JS Travel Partners with FORRU-CMU to Support Forest Restoration in Thailand

Jul 27
5 min read

Updated: Aug 5

JS Travel partnership with FORRU-CMU supporting Forest Restoration in Thailand

As part of our commitment to responsible tourism, JS Travel has entered into a new long-term partnership with the Forest Restoration Research Unit of Chiang Mai University, known as FORRU-CMU.

Through this partnership, JS Travel will donate €2 from every confirmed booking to support forest restoration, biodiversity conservation and environmental education programmes in Northern Thailand.

Our Bangkok-based team recently had the opportunity to meet Dr Stephen Elliott and Dr Dia Shannon from FORRU-CMU to learn more about their work, their long-term vision and the remarkable impact they continue to have on Thailand’s natural environment.

Hidden within the lush landscapes of Northern Thailand, FORRU-CMU has been transforming degraded land into thriving forests for nearly three decades. Its work demonstrates that, with science, patience and collaboration, damaged ecosystems can be brought back to life.

Nearly 30 Years of Research and Restoration

Established in 1996, FORRU-CMU was created with a clear mission: to develop science-based methods for restoring Thailand’s native tropical forests while protecting biodiversity, storing carbon and strengthening ecosystem resilience.

Rather than simply planting trees, the team studies how natural forests regenerate and applies an approach known as the Framework Species Method.

This method involves planting carefully selected native tree species that grow quickly, suppress invasive weeds and attract birds and mammals. These animals then naturally disperse the seeds of many other forest species.

Over time, these natural processes accelerate ecological succession and allow complete forest ecosystems to gradually recover.

Today, FORRU-CMU’s work combines:

scientific research;
native forest restoration;
biodiversity conservation;
environmental education;
collaboration with local communities.

The restoration techniques first developed in Northern Thailand have since inspired projects across Thailand and in several neighbouring countries, including Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and China.

Bringing Forests Back to Life

One of the most remarkable examples of FORRU-CMU’s work is the Mae Sa Forest Restoration Site, located just outside Chiang Mai.

Covering approximately 15 acres, the site has become a living laboratory that demonstrates what successful ecological restoration can achieve.

Over the years, native tree species have gradually recreated a healthy forest structure, allowing wildlife to return naturally. More than 70 bird species have already been recorded, with the long-term objective of reaching approximately 80 species.

Mammals such as civets, wild cats and other native animals have also reappeared. Their return is an encouraging sign that restored forests can once again provide suitable habitats for local wildlife.

The benefits go far beyond biodiversity. Restored forests also contribute to:

healthier and more fertile soils;
improved water retention;
stronger ecosystem resilience;
a reduced risk of forest fires.

Little by little, the forest becomes capable of sustaining itself. As natural ecological processes take over, the need for human intervention gradually decreases.

Forest Restoration in Thailand for Local Communities

For Dr Stephen Elliott, restoring forests is not only about protecting nature. It is also about creating long-term value for the communities living around these restored landscapes.

Healthy forests provide cleaner water, improve local ecosystems and strengthen resilience to environmental and climatic changes. They also become valuable places where students, researchers, local residents and future generations can learn directly from nature.

FORRU-CMU works closely with local communities and believes that successful restoration can support new opportunities through community-based tourism.

The objective is to show that healthy forests can attract educational visitors interested in biodiversity, conservation and local culture, while creating sustainable benefits for surrounding communities.

This approach encourages people to see forests not simply as resources to exploit, but as living ecosystems worth protecting for their environmental, social and educational value.

Education at the Heart of Conservation

Education has always been one of FORRU-CMU’s strongest commitments.

Alongside its scientific research, the organisation has developed an extensive outreach and education programme for schools, university students, NGOs, government agencies and communities involved in forest restoration.

Its objective is simple: to share scientific knowledge in a practical and accessible way so that more people can actively participate in the restoration of degraded forests.

Participants can learn:

how native tree nurseries operate;
why biodiversity is essential to healthy ecosystems;
how native species are selected;
how restoration techniques accelerate natural regeneration;
how restored forests can be monitored over time.

These programmes help strengthen local skills while inspiring future generations of conservationists.

FORRU-CMU is also exploring ways to extend this environmental education to tourism professionals. One promising initiative would be to provide biodiversity and conservation training for local guides.

By better understanding forest ecosystems and restoration projects, guides would be able to share this knowledge with visitors and raise awareness of the importance of protecting Thailand’s natural heritage.

A New Partnership with JS Travel

This new partnership reflects JS Travel’s ambition to make responsible tourism a practical and measurable part of every journey we organise.

For every confirmed booking, JS Travel will donate €2 to FORRU-CMU. These contributions will help support its forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, research and environmental education activities.

Beyond financial support, our teams hope to create stronger connections between tourism and conservation.

This may include educational visits, awareness initiatives and opportunities for travellers, guides and tourism professionals to better understand the importance of restoring Thailand’s native forests.

By working directly with a respected organisation based in Thailand, JS Travel wants to ensure that tourism contributes positively to the destinations, ecosystems and communities that make every journey possible.

The partnership is also part of a wider commitment within our company to develop more responsible travel experiences, support local initiatives and encourage our partners and travellers to play an active role in protecting the environment.

Looking Ahead

FORRU-CMU reminds us that restoring a forest is not measured in months, but in decades.

It is a patient process that requires scientific knowledge, long-term commitment and close collaboration between researchers, communities, organisations and supporters.

The results, however, speak for themselves. Forests return, wildlife comes back, biodiversity flourishes and future generations inherit healthier ecosystems.

By combining scientific research, community engagement and environmental education, FORRU-CMU is building a model in which conservation and local development can progress together.

Its work demonstrates that restored forests can protect biodiversity, strengthen community-based tourism initiatives, support sustainable livelihoods and encourage a deeper appreciation of Thailand’s natural heritage.

At JS Travel, we are proud to begin this long-term partnership with FORRU-CMU.

From now on, 2 euros from every confirmed booking will be donated to support its forest restoration, biodiversity conservation and environmental education programmes.

This initiative is another step in our commitment to responsible tourism and reflects our belief that every journey can make a positive contribution to the destination.

Together with FORRU-CMU, we hope to help restore Thailand’s forests, protect its biodiversity and inspire travellers, partners and local communities to take part in safeguarding its natural heritage.

Their work offers a powerful reminder: when nature is given the opportunity to recover, it has an extraordinary capacity to heal.