Community-Based Ecosystem Restoration in Krabi, Thailand

Naturemind R&D

LIVING LABORATORIES FOR FOREST-TO-REEF REGENERATION

Advancing regenerative development through restoration research, stewardship, transformative education, Interactive Governance & Social enterprising

NatureMind Research & Development implements community-based ecosystem restoration across the Andaman coast of southern Thailand, restoring interconnected ecosystems while strengthening local communities’ capacity for long-term stewardship.

Our forest-to-reef approach recognises forests, mangroves, seagrass meadows and coral reefs as an interconnected social-ecological system, where changes in one ecosystem affect the others. Lasting restoration therefore requires working across these ecological connections rather than treating habitats in isolation.

Through a network of Living Laboratories, we bring together scientific research, ecological restoration, community participation, transformative education and collaborative governance within an adaptive learning system. These place-based initiatives generate practical knowledge for local restoration while building social-ecological resilience and informing regenerative development beyond Krabi.

Problem assumption

Environmental degradation due to resource exploitation ‘the great disconnect’

LIVING LABORATORIES FOR SOCIAL-ECOLOGICAL REGENERATION

NatureMind’s Living Laboratories are long-term, place-based partnerships where communities, researchers, government agencies, universities, civil society and businesses work together to restore ecosystems, generate knowledge and build local capacity. Rather than separating research from action, each Living Laboratory creates a continuous cycle of restoration, monitoring, learning and adaptation. Scientific evidence and local knowledge inform decisions, restoration generates new learning, and communities strengthen their capacity to steward changing social-ecological systems. Each site therefore becomes a research platform, restoration site, learning environment and community partnership, demonstrating regenerative development through real-world practice and enabling our long term vision.

Our solutions framework

We act as community social-ecological resilience brokers implementing community-based, transdisciplinary ecosystem restoration programmes

Research for restoration and co-design of management plans with decision makers.

Build technical capacity in environmental stewardship, sustainability, ecological restoration.

Build skills and competencies toward human and nature connection.

LIVING LABORATORIES OPERATIONAL BLUEPRINT

Every Living Laboratory is guided by five interconnected operational pillars that shape how we design, implement and continuously improve our work. Together, these pillars create adaptive learning systems that strengthen local stewardship, generate scientific evidence and build resilient social-ecological systems across the forest-to-reef continuum.

Community-Based Restoration Research and Ecological Monitoring

Our teams implement ecosystem restoration research and conduct long-term ecological monitoring using field surveys, biodiversity assessments, drone technology, GIS mapping and participatory monitoring. These datasets allow us to evaluate restoration success while informing adaptive management decisions.

Local Stewardship & adaptive capacity building

Communities are not simply beneficiaries of restoration—they are partners throughout the research process. We support local organisations in ecological monitoring, environmental education and collaborative natural resource management that strengthens long-term stewardship.

Transformative Education

Living Laboratories provide immersive learning environments where students, interns, researchers and practitioners contribute directly to conservation projects while developing ecological literacy, systems thinking and regenerative leadership.

Interactive Governance

Complex environmental challenges require collaboration across sectors. Our Living Laboratories create spaces where local communities, researchers, government agencies and civil society organisations co-design solutions that reflect both scientific evidence and local priorities into adaptive management.

Regenerative Value Chain Development

Ecological restoration alone cannot sustain healthy landscapes. Our Living Laboratories also explore regenerative livelihoods, circular economies and community enterprises that reduce environmental pressures while strengthening local resilience.

FOREST-TO-REEF LIVING LABORATORY NETWORK

Standing on these pillars, NatureMind currently operates a network of interconnected Living Laboratories spanning the full forest-to-reef continuum of Krabi.

CoForREST

Forest & terrestrial biodiversity restoration

SEAGONG

Seagrass and dugong conservation

ManCo-RE

Mangrove ecological restoration

ProReef

Coral reef ecosystem restoration

CoForREST | Community Forest Restoration For Ecological and Social Transformation

CoForREST restores degraded tropical forests through Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), biodiversity monitoring and community stewardship. Healthy forests reduce erosion, regulate water cycles and sustain the ecological integrity of downstream mangroves, seagrass meadows and coral reefs. → Explore the Co-Forest program

SEAGONG | Seagrass and Dugong Conservation

SEAGONG combines drone-based seagrass mapping, ecological monitoring and dugong research to improve understanding of one of Thailand’s most important coastal ecosystems. Seagrass meadows provide essential habitat for dugongs, support fisheries, improve water quality and store significant amounts of blue carbon. → Explore the SeaGong program

ManCo-RE | Mangrove Communities for Resilient Ecosystems

ManCo-RE works alongside coastal communities to restore mangrove forests using community-based ecosystem restoration principles. Healthy mangroves protect shorelines, improve fisheries, enhance carbon storage and strengthen coastal resilience. → Explore the ManCo-RE program

ProReef | Coral Reef Restoration and Marine Biodiversity

ProReef investigates coral reef restoration, reef resilience and marine biodiversity conservation while promoting responsible marine stewardship throughout the Andaman coast. → Explore the ProReef program

REGENERATIVE DEVELOPMENT LIVING LABORATORIES

Long-term ecosystem restoration requires transforming the human systems that influence ecological health. These cross-thematic laboratories explore practice and infrastructure supporting circularity, self-sufficiency and regenerative living.

WastEd

Waste management & circularity education

ReGen

regenerative living systems

WastEd | Circular Economy and Waste Education

WastEd reduces pollution entering forests, rivers and coastal ecosystems by promoting circular economy principles, waste reduction and environmental education. → Explore the WastEd program

ReGen | Regenerative Living Systems

ReGen demonstrates practical regenerative living through integrated food production, soil restoration, renewable energy, water management and community learning, showing how households and communities can reduce ecological footprints while improving resilience. → Explore the ReGen program

COMMUNITY-BASED NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND GOVERANCE

Healthy ecosystems require empowered communities. NatureMind Living Laboratories framework is aligned with community-based natural resource management by strengthening local capacity for ecological monitoring, participatory planning and evidence-based decision-making. Through our Living Laboratories, communities become active partners in managing forests, mangroves and coastal ecosystems rather than passive recipients of conservation projects. Our work also contributes to the development of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) and Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs) that recognise biodiversity conservation achieved through community stewardship, collaborative governance and long-term local commitment.

Impactful collaboration

RESEARCH PARTNERSHIPS AND ACADEMIC COLLABORATION

NatureMind collaborates with universities, research institutes, government agencies, conservation organisations and local communities to advance evidence-based ecosystem restoration.
Our network includes partnerships with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), the Department of National Parks (DNP), international conservation organisations, universities, student researchers and community organisations working throughout Thailand and Southeast Asia.
These collaborations ensure that our Living Laboratories produce rigorous scientific evidence while remaining grounded in local priorities and practical conservation outcomes.

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GET INVOLVED IN OUR LIVING LABORATORY NETWORK

Whether you are a researcher, student, organisation, company or community member, there are many ways to contribute to our community-based ecosystem restoration efforts in Thailand.

Research collaborations — Develop joint research projects, share expertise and contribute to long-term ecological monitoring. → Co-develop research, share data, or join our academic network.
Corporate partnerships & CSR — Support restoration research, biodiversity conservation and regenerative development initiatives. → Regenerative business development services and research sponsorship packages.
Students & internships — Join field-based research and gain practical experience in ecosystem restoration and other elements of Living laboratories → Students who want to take part in the field can join through our internship program.
Community funding — Help expand Living Laboratories and support long-term conservation through targeted restoration campaigns. → Support specific restoration research through community funding.

Krabi, Thailand

Explore Internship, volunteering, and Professional Apprenticeships Programs

CSR 2.0

Regenerative Business Development Services & Sponsorship Packages

crowd funding

Contribute through community funding

meet the team

Passionate individuals with different expertises

pierre echaubard

Founder & CEO, PhD  Scientist, Ecologist, Educator, Author & Research Director

Andrea Rugo

Department Manager,  MSc, Marine Biologist, PADI Dive Instructor

Sumintra

Volunteering & Internship Lead PADI Dive Instructor

Natcha

Environmental Scientist, MSc PADI Dive Instructor

Miguel De Andrade Sambé

GIS Specialist, MSc , Wildlife Photographer/Videographer

Anusit Konghor

Forest Restoration Coordinator 

Miles Lambert-Peck

Social Studies Specialist
PhD

Sansanee Jaritngam

Community Engagement & Partnership Liaison Officer

GALLERY

How we spend our days

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is community-based ecosystem restoration?

Community-based ecosystem restoration restores degraded ecosystems by combining ecological science, community participation, local knowledge and long-term stewardship. Rather than restoring nature for communities, it restores nature with communities.

What is a Living Laboratory?

A Living Laboratory is a real-world environment where researchers, communities and organisations collaborate to test, improve and apply innovative solutions. NatureMind’s Living Laboratories integrate scientific research, ecological restoration, education and governance into continuous adaptive learning systems.

What does "forest-to-reef" mean?

The forest-to-reef approach recognises that forests, rivers, mangroves, seagrass meadows and coral reefs are ecologically connected. Managing them as one interconnected system improves biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience.

What is the difference between an LMMA and an OECM?

A Locally Managed Marine Area (LMMA) is managed by the community that depends upon it. An Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measure (OECM) is a formally recognised area that delivers effective long-term biodiversity conservation, even when conservation is not its primary management objective. Many LMMAs may qualify as OECMs.

Can researchers collaborate with NatureMind?

Yes. NatureMind welcomes collaborations with universities, students, research institutes, conservation organisations and corporate partners interested in community-based ecosystem restoration, biodiversity conservation and regenerative development. Contact our Academic Research Director via theWork with us page.