Story: Pawida Charoenmuang; Photo: The Inclusive Sustainable Rice Landscapes (ISRL) Project
Chiang Rai –The Inclusive Sustainable Rice Landscapes (ISRL) Project, in collaboration with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and Doi Luang National Park, organised the event “Strengthening Conservation, Restoration of Forests and Handover of SMART Patrol Equipment” on 19–20 August 2025 at the Protected Area Regional Office 15, Chiang Rai Province. The event gathered over 40 participants, including representatives from the Rice Department, the Protected Area Regional Office, Doi Luang National Park rangers, and GIZ Thailand.
The event featured the official handover of patrol equipment, including 10 Network Centric Anti-Poaching System (NCAPS) camera traps, one drone set, 60 patrol backpacks and two forest survival kits, along with technical demonstrations on their use and reporting systems. Participants also exchanged experiences and discussed joint initiatives on forest restoration, wildfire prevention, buffer zone management, community forestry and ecosystem-based rice farming in Chiang Rai, demonstrating the project’s integrated approach to landscape management.
Mr Chedsada Ngoenthong, Director of Protected Area Regional Office 15, Chiang Rai, remarked during the opening ceremony that deforestation, forest encroachment and wildlife poaching across Thailand’s protected areas remain urgent issues that must be addressed. Doi Luang National Park, which spans across Chiang Rai, Lampang and Phayao provinces, is one of the areas affected by these challenges. The park plays a vital role in supporting biodiversity and serves as an important watershed that sustains local communities. However, due to its mountainous and hard-to-access terrain, patrolling to prevent encroachment, illegal logging and poaching continues to be a major challenge for rangers working on the ground.
“The patrol equipment supported by GIZ will help enhance the operational efficiency of park rangers both on land and from the air, allowing them to monitor, prevent and respond to illegal activities more effectively. This support also contributes to the long-term sustainability of forest conservation efforts and delivers tangible results in protecting the watershed forests of Northern Thailand.”
The ISRL Project, implemented by GIZ, is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the develoPPP programme and by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) under the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project is carried out in collaboration with Thailand’s Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, led by the Rice Department, and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, to strengthen local implementation and impact.
Dr Attawit Watcharapongchai, Director of the ISRL Project, stated that “GIZ is proud to be part of a collaborative network among public agencies, local authorities, communities and farmers in Chiang Rai. This activity reflects the integration of forest conservation and sustainable rice production, creating a true balance between natural resource protection and community livelihoods within the same landscape.”
Following the handover event, the delegation from Doi Luang National Park and the ISRL Project visited Ban Pang Makham Pom village in Wiang Pa Pao District, an important watershed area within Doi Luang National Park. The team met with local residents to discuss community-based economic development initiatives aligned with forest conservation efforts.
Ms Saenglah Khampaeng, Forestry Development Project Officer under the Royal Initiative and representative of Ban Pang Makham Pom village, shared that “This area also serves as a community learning centre for watershed conservation. Local villagers come here to learn about the sufficiency economy model, practise sustainable livelihoods through local resources, and work together to protect the forests they live alongside.” ■
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