This project is helping to offset the carbon footprint of Christian German School Chiang Mai (CDSC) and generate data on the suitability of candidate framework tree species for restoring mid-elevation bamboo-deciduous forest. It is also providing novel environmental education activities for the school's pupils.
The project plan evolved during the last quarter of 2019, and several preliminary activities were implemented, including the participation of pupils in tree seed collection, the establishment of a school tree-nursery, promotion of the project during the school fair, and tuition provided to students in tree care and tree nursery management. A site near Ban Meh Meh (Mae Rim District) was selected for the project, in collaboration with the Mae Sa Watershed Unit and planted at the start of the rainy seasons in 2020 and 2021. A total of 1,016 trees (26 species) were planted on the 2020 plot across almost 3 rai and 376 trees (24 species) on the 2021 plot over 1 rai. CDSC pupils and teachers were joined by FORRU-CMU staff, as well as Mae Ram Sub-District Municipality officers and local villagers for planting, maintenance and monitoring of the sites. The trees were cared for by weeding and fertilizer application 3 times over each rainy season. Monitoring for tree survival and growth was implemented at the end of each rainy season. The work at the Ban Meh Meh sites was completed in December 2022. The trees are growing well above the weeds and are on track to meet the school's carbon offset target. The project also generated an enormous amount for species-performance data. For more on that, please access the project report through the download panel.
The school continued with it's carbon-offsetting program by planting another plot at Mon Cham in 2022 - more on that project coming soon
Related articles from the Christian German School Chiang Mai (CDSC)
- Beginning of the CDSC Forest: 25th Anniversary of CDSC in 2019
- Class Trips and Opening of the CDSC Tree Nursery
- Planting Day on June 16, 2020
- It doesn’t work without care!
- Project Funding: Donation Run for the CDSC Forest
Ban Meh Meh 2020
Ban Meh Meh 2021
Training & Outreach
Every restoration project should provide learning experiences to all stakeholders. Find out how to include education and training in your projects here.
Biomass, Carbon Accumulation & Climate Change
About half the biomass of a growing forest is carbon – that means forest restoration can help to mitigate global climate change. Learn more here.
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2: Developing Techniques for Direct-seeding for Forest Restoration in Northern Thailand
ABSTRACT: Forest restoration by direct seeding is potentially more cost-effective than tree-planting, especially for upscaling restoration of tropical forest ecosystems. Unfortunately, its success...
3: Differential seed removal, germination and seedling growth as determinants of species suitability for forest restoration by direct seeding – A case study from northern Thailand
ABSTRACT: Direct seeding is potentially a more cost-effective alternative to conventional tree planting for restoring tropical forest ecosystems. However, seed loss, due to removal and damage by...
4: Understanding forest landscape restoration: reinforcing scientific foundations for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration
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5: The road to recovery: a synthesis of outcomes from ecosystem restoration in tropical and sub-tropical Asian forests
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6: Young Forest Restorers—Action Book
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7: Use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Imagery to Monitor Progress of Early Forest Ecosystem Restoration in an Opencast Mine
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8: Exploring the Environment & Nature of Chiang Mai: a Teachers' Handbook—ENGLISH VERSION
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9: Comparison of seedling detection and height measurement using 3D point cloud models from three software tools: applications in forest restoration
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10: Financial analysis of potential carbon value over 14 years of forest restoration using the framework species method
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