer base to the working-age children of older adults.
Attalak: Building a strong financial accounting system for long-term growth
One of three pilot enterprises in B.E. 2568 under a new-format growth acceleration programme, paired with expert mentors in accounting, tax and legal compliance to build a more stable financial foundation.
Ao Thong: Three communities—Sa Bua, Nai Thung and Na Thap—join forces to restore Thasala Bay
After resource degradation reached crisis levels in B.E. 2540–2541, three communities in Thasala District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, came together to establish the “Ao Thong” conservation area before advancing to a shared LMMA under a single MOU in the project’s first year.
Khon Khlan (Egg Yolk-Egg White): Ban Khlong Khut designs conservation zones based on the community’s actual capacity
After learning from expanding the conservation area beyond its capacity and having to suspend activities for 4 years, Ban Khlong Khut designed “egg yolk-egg white” conservation zones that balance resource protection with livelihoods.
Fish Shelter No.9: Ban Mai turns bamboo fish shelters into a symbol of community solidarity
The Ban Mai community in Songkhla Province built a bamboo fish shelter shaped like the number 9 in the middle of the sea, making it the centre of a conservation zone and the community’s food bank.
Applications open nationwide for the “Best Grassroots Innovator, Year 5”
Applications are open for inventions by grassroots innovators nationwide from 5 April to 31 May B.E. 2568. More than 157 applicants have applied to take part.
Setting up a community-based fisheries data monitoring system and collecting baseline data before management begins
TSWA trained fisheries volunteers in 15 communities to collect data on species, quantities and weights of aquatic animals. Baseline data collection began in April–May B.E. 2568.
Doi Chang Pa Pae: extending the IoT sprinkler firebreak by another 200 metres
Paka Ko Yo youth in Lamphun Province combine the local wisdom of “Wa Me To” with an app-controlled watering system and IP cameras on the mountain peak, across more than 21,300 rai of forest.
Two new firebreak routes at Ban Pang Wae and Thung Pong
Added firebreaks of 1.48 and 2.5 kilometres along ridgelines with 26 accumulated hotspots over 3 years
CCTV cameras installed in high-risk areas in three Doi Suthep-Pui villages
Ban Khun Chang Khian, Ban Pang Yang and Ban Pong Nuea use CCTV as a deterrent during the fire season