1.1. Background

Global deforestation of inland low-lying forests is accelerating. Agricultural expansion, infrastructure development, logging, and urban growth have resulted in severe biodiversity loss and disruption of climate regulation (FAO, 2020). Between 1998 and 2018, mainland Southeast Asia lost around 50% of its lowland forest cover—over 120,000 square kilometers—with only 18% of lowland areas remaining forested by 2018. Thailand now has the lowest proportion of remaining lowland forest in Southeast Asia, with only 6% of its lowland areas forested. Despite national-level bans on logging in reserved forests since 1989, market incentives for agricultural expansion continue to drive conversion. Conservation efforts have not kept pace with degradation, and remaining forest areas are highly vulnerable to further loss.

In Krabi Province, the landscape reflects this national trajectory. Extensive forest clearing took place between the 1960s and 1980s, fueled by commercial logging and migration from nearby provinces such as Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Surat Thani, and Phatthalung. Data from Thailand indicate that for every one-hectare reduction in forest cover, there is a corresponding expansion of 38.5 hectares of agricultural land or a GDP increase of USD 3.69 million—highlighting the exploitering economic forces that underpin deforestation (Tian et al., 2014; Lebel et al., 2017). As forest habitats disappeared, large mammals—including elephants, gaurs, and tigers—were locally extirpated due to hunting and shrinking habitat. Although the 1989 logging ban slowed formal extraction, conversion for plantations accelerated in response to rising global prices for rubber and palm oil. Forest protection measures, including the creation of wildlife sanctuaries and non-hunting areas, have helped preserve remaining fragments, but pressures from tourism and development continue.

The Co-ForREST program in Krabi was designed to respond to these challenges by promoting community-based restoration to recover degraded forest ecosystems, support biodiversity, and build climate resilience. The program integrates ecological restoration with local livelihoods need and transformative impact education, aiming to transform fragmented landscapes into functioning ecosystems sustained through local stewardship. Using Other Effective area-based Conservation Measures (OECM) as a framework, the project supports the conversion of plantation areas to integrated restoration and agroforestry landscapes, offering a practical and effective approach to achieving conservation goals within production landscapes.

The program supports biodiversity monitoring, seed collection, and phenology studies to inform native species selection. A nursery has been established to grow saplings, and community members receive technical training through workshops, protocols, and hands-on restoration events. Restoration sites are selected through rapid ecological assessments, and progress is monitored using clear evaluation metrics. In parallel, the program promotes environmental education by developing curricula for local schools, establishing forest learning trails, and organizing traditional knowledge walks with elders. An eco-stewardship initiative provides training for community members to lead restoration and engage in nature-based tourism, linking ecological recovery with livelihood development. The goal is to rebuild functional forest ecosystems while supporting social resilience through long-term, locally driven stewardship.

1.2. Socioeconomic, environmental characteristics of the area

1.2.1 Socio-economic characteristics

As of 2017, Krabi Province has a population of about 469,769 people. The number of households increased from 73,700 in 1998 to 113,288 in 2017. The population includes Buddhists, Thai-Chinese, Moken (sea gypsy), and Muslims. About 65 percent of people follow Buddhism, and about 34 percent follow Islam. The province has fertile land that supports rubber and palm oil cultivation. These two crops cover nearly 95 percent of all farmland. Farms include smallholdings and large plantations. Univanich Palm Oil Public Company Limited, the country’s largest palm oil producer, operates in Krabi. The company employs around 1,000 people and works with about 2,000 local growers. Krabi ranks fifth in Thailand for tourism income. Around six million people visit each year, mostly from China, Malaysia, and Scandinavian countries. Tourist numbers peak between November and April. The province has about 460 hotels, with more under development.

1.2.2. Environmental characteristics

Krabi is largely composed of karst landscapes with limestone hills and rugged terrain. The coastline, dotted with mangroves, has changed considerably over time. Erosion and sediment buildup range from -22.2 to +10.6 meters per year on sandy beaches. Changes come from wave energy, tides, and human activity. The province has a tropical monsoon climate with rainy and dry seasons. Climate change brings rising sea levels, stronger storms, and pressure on coastal habitats. The land includes some of the last lowland forests in Thailand. As of 2019, forested areas covered approximately 17.2 percent of Krabi’s total land area. Krabi is home to some of Thailand’s last remaining lowland forests, notably within protected areas such as the Khao Phra-Bang Khram Wildlife Sanctuary, which encompasses about 183 square kilometers. Low-lying forests are mostly tropical evergreen, with dense canopies and many plant and animal species. Forest types include primary evergreen and deciduous forest, as well as disturbed areas with bamboo and mixed deciduous trees. Lowland forests give habitat to species found only in the region, including Gurney’s pitta.

Krabi Province hosts unique limestone karst forests characterized by striking geological formations such as steep cliffs, karst towers, and intricate underground cave systems. Karst ecosystems have emerged from millions of years of limestone dissolution, forming a complex landscape distinguished by isolated habitats that drive speciation and support high levels of biodiversity and endemism. The karst forests contain specialized flora adapted to nutrient-poor and alkaline conditions, including rare orchids, cycads, pitcher plants, and diverse mosses. Fauna in these habitats is equally distinctive, ranging from cave-adapted species such as bats, swiftlets, spiders, and blind insects to primates like langurs and gibbons inhabiting the forest canopies. Krabi’s extensive caves are ecologically and archaeologically significant, harboring delicate ecosystems and historical artifacts, including prehistoric human remains and rock paintings in caves like Tham Phi Hua To.

1.3. Objective and rationale

NatureMind-ED, in collaboration with local government, community leaders, the Royal Forestry Department, the Forest Restoration Research Unit of Chiang Mai University, and international partners, has launched an integrated community-based forest restoration program around Kao Toh Luang, Chong Pli in Krabi, Thailand. The rationale behind the program lies in the urgent need to address the fragmentation and degradation of lowland forests in Krabi, where past land-use decisions prioritized agricultural expansion, tourism development, and short-term economic gain over ecological sustainability. The overarching aim of Co-ForREST is to reconnect people with forests and create opportunities for long-term stewardship grounded in local knowledge, nature-based financial models and ecosystem regeneration.

As such, the program is focused on forest restoration through biodiversity assessments, seed collection, nursery development, and technical training for local communities. Reforestation activities include restoring forest edges, monitoring outcomes, and developing site-specific protocols. Education and livelihood components center on experiential curricula in local schools, forest-based learning trails, traditional knowledge walks, and eco-steward training for community members. Core objectives with the project include building partnerships across sectors, strengthening research collaboration, and supporting policy through reports and briefings.