Chiang Mai University (CMU) maintains and extends biodiversity through the Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU-CMU), established over 25 years ago to restore tropical forest ecosystems, especially those under threat. FORRU-CMU works directly to protect endangered lowland evergreen forests (home to critically endangered Gurney’s Pitta), restore fire-damaged areas, rehabilitate abandoned agricultural land, and recover elephant habitats. Using the Framework Species Method, over one million trees from 200+ native species have been planted across multiple ecosystem types. Current projects include restoring watershed forests at Nong Hoi Royal Project, managing a Global Tree Seed Bank with RBG-Kew, and monitoring biodiversity recovery (birds, mammals, plants) in restored sites. The unit engages local communities, schools, and government agencies in co-management, combining scientific research with community-based conservation to ensure long-term ecosystem sustainability, directly supporting SDG 15: Life on Land.
Restoring watershed forest to abandoned agricultural sites, Nong Hoi Royal Project
The Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU) Chiang Mai University, in collaboration with the Nong Hoi Royal Project Development Center, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park and the Doi Suthep Nature Study Center, has initiated a forest-restoration project in the highland watershed areas above the Nong Hoi Royal Project Centre. Core funding for the first year of the project is being provided by the Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. This initiative aims to restore the ecological integrity of degraded montane forest ecosystems, promote biodiversity and encourage active participation from local communities, students, and the general public. At the same time, the project serves as a platform to promote natural science knowledge and sustainable natural resource management. Additional funding is being provided by SIG via the Rajapruek Institute Foundation, whilst Cross Hotels helped out on planting day.
This project serves as a model for cross-sectoral collaboration between governmental agencies and academic institutions. It integrates science-based forest restoration with community engagement to transform degraded landscapes into ecologically functional and socially valuable forests—addressing environmental, social and economic dimensions.
Project Objectives were to restore 10 rai of degraded montane forest on 2 sites, previously used for agriculture, located in Mae Raem Sub-district, Mae Rim District, Chiang Mai, to enhance biodiversity and ecological resilience within the boundaries of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, and to plant 4,000 tree saplings and manage the sites for at least two years to ensure successful establishment.
Global Tree Seed Bank: Unlocked
Global Tree Seed Bank Programme is securing some of our planet’s most threatened, rare and useful tree species. Funded by the Garfield Weston Foundation and coordinated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (RGB, Kew), the programme aims to collect and store seeds of more than 5,000 of the world’s tree species. In Thailand, under the third phase of the project, FORRU-CMU worked in partnership with the Bangkok Forestry Herbarium (BKF) to collect and conserve seeds of 300 native species. Seeds are stored at Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank and the National Biobank of Thailand (NBT). Together with BKF, FORRU-CMU also produced conservation assessments and distribution maps of 225 of Thailand’s endemic tree species for IUCN’s Red List system, with support from RBG Kew’s Plant Assessment Unit (PAU).
Collaboration between FORRU-CMU and RBG-Kews continues to yield impactful results as the project enters its 4th phase (2024-26) under the fresh name: “The Global Tree Seed Bank: Unlocked”.
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