The hills of Northern Thailand feel a word removed from the nightlife of Bangkok or the beach resorts of Phuket.
This area is home to ethnic minorities and hilltribes, many of whom are refugees or descendants of those who’ve had to escape conflict. Many lack Thai citizenship, which causes a whole bunch of problems for their livelihood of relying on the forest.
It’s a complex challenge, which is why I’m happy I had a chance to talk to the rights specialists of Plant With Purpose Thailand about how ecosystem restoration projects can serve as a good springboard to further land rights.