Suchart Opens 2026 National Community Forest Day, Championing 'Creating Happiness, Creating Income, Creating the Future'
Thailand's Natural Resources Minister opened the 2026 National Community Forest Day in Chonburi, targeting development of over 12,000 community forests nationwide to generate income and environmental security under the concept of creating h
Suchart opens 2026 National Community Forest Day, promoting the concept 'Creating Happiness, Creating Income, Creating the Future' with a target of developing over 12,000 community forests nationwide into a sustainable green economic foundation.
On May 25, 2026, at the Naval Seamanship Center in Chonburi Province, Suchart Chomklin, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, chaired the opening of the 'National Community Forest Day' for 2026 under the theme 'Community Forest Based Wellness: Community Forests Creating Happiness, Creating Income, Creating the Future.'
Chonburi Governor Narit Niramayavongs and MP Anant Pridasutchit welcomed the event, which was attended by Dr. Raweevan Puridech, Permanent Secretary of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, along with executives from related agencies, government officials, Royal Forest Department staff, and community forest network representatives.
This event aims to promote people living harmoniously with forests according to sufficiency economy principles, while elevating over 12,000 community forests to serve as a foundation for sustainable economic and environmental security nationwide.
Suchart revealed that the government, under Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, prioritizes forest resource management, particularly promoting community roles in forest conservation under the 2019 Community Forest Act. Currently, there are over 12,000 community forests distributed across all regions, covering 7 million rai and benefiting over 5 million households.
This event expresses gratitude to Thailand's monarchy for establishing the foundation for forest resource conservation and development through royal initiatives, emphasizing balance between conservation and sustainable use so people can coexist with forests in accordance with sufficiency economy philosophy.
Suchart further noted that community forests serve as important carbon storage resources, helping mitigate climate change impacts and preserving natural heritage for future generations.
Royal Forest Department Director-General Nikorn Siridej stated that the department has an important mission to implement policy focusing on strengthening community forest networks and enabling them to manage resources efficiently under the 2019 Community Forest Act. Rather than merely supervising, the department acts as a 'mentor' providing academic and technical support, promoting local wisdom to add value to forest products, and ensuring community forests serve as sustainable sources of income and happiness.
Today's activities include presenting awards and certificates of honor to model community forest networks and supporting partners, distributing subsidies to community forest representatives from four regions, and awarding 'Forest Protectors, Land Lovers' recognition marks. The event features a community forest product market and demonstrations of products and services derived from community forest resources.
The Royal Forest Department and Natural Resources and Environment Ministry invite the public and all sectors to campaign for community forest conservation in their areas through tree planting, water-retaining weir construction, patrols, and firebreak maintenance to continue the royal vision and strengthen the nation's resource base sustainably.
