1. Thailand has four biosphere reserves which located in different parts of the country. They are as follows;

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1 Country Report on MAB programme : Kingdom of Thailand The MAB National Committee of Thailand In occasion of 26th Session of the International Co-ordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme Jönkoping, Sweden, June 2014 COUNTRY REPORT : MABs in Thailand 1. Thailand has four biosphere reserves which located in different parts of the country. They are as follows; 1.1 Maesa-Kogma Biosphere Reserve is located in Chiangmai province northern part of Thailand. It has the total area of 510 square kilometers which represents watershed areas and evergreen forest. Recently the Reserve area has been extended from 141 square kilometers to 510 square kilometers, consisting of three zones; core area, buffer zone and transition zone. Generally, the Reserve consists of two main watershed areas which are Maesa and Huay Kogma watershed areas. The Reserve was declared in The Reserve is managed by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. 1.2 Huay Tak Teak Biosphere Reserve is located in Lampang province, northern part of the country. It has the total area of 294 square kilometers which represents deciduous forest, dominant natural teak forest and teak plantation. Recently the Reserve area has been extended the area from 47 square kilometers to 294 square kilometers, consisting of three zones; core area, buffer zone and transition zone. The Reserve was declared in Currently, the Reserve is managed by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. 1

2 1.3 Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve is located in Nakhon Ratchasima province, north eastern part of the country. It has the total area of 80 square kilometers which represents deciduous and dry dipterocarp forests. The Reserve was declared as a biosphere reserve in Currently, the reserve is managed by Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research, Ministry of Science and Technology. 1.4 Ranong Biosphere Reserve is located in Ranong province, southern part of the country. It has the total area of 303 square kilometers which represents mangrove forest. The reserve was declared as a biosphere reserve in Currently, the Reserve is managed by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. 2. The current activities and implementation (Year ) complied in accordance with Target of Madrid Action Plan (MAP); MAP 2: Increased cooperation and coordination of biosphere reserves with existing international programs and initiatives. Thailand cooperated and attended the Southeast Asia Biosphere Reserve Network (SeaBRnet) meeting in the Philippines during October 2013 and some biosphere reserves (Ranong Biosphere Reserve) presented case study about the Consideration for Sustainable Management of Mangrove Forest in Ranong Biosphere Reserve. MAP 3 : Integrated information & communication strategy Some Biosphere Reserves (Ranong Biosphere Reserve, Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve and Maesa-Kogma Biosphere Reserve) produced the publications and media printing such as books, brochures and leaflets in order to contribute the 2

3 knowledge on biosphere concept and other related issues, e.g. ecosystem management, diversity of mangroves in Ranong Biosphere Reserve. MAP 7 : Functional MAB National Committee in each country Thailand established MAB National Committee under the National UNESCO Committee of Thailand. The MAB National Committee is chaired by the Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation acts as secretary of the Committee. All four Biosphere Reserve also take part as the members of this Committee. This Committee has main functions in providing guidelines for implementation of the activities. The Committee also promotes creation of networks and coordination among different stakeholders from private and government sectors. The emphasis is also placed on assessment and monitoring of activities in the Biosphere Reserve. MAP 11 : Enhanced legal recognition of biosphere reserve where appropriated. Four sites of Biosphere Reserve have been protected by state laws and regulations such as National Park Act, National Forest Reserve Acts and Forest Act. Moreover, the government also established the regional units to protect and conserve the areas and to promote the implementation of activities in the Biosphere Reserve such as National Parks, Forest Fire Control Stations, Arboretum, Watershed Conservation and Development Units, Plantation Units, Restoration and Silvicultural Units, Forest Protection Units, Forest Research Stations, Mangrove Development Station and Mangrove Forest Research Center. MAP 13 : Functional Zonation in all biosphere reserves established, particularly with regard to the transition area and the development function. 3

4 Huay Tak Teak Biosphere Reserve and Maesa Kogma Biosphere Reserve set up the local Committee to do demarcation and extended the area, comprising of three zones; core area, buffer and transition zones. MAP 19 : Biosphere Reserves to have research programmes on analyses of ecosystem services and their management through stakeholder participation. All four Biosphere Reserves have supported a number of research projects in many aspects related to issues on survey and conservation of biodiversity and natural resources, watershed management, conservation and climate change including monitoring the changes of ecosystems. MAP 21 : Decade of Education for Sustainable Development program with educational and research institutions. All four Biosphere Reserves support and promote the activities which related to conservation of nature including the learning sites for conservation and ecotourism, for examples; Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve received The Ecotourism Award in 2006 and Ranong Biosphere Reserve received The Ecotourism Award in Moreover, these Biosphere Reserves also serve for activities of schools and educational institutions such as camping sites, outdoor activities and learning visits. MAP 25 : Improved financial mechanisms for biosphere reserves and regional networks All four Biosphere Reserves have been supported by the international project, the Project on Lowering Emission from Asia s Forest (LEAF project) which is supported by USAID. This project aims to support the implementation and creates guideline on Payment Ecosystem Services (PES) and climate change 4

5 which emphasize on reducing emission from deforestation and degradation: REDD +, carbon credit and an increase in efficiency on forest management. MAP 28 : Exchanges between biosphere reserves There are study visits among the four sites of biosphere reserves to strengthen coordination and networking, including knowledge sharing and experience exchange among the biosphere reserves. Moreover, some biospheres reserves also serve as study visit for foreign visitors. 3. Proposed Management Plans (year ) The activities of all four Biosphere Reserves have been prioritized for implementation of the activities during The activities of each biosphere are as follows; Maesa Kogma Biosphere Reserve: 1. Build awareness and understanding about models for resources and forest management for relevant sectors through consultation meetings, trainings, study tours, and stakeholder analysis. 2. Develop suitable models for resource and forest management to reduce GHG emissions by: analyzing and selecting demonstration sites; identifying appropriate models for forest and land management and replication; supporting and implementing activities at the selected site which include (1) fire management control (2) conservation and rehabilitation activities (3) participatory approaches; monitoring and evaluation of ecosystem services, carbon stock and socio-economic performance; and supporting lesson learned and sharing knowledge among researchers and local groups. 3. Advocate and support activities to become as guidelines and rules for GHG emission reduction at various levels such as local, regional and national levels by sharing the lesson learned of the project; developing a process of confidence 5

6 building for policy makers/influential people; and supporting an agreement/pledge for collaboration at local level. Huay Tak Teak Biosphere Reserve: 1. Support the development of MAB s area management plan, especially for the area of Tham Pha Thai National Park to become recognized and accepted by communities 2. Develop a research comparing quality of Teak products from Haui Tak and other areas 3. Support studies/research results compilation regarding biodiversity in Huay Tak and create a databases for a development of MAB Management Plan 4. Support the development income generation activities with no environmental impacts. 5. Develop guidelines that create a continuation and sustainable of activities (from LEAF program) implementing inside MAB areas by communities Sakaerat Biosphere Reserve: 1. Develop processes for knowledge development and acceptability for MAB s area management plan. 2. Develop materials, knowledge and exchanges news and information between MAB sites in Thailand 3. Support communities to participate in activities for forest carbon monitoring and support other researches in and by local 4. Support economic valuation activities for forest carbon inside MAB area in which the results can be understood by communities. 5. Support information for communities about the importance and impacts of changes in forest carbon stock in order to provide them incentives to take care of forested area 6. Support dissemination of research results regarding to carbon issue to local communities such as organize a workshop. 6

7 7. Monitor quality of life and promote alternatives livelihoods for a poor group who were affected from MAB zoning and were moved out from core area in side MAB. Ranong Biosphere Reserve: 1. Advocate participation in MAB Management areas and collaboration development to be included as provincial strategies. 2. Initiate an integrated concept for area management as a model for costal and mangrove management. Examples include the issue of gender, participatory management, management based on the concept to Reef to Ridge, climate change, and disaster risk management. 3. Support a research development and knowledge management and develop a database for MAB areas. 4. Develop Ranong MAB as a learning center, research center and exchange lesson learned, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Secretary to the MAB National Committee of Thailand June,