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The forest is ordained meaning that it cannot be touched
20 December 2004: Around 300 people of Dong Natam community of Ubonratchathani province in the Northeastern of Thailand, traditionally performed a two-day religious ceremony last week (17-19 Dec). Trees were ordained in the ceremony to protect the forest. The ceremony was jointly performed by various groups such as local villagers, government officers, students, environmental groups and UNDP project staff.
The forest ordaining ceremony combined the religious custom with nature called Dharma Yatra, an expedition which recognized oneself and the surroundings, to connect people’s minds with nature.
This traditional religious practice enhances Dong Natam people to cherish the local natural resources in the community and to protect the forest. The practice help enforcing the community’s rule to close the forest, let the nature rest and grow, after a long and heavy utilization.
The Dong Natam Community is famous for their harmonious forest management approach in collaborating with local government authority and the people in the community, adapting Buddhist rituals to forest conservation.
The ordained trees in the Dong Natam Forest have now been wrapped with yellow monks’ robes, marking the spirit of the people in community for caring their forest.
"Dong Natam’s Capacity Building and Forest Management Project” is funded by the European Commission and Small Grants Programme to Promote Tropical Forests and managed by UNDP in Thailand. Among other 29 community forests, all are aiming at enhancing the community network and initiatives on forest management along with their local traditions and livelihood.
