Towards an inclusive approach to forest conservation and land use policy in Thailand

Abstract Thailand is facing pressing climate change challenges such as forest fires, PM2.5 air pollution, and the resulting impact on people’s well-being. Thai policymakers have been seeking to address these issues through traditional forest conservation policies aimed at safeguarding rainforests. However, these policies have unintentionally harmed forest health by adversely affecting the lives of Indigenous forest-dwelling and forest-adjacent communities. Evidence synthesis and primary research on land use and environment management had demonstrated that policymakers can achieve improvements in forest health by working collaboratively with Indigenous communities and with the help of behavioral science considerations and tools. This article mobilizes an embedded case study design to presents three empirical sub-cases from Indigenous communities in northern Thailand to stimulate new and more inclusive policy directions, including food labels to mitigate negative impacts of rural development, measures to support community engagement in forest protection activities, and emotionally powerful environmental heritage practices that connect communities to their local ecosystems. Adopting an exploratory and interpretive approach, we illustrate how social and behavioral research can uncover the systemic dimensions of environmental challenges, and respond with unconventional solutions that help address indirect yet critical effect mechanisms for forest conservation. Cross-sectorial policy supported by behavioral design tools can create an enabling environment for locally driven environment management action. We conclude that, by embracing innovative policy solutions and engaging Indigenous communities as stewards of the land, Thailand can achieve sustainable forest management and reduce air pollution in compliance with its local policy objectives and global climate commitments.