Over the past 50 years, Mae Chaem District in Chiang Mai Province has undergone significant changes. From an ecosystem once rich in a variety of plant species, it has transformed into an area of monoculture agriculture, accompanied by severe soil degradation. The landscape of lush, dense greenery has been replaced by bald mountain and wastelands.
The FLR349 initiative is based on the late King Rama IX’s “Three Forests, Four Benefits” philosophy. This concept is combined with the development of the local food system and sustainable agriculture, making FLR349 a practical model for smallholder farmers living in Northern Thailand watershed areas. The project willingly encourages the farmers to turn their monoculture maize farmland with intensive use of chemicals towards agro-ecological practices. This action paves the way for the restoration of the environment by stopping the destruction of topsoil and increasing buffer zones, as well as protecting natural capital. Supporting the producers to grow perennial trees, fruit trees, vegetables and herbs is an effective agroforestry practice to boost biodiversity, carbon sinks, and water reservoirs. It also promotes community self-resilience and eco-friendly consumption.
It also promotes community empowerment and environmentally friendly consumption. Activities designed to empower farmers and restore degraded landscapes include in-depth research to assess the feasibility of agroforestry principles, capacity building and training in sustainable agricultural practices, product processing and organic certification to strengthen communities, and policy development at local and national levels to support policies that promote sustainable land use and agroecological practices.
The FLR349 model advances policy advocacy for sustainable food production through strategic partnerships with government agencies, private sectors, and local communities. By establishing Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) with key stakeholders, FLR349 fosters collaborative efforts in natural resource conservation. These partnerships, supported by organizations such as the Royal Forest Department, Central Group, and Thaicom, encourage the adoption of sustainable practices and contribute to WWF’s core conservation goals in forest preservation, sustainable food systems, responsible finance, and effective governance.
Monitoring and evaluating reforested plots are essential to FLR349’s success, helping ensure saplings thrive without chemical fertilizers or pesticides and that biodiversity improves over time. Local WWF staff work with village representatives to conduct ground checks across different communities, ensuring impartial assessments. In September 2024, the first round of evaluations was completed, demonstrating FLR349’s commitment to transparency and sustainable practices that benefit both the environment and local communities.
To date, in Mae Chaem District, 90 smallholder farmers have joined the agroecology initiative, transforming their plots—covering 381 rai (approximately 60.96 hectares)—into thriving ecosystems. This initiative has significantly enriched biodiversity, with over 120 plant and tree species now flourishing across these transformed landscapes. Key species include teak and Burma padauk trees, alongside valuable crops such as bananas and medicinal plants like Indian gooseberry.
Under the FLR349 model, we have successfully coordinated with these smallholder farmers to establish two specialized farmer groups: the tamarind processing group and the chemical-free vegetable group. This initiative not only provided technical support, particularly beneficial for elderly farmers, but also fostered the formation of sustainable supply chains within the community.
In 2023, the tamarind processing group generated approximately 50,000 THB, and this trend is continuing into 2024 as the group begins harvesting tamarind pods from FLR349 plots. For the vegetable group, while many members face challenges in cultivating within FLR349 plots due to limited irrigation and drought conditions, they have adapted by growing indigenous vegetables at home. These crops, grown without purchased farming inputs such as fertilizers or pesticides, are sold in local green markets—developed by SCP teams— generating monthly earnings ranging from 500 to 2,000 THB. WWF Foundation, through FLR349, is planning financial support for market infrastructure development and local marketing efforts in partnership with smallholder farmers.
This achievement underscores the collaborative success of FLR349 in building resilient farmer communities, advancing agroecological practices, and improving income opportunities for smallholder farmers.
You can be part of the conservation work with us.
Your support is one of the power generation. And to breathe for wildlife
