The Forest Bond Initiative is a combination of four research projects conducted by Adis Israngkura at The School of Development Economics, NIDA. These projects include:
1. The Concept and Guideline of Forest Bond in Thailand.
2. The Economic Feasibility of Forest Bond in Thailand.
3. The Institutional and Legal Feasibility of Forest Bond in Thailand.
4. The Economic Zoning of Teak in Thailand.
The research projects were conducted in partnership with two government funding agencies: Thailand Science, Research and Innovation (TSRI) (formerly Thailand Research Fund) and the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT). The findings of the research were compiled into a book titled “Forest Bond Initiative for Thailand” by Adis Israngkura in Thai.
During the research project on the Institutional and Legal Feasibility of Forest Bonds in Thailand, the research team closely collaborated with the Plant Genetic Conservation Project under the Royal initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand. The main objective of the Plant Genetic Conservation Project is to conserve plant genetics that have high economic potential in Thailand, one of which is teak genetics. With this shared value, the Forest Bond Initiative will enhance the economic value of teak genetics, which is one of the genetics under the patronage of the Plant Genetic Conservation Project.
After the publication of the book “Forest Bond Initiative for Thailand,” the Forest Economics Office of the Royal Forest Department (RFD) in Thailand took an interest in the forest bond initiative as an economic solution for reforestation. A seminar was held on August 23, 2023, at the Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University. The seminar was organized by the Royal Forestry Department, and it introduced the concept of forest bonds to the staff of the RFD and the Forest Industry Organization (FIO) in Thailand.
The Forest Bond Initiative was introduced on June 14, 2024, in collaboration with the Royal Forest Department (RFD) during a seminar titled “Ecosystem Services and Economic Timber.” The initiative was presented to an audience from the Royal Forest Department (RFD). The RFD is dedicated to promoting commercial forestry in Thailand and sees forest bonds as a crucial economic tool to attract investment capital for reforestation purposes.
The author would like to express sincere gratitude to the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) for their kind support in publishing the book “Forest Bond Initiative for Thailand”.
