RECOFTC has strengthened collaborations with our long-time partner, the Royal Forest Department (RFD), Thailand, through the establishment of a joint project steering committee (PSC). On 18 December 2025, the PSC, comprising representatives from RECOFTC and RFD, approved the 2025–2026 work plan as part of our 2025–2030 cooperation framework.
RECOFTC’s executive director, David Ganz, and RFD’s director general, Nikorn Sirarotchananon, officially endorsed the work plan. The event was hosted by the RFD. Speaking at the meeting, Ganz iterated that forest landscapes are vital in addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and the transition to a bioeconomy.
“Through this strengthened cooperation with the RFD, we aim to advance participatory forest landscape management,” he said. “Successes from pilot areas in Thailand can serve as models for replication and scaling across the region and beyond.”
RECOFTC and RFD continue to advance community forestry in Thailand under our long-standing technical cooperation. Among other things, we will support communities in strengthening sustainable and inclusive forest management.
“The PSC is a milestone in our 12-year-long technical cooperation,” said Ganz. The committee will play a key role in guiding the design and implementation of work plans with clear indicators to promote resilient, community-based forest landscapes and improve people’s well-being.
A monitoring and evaluation meeting to review the progress of this work has been scheduled for late 2026.
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Nitchanun Tantapong is communication officer at RECOFTC Thailand.