Huai Ikhang: a “women’s forest” of 60 rai and a community food bank
The Paka Koenyo women’s group in Mae Wang District decided to organise the collection of forest products to reduce losses from fires, alongside a land stewardship fee of 2 baht per rai.
Translated from Thai · reviewed by the CF team
Ban Huai Ikhang has set aside 60 rai of community forest as a “forest for women”, a learning area focused on medicinal plants, natural dye plants and forest foods, while passing on the knowledge of Paka Koenyo women to younger generations.
The idea behind the community food bank is to bring together forest resources and manage them systematically to reduce losses from forest fires and ease pressure during the dry season. The community has also set a land stewardship fee of 2 baht per rai per person, giving the community fund an annual income of around 20,710 baht from a population of 545 people.