Expanding to 42 communities in 6 provinces: Developing PES plans with 6 mentor organisations across the North
In B.E. 2569, the Project expanded from Chiang Mai alone to 6 northern provinces, developing PES plans with 42 communities through 6 mentor organisations before selecting 25 communities to receive actual budget support.
Translated from Thai · reviewed by the CF team
After the first year of work focused only on the Doi Suthep-Pui area and Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai Province, in B.E. 2569 the Forest Guardians project’s Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) mechanism expanded its work to 6 northern provinces: Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Tak, Nan, Phrae and Lampang. It coordinated through 6 mentor organisations that were already working closely with communities in their respective areas: Chiang Mai Breath Council (Chiang Mai), Phuea Kan Phatthana Thi Yangyuen Phak Nuea Association, or SDF (Mae Chaem), Nawattakam Chao Ban Co., Ltd. (Tak, Lamphun, Lampang), The Next Forest (Phrae, Nan), Hug Muang Nan Foundation (Nan), and RECOFTC (Nan).
Each organisation worked in the field with communities in its existing network to develop PES plans using the 9-step standard guide that had been developed. The plans covered both fire prevention and management for sustainable development. PES plans were produced by all 42 communities, after which 25 communities whose plans were clearest and most aligned with the project’s goals were selected to receive actual budget support within this year.