The Nan Project, directed by Assist. Prof. Dr. Dia Shannon comprises 3 research initiatives:
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From a Bare Mountain to a Regenerated Forest: compared landscape planting designs for forest restoration in Nan Province, sponsored by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 2017 to 2020.
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Forest Landscape Restoration and Community Well-being: supported by the Program Management Unit on Area Based Development (PMU A), 2020 to 2021.
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Evaluating Changes and Ecosystem Services of Nan Restored Forests: funded by the National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 2021 to 2022.
The research spans three districts of Nan Province—Pua, Phu Phiang and Wiang Sa—with three plots in each district. The project commenced with a survey of reference forest remnants, near the restoration sites, including i) the Nam Kaen - Nam Sa Watershed Forests (Phu Phiang District), supervised by the Royal Forest Department; ii) Mon Hin Kaew Community Forest (Pua District) and iii) Ban Muang Noeng Community Forest (Wiang Sa District). The survey involved documenting tree density, species diversity and phenology, as well as bird diversity, over three years. Such data were then compared with the same in restoration forests, established in the 3 districts.
Knowledge of the framework species method of forest ecosystem restoration was transferred to local communities and restoration plots of various sizes were planted with a range of indigenous framework tree species. Post-restoration activities include frequent weeding and fertilizer application, as well as the cutting of firebreaks in the dry season. Monitoring focused on survival and growth rates of each species, as well as the diversity of soil microbial communities. Ecosystem services, provided by the restored forests, including climate control, were evaluated, along with forest products used by local people. The effects of restoration on the quality of life of local people was also assessed. Currently, villagers who are project members continue to actively contribute to the care of the restored forest, to ensure its long-term health and growth.
In collaboration with:
Biodiversity
Biodiversity recovery is one of the main aims of forest restoration - but what to measure? Plants? Birds? Mammal? Learn simple monitoring techniques here.
71: Research needs for restoring tropical forests in Southeast Asia for wildlife conservation: framework species selection and seed propagation
ABSTRACT: Some governments in Southeast Asia, such as those of Thailand and Vietnam, have clear policies to restore large areas of degraded land to native forest. However, knowledge needed for the...
72: Reaping the rewards of reforestation
Although rapidly growing human populations make continued tropical destruction and the accompanying loss of biodiversity seem inevitable, Hmong hill-tribe villagers in the north of Doi Suthep-Pui...
73: Factors Affecting Growth of Wildlings in the Forest and Nurturing Methods in Nursery
ABSTRACT: Forest restoration by planting nursery-raised seedling stock is relatively expensive. There are many technical problems involved in seedling production from seeds. Transplanting tree...
74: Increasing day-length induces spring flushing of tropical dry forest trees in the absence of rain
In many conspecific trees of >50 species highly synchronous bud break with low inter-annual variation was observed during the late dry season, around the spring equinox, in semideciduous tropical...
75: Vegetation in the Siphandone Wetlands
The Siphandone Wetlands area is characterized by its complex of channels, rapids, and water falls with numerous sandbars and islands, many of which are submerged during the rainy season...
76: Species Composition of Birds at Tham Nam Lod Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Center, Mae Hong Son Province
ABSTRACT: A study of the species composition of the bird community was carried out at Tham Nam Lod Wildlife Conservation Development and Extension Center, Mae Hong Son province from September 1999...
77: Effects of Container Type, Air Pruning and Fertilizer on the Propagation of Tree Seedlings for Forest Restoration
ABSTRACT: Forests in Thailand are fast disappearing. Recovery of degraded areas can be accelerated by planting native tree species. In order to maximise performance, the highest quality planting...
78: Vegetation and Vascular Flora of Doi Sutep-Pui National Park, Northern Thailand
Max's ground-breaking study of Doi Suthep resulted in perhaps the most complete flora and vegetation description of any of Thailand's protected areas at the time of publication and it was the...
79: Effects of Forest Restoration Activities on the Species Diversity of Ground Flora and Tree Seedlings
This study was carried out to determine if planting native trees species and associated activities i.e. weeding and fertilizing in forest restoration, increases diversity of ground flora and tree...
80: Effects of forest restoration activities on the species diversity of ground flora and tree seedlings
This study was carried out to determine if planting native trees species and associated activities i.e. weeding and fertilizing in forest restoration, increases diversity of ground flora and tree...