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Local groups joined hands to perform tree ordination for forest conservation
9 August 2004: Communities network called "In-Pang", of Sakon Nakorn at the northeast province of Thailand, together with other community forest groups, yesterday, organized a tree ordination to preserve the forest and cultural practices based on Buddhist religious beliefs and folk wisdom.
The forest at Phu-pan -- a high plateau with ranges of mountain became a gathering place of about one thousand people, comprising 11 community forest representatives, provincial officials, headman, villagers from both Sakon Nakorn and Kalasin provinces, students, children, and monks came to perform a tree ordination ceremony. Thousands of no matter small or big trees at Phu-pan were wrapped with each piece of yellow cloth, signifying that these trees were now ordained and defined as a conservation area.
The activity was resulted from community wisdom and proved to be a success to build villagers' commitment to forest conservation. The ceremony has been carried out consecutively for three years, since 2001. It is hoped that the younger generation will inherit this cultural practice as a model for forest conservation in other communities in the northeast region.
The activity is part of the regional Small Grant Programme for Operations to Promote Tropical Forests, run by the United Nations Development Programme, funded by the European Commission. The programme has allocated grants worth 320,000 euros (15 million Baht) to Thailand. Currently, a total of nine grants have been awarded, at maximum, for a two-year duration, each proposal receiving ranging Bht 800,000 to 2,000,000.
The main goal of the programme is to enhance capacity of communities in looking after their forests with local wisdom in forest management or innovative activities which create positive impact on the livelihood of a community and forest biodiversity.
