Overview of the mangrove ecosystem and conservation challenges in Thailand

The report provides an overview of the status of mangroves in Thailand, legal frameworks and policies governing mangroves, and various initiatives to conserve mangroves led by government, private sector and communities. Specifically, it focuses on Thailand's Voluntary Emission Reduction Program (T-VER), which is designed to initiate carbon-financing projects in mangrove areas. Under this policy, environmental polluters can use carbon credits to offset their greenhouse gas emissions. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has facilitated large companies to sign memorandum of understanding (MOU) with large companies to invest in mangrove restoration and earn carbon credits. Ninety-nine mangrove communities in Thailand have signed agreements covering an area of 162,590 Rai. Drawing on three village case studies, the research finds that communities do not understand the terms of the agreements they have signed, and often lack negotiation power to influence the terms of the MOU. The report highlights key issues around insecure land tenure of communities, lack of free prior and informed consent and and inequality in benefits, access and participation in the intiative.

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