The Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU) is a joint initiative between the Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Chiang Mai University and the headquarters of Doi Suthep-Pui National Park. Since the implementation of His Majesty the King’s Golden Jubilee Project to reforest large areas of the country, tree planting has become a very popular activity. Although people from all walks of life participate enthusiastically in tree planting activities, the methods used are not always successful. FORRU was therefore established to improve the efficiency of growing and planting indigenous trees species to restore natural forest ecosystems. Since 1994, the project has been generously sponsored by Riche Monde (Bangkok) Ltd. and United Distillers Water of Life Initiative, as part of those companies’ ongoing commitment to supporting environmental research and education.

FORRU’s tree nursery and office are at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park HQ, where 2 researchers and 2 assistants are employed. So far they have germinated the seeds of 350 native forest tree species and drawn, photographed and described their fruits, seeds and seedlings for an urgently needed identification handbook. Experiments at the FORRU nursery are also testing improved seedling propagation methods. FORRU works closely with the Hmong villagers of Ban Mae Sa Mai, where experimental plots to test the performance of planted seedlings have been established. The villagers have formed their own association “ The Ban Mae Sa Mai Group for the Conservation of Natural Resources” and in May 1997 FORRU responded to a request to assist the group to establish their own tree nursery. Seedlings produced by the nursery will be planted to restore the degraded watershed above the village, which is also part of H.M. the King’s Golden Jubilee Tree Planting Project. The Ban Mae Sa Mai nursery is also where technical advances made at the FORRU nursery are tested in the local community. In addition, FORRU has hosted many visits by educational groups and ran a workshop last November, during which the results of the project were presented to The Royal Forest Department (RFD) staff, NGO’s, school teachers, villagers and others interested in restoring forests.

In terms of foreign relations, FORRU has two long-standing foreign advisors. Nancy Garwood from the Natural History Museum in London is a leading expert in the field of seedling taxonomy and morphology. She has visited the project twice and provided much valuable tuition to FORRU staff, providing them with some of the skills needed to prepare a seedling identification handbook. David Blakesley, Bath University, U.K., is an expert on nursery design and management. He has visited the project five times and was involved in the design and management planning of both the FORRU and Ban Mae Sa Mai nurseries and in the preparation of FORRU’s first workshop. Both foreign advisors help in the preparation of English publications and in the preparation of applications for funding. Involvement of experts from Britain is generously supported by the British Council which also assists FORRU with the running expenses of workshops, purchase of books, English lessons for FORRU staff and sponsorship of the production of project publications.

In February, 1997, the nursery manager/researcher of FORRU, Mr. Puttipong Navakitbumrung attended a training program at the Lake Eacham Regional Nursery (under the Queensland Department of Environment) in Australia. His visit was hosted by Nigel Tucker, one of the world’s leading experts in reforestation techniques. FORRU is currently adapting and testing many of the methods demonstrated during that training program to see if they will work in the highlands of northern Thailand. The expenses of the training program were generously supported by the International Tropical Timber Organization.