RECOFTC and the Wyss Academy for Nature awarded four research grants to scholars from Kasetsart University (KU) conducting fieldwork on community forestry in Thailand. The grants, valued between USD 1,000 and USD 5,000, support research advancing sustainable forestry, climate resilience and community-led conservation.
The selected projects, announced on 5 March 2025, focus on agroforestry optimization, carbon storage, climate adaptation, and mangrove conservation:
- ‘Pruning regimes and their impact on tree health, timber quality and timber value in smallholder agroforestry systems of northern Thailand’ investigates best practices for teak production.
- ‘Assessment of carbon storage and monitoring wildlife diversity in the community forest of Khoanoijomsawan’ evaluates carbon credit potential and biodiversity, working towards collaboration for conservation.
- ‘Enhancing agroforestry resilience in Thailand: Selecting climate-tolerant tree species for drought-prone low-productivity agricultural areas’ looks to address climate change challenges in agriculture.
- ‘Community-driven conservation and ecological research on the dog-faced water snake for resilient mangrove management in Rayong’ addresses urban biodiversity and mangrove conservation.
The announcement was made during the office opening of Wyss Academy for Nature’s Hub Southeast Asia, hosted by RECOFTC, at the KU campus in Bangkok. The hub oversees Wyss’ regional initiatives, including ongoing projects in Xayaboury, Lao PDR and Nan, Thailand.
Speaking at the opening, Damrong Sripraram, acting present of KU, congratulated Wyss on their new office, wishing further success for the team. He added, “I truly hope that we can deepen our partnership for strengthened academic collaborations between KU, RECOFTC and the Wyss Academy for Nature, Hub Southeast Asia.”
Dignitaries at the event included the Swiss ambassador to Thailand, HE Mr Pedro Zwahlen, Preecha Ongprasert (Director, Office of Forestry Foreign Affairs, Royal Forest Department, Thailand) and Thatheva Saphangthong (Deputy Director General, Department of Agricultural Land Management, Lao PDR). Also in attendance were Phanthong Vilaisan (enterprise representative from Lao PDR), Sinouanechanh Khammouane (Bokeo Provincial Agriculture and Forestry Office, Lao PDR), Wyss Academy and RECOFTC leadership and staff along with representatives from KU.