Women in three provinces in Thailand are leading efforts to make community forest management more inclusive and climate resilient.

Women are taking the lead in revising the forest management plans for three community forests, one each in Nan, Sisaket and Trang provinces to ensure inclusion and equal participation. Additionally, they are leading the development of a new management plan for the Rat-rat Pattana Community Forest in Nan.

RECOFTC provided training and technical support over the course of three months – from July to September 2024. The plan revisions and development were shaped through data-driven processes that combined forest inventory, biodiversity and forest health assessment, and gender and socio-economic analysis.  

In each case, women guided their communities in identifying climate risks and assigning responsibilities, ensuring women and youth have defined roles in implementing forest management activities.

In Trang, the Lam Ma Kham Mangrove Community Forestry Group restructured its forest committee to increase women’s representation from one to five members after a RECOFTC-facilitated dialogue. Its women’s group will be leading efforts to restore degraded coastal zones by planting seagrass.  

For all three provinces, the revised plans will be submitted to Provincial Community Forest Committees for review in 2025.  

“With the right skills and knowledge, we have been able to recommend strategic action,” says  Naiyana Teekawong, head of Huai Haad community, Nan province, and chairperson of the community forest group. “Our plans are about our forests and about what we can do to most effectively protect them.”