Co-Forest
Location
Krabi, Southern Thailand
Duration
Since 2023 to date
Supervision
Academic Research Director, Research Coordinator,
Focus
Community-Based Tropical forests Restoration
Co-Forest
Community Forest Restoration for Ecological and Social Transformation
Tropical forests are some of the most biodiverse and life-supporting ecosystems on Earth.
Regulating climate and water systems while supporting wildlife and local livelihoods. Yet they face increasing pressure from deforestation, land conversion, and monoculture farming.
CoForREST addresses these challenges through community-centered, research-driven forest restoration. Our work focuses on restoring degraded forests with native species, conserving wildlife through habitat connectivity, and supporting agroecological transitions that benefit both biodiversity and local communities. By integrating science, local knowledge, and adaptive co-management, we regenerate forests as resilient socio-ecological systems for people and nature.
Co-Forest
Currently active Projects
Kao To Luang Community Reforestation
A collaborative effort with local landowners to restore degraded forest areas by planting a diverse mix of native and community-valued species, enhancing biodiversity while ensuring long-term community benefits.
Plant Eco-Score
An applied research initiative to evaluate native and planted species using ecological scoring methods, helping guide species selection for reforestation based on resilience, biodiversity value, and ecosystem function.
Nong Thale 100rai Project
A reforestation trial on degraded land near Nong Talay, testing planting techniques and species combinations to develop best practices for dry tropical forest restoration.
Stumptail Macaque Population Dynamics & Monkey Bridges
A wildlife conservation project studying local stump-tailed macaque populations and constructing canopy bridges to reduce habitat fragmentation and promote safe movement across forest gaps.
Spirit Mountain Nature Trail
Development of a low-impact educational trail at Spirit Mountain, designed to provide local communities and visitors with access to forest habitats while promoting environmental awareness.
Spirit Mountain Community Forest Nursery
A community-driven initiative creating a shared forest nursery space at Spirit Mountain, designed to promote forest restoration, sustainable land use, food production, and environmental education.
Co-Forest
Impact
CoForREST applies a holistic monitoring and evaluation framework inspired by the Satoyama Initiative’s Resilience Indicators. Rather than focusing only on trees planted or carbon stored, we assess how forests and communities evolve together in terms of biodiversity, wellbeing, and governance.
Since 2023, we have achieved:
- Return of the Oriental Pied Hornbill in early 2025 — a strong sign of habitat recovery.
- Establishment of one fully functional community forest nursery.
- Documentation and planting of 43 native tree species, enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem function.
- Planting of 600+ native trees, regenerating over 3,000 m² of degraded land.
- Hosting of 3 community restoration events with 300+ participants from local communities, NGOs, and government.
- Engagement of 1,000+ students through immersive, place-based education programs.
- 5 international student internships through the NatureMind-ED program.
- Publication of 2 international research papers highlighting CoForREST’s contributions.
- Active collaboration with 10+ institutional partners in restoration, education, and governance.
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Krabi, Thailand