Translating global commitments into action for successful forest landscape restoration: Lessons from Ing watershed in northern Thailand

Abstract

Abstract Forest landscape restoration (FLR) has received substantial attention in recent years, partly as a result of ambitious restoration targets set by many countries around the world, including those in Southeast Asia. While achieving these targets can potentially bring about numerous benefits, there are also various risks, largely determined by governance, including decision making processes, in these landscapes. We used a case study in northern Thailand to understand what determines landscape collaboration, and adherence to principles of FLR. We developed an assessment framework and worked with landscape stakeholders to understand their interests and capacities to effectively engage in FLR processes. Although there is strong willingness to collaborate among stakeholders, there is limited space for local communities to participate. This issue is especially problematic considering the state’s hesitation to recognize customary rights to natural resources, which has produced a deep imbalance in power relations among stakeholders. This contributes to the disenabling environment for effective collaboration, a pre-condition for the success of FLR. We argue that the source of imbalances need to be addressed to promote the participation of local communities, particularly marginalized groups, to minimize risks of sub-optimal and unsustainable outcomes from the collaboration. This requires the devolution of decision making power through supportive legal frameworks and creation of platforms cutting across scales (i.e. landscape to national), and sectors (e.g. forestry, agriculture, infrastructure and finance), as well as being multi-stakeholder. This also highlights the urgent need to percolate the lofty commitments on FLR to the national and landscape scales, accompanied by resources and capacity development support.