Celebrating 30 Years of Forest Restoration Science
On November 26 th 2024, FORRU-CMU celebrated its 30 th Anniversary with both an academic and a social event at the Empress Hotel, Chiang Mai. The events also contributed to the 60th Anniversary of the Science Faculty of Chiang Mai University.
A Symposium to Remember
During the day, we hosted the symposium: "The Science of Restoring Tropical Forest Ecosystems: 30 Years of Progress and Beyond"; within the Science Society of Thailand's 50th Science Congress. It comprised 10 oral presentations and 14 posters by contributors from Thailand, the UK, France, Madagascar, Indonesia and Malaysia.
Keynote speakers included Nigel Tucker, originator of the framework species method, Kate Hardwick, on the need for seeds, Dian Latifah on replicating FORRU in Indonesia and Maxim Réjou-Méchain on high technologies to support future restoration projects.
Throughout the day, attendees engaged in rich discussions, building connections to shape the future of sustainable ecosystems.
A Celebration of Legacy and Innovation
As evening fell, the spotlight turned to FORRU-CMU’s 30th Anniversary Celebration Party. The event brought together alumni, supporters, researchers and the Ban Mae Sa Mai community to celebrate the unit’s achievements over the past 30 years.
Prof. Dr. Torranin Chairuangsri, Dean of the Faculty of Science at Chiang Mai University, inaugurated the festivities with a welcome speech, setting a celebratory tone for the night. Group photos captured the moment, symbolizing the unity and shared purpose of the attendees.
The event unveiled FORRU-CMU’s new website, a sleek platform designed to expand its reach and share its resources globally. Guests were treated to a trilogy of videos that charted the unit's origin, celebrated its 30 years of impact, and paid tribute to the dedicated individuals behind its success.
Let's see our videos for celebrating FORRU 30 Years Anniversary
The Origin of FORRU-CMU
Our achievements and impacts
And a story of the people behind FORRU-CMU's success
A gala dinner created a warm and informal atmosphere, where attendees shared experiences and forged new connections. The event closed with a heartfelt "Thank You" speech and slide show, during which T-shirts, bouquets and gratitude were gifted to all those who contributed towards FORRU-CMU’s success over the past three decades.
