Natural History Bulletin of the Siam Society

The Interface Between Forest Science and Policy —A review of the IUFRO International and Multidisciplinary Scientific Conference 4–7 October 2016: Forestry-related policy and governance: analyses in the environmental social sciences

Stephen Elliott — 2018-10-06

This commentary uses the experience of attending the “Multidisciplinary Scientific Conference on Forestry-related Policy and Governance” to contrast the lack of progress with socio-political-economic aspects of forest conservation/restoration with the technical advancements that have been achieved over recent decades. The social problems raised during this conference were almost identical to those addressed by similar conferences 20–30 years ago, including poor governance, ineffective funding mechanisms, failure to engage local communities and poor communication between scientists and policy makers. Recent developments, such as REDD+, were dismissed as largely ineffective, with no consensus on effective solutions. In contrast, over the same time frame, forest ecologists have succeeded in developing effective techniques that have largely overcome the technical barriers to restoring forest ecosystems that existed 30 years ago, such as accelerated natural regeneration, the framework species method, applied nucleation etc. A global study is called for on the extent to which existing science-policy interface mechanisms succeed or fail to increase forest cover and related products and services to stakeholders, so that existing socio-political barriers to forest conservation/restoration can be removed, as the technical barriers have been.

Where Science Meets Communities: Developing Forest Restoration Approaches for Northern Thailand

Stephen Elliott — 2018-10-06

This paper contrasts lessons learned from two forest restoration research projects in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, near Chiang Mai City, northern Thailand, which combined science with community needs. Collaborating with the Hmong community of Ban Mae Sa Mai (BMSM) in the upper Mae Sa Valley, Chiang Mai University’s Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU-CMU) established plots from 1997 to 2013 to test the framework species method. The project developed successful restoration techniques and gained insights into the factors that influence villagers’ participation in forest restoration. Biodiversity recovery and carbon accumulation exceeded expectations. Villagers appreciated improved water security and a better relationship with the park authority. Recently, however, tree chopping and a breakdown in fire-prevention measures (perhaps symptoms of “project fatigue”) have threatened the sustainability of the plot system. Since 2015, the nearby Thai community of Ban Pong Khrai (BPK) has also embraced the framework species method, to restore the watershed above their village. FORRU-CMU provided technical support to LEAF (Lowering Emissions from Asia’s Forests) to establish a model payments-forecosystem-services (PES) agreement between the community and Tipco Food PCL, whose Aura Water bottling plant depends on the integrity of the watershed to maintain water purity. Remarkably, the BPK villagers opted to forego payments for their labour in favour of funding a community nursery, to sell tree seedlings to the project in subsequent years. This project benefited from the support of a high profile multi-national project as well as the maturity of restoration techniques and community engagement protocols, previously developed by FORRU-CMU. These projects demonstrate the importance of a sound scientific basis for forest restoration projects, long-term institutional support and appropriate funding mechanisms, to achieve sustainability.

A Small Collection of Thai Mosses Made by J. F. Maxwell at the Herbarium of California Academy of Sciences in United States

Benito C. Tan — 2018-10-06

A small collection of unidentified Thai mosses made by J. F. Maxwell deposited at the herbarium of California Academy of Science (CAS) was studied and identified. The collection consists of 16 species in 14 genera and 12 families, with one taxon, Brachymenium longidens, representing a new moss record of Thailand.

Contributions to the Flora of Myanmar II: New Records of Eight Woody Species from Tanintharyi Region, Southern Myanmar

Shuichiro Tagane — 2018-10-06

The fieldwork carried out in Tanintharyi Region in 2016 resulted in the discovery of eight unrecorded angiosperms among the flora of Myanmar. They are Mitrephora winitii Craib (Annonaceae), Argyreia roseopurpurea (Kerr) Ooststr. (Convolvulaceae), Diospyros bejaudii Lecomte (Ebenaeae), Cladogynos orientalis Zipp. ex Span. (Euphorbiaceae), Callicarpa furfuracea Ridl. (Lamiaceae), Memecylon paniculatum Jack (Melastomataceae), Ardisia congesta Ridl. (Primulaceae) and Coelospermum truncatum (Wall.) Baill. ex K. Schum. (Rubiaceae). In each of the species, voucher specimens, the general distribution and photographs are presented.

Mosses new to Vietnam

Hiroyuki Akiyama — 2018-10-06

Nine moss species are reported new to Vietnam as well as new localities and information on Gammiella rugosa and Yakushimabryum subintegrum from the country.

Field records of turtles, snakes and lizards in Myanmar (2009–2017) with natural history observations and notes on FOLK herpetological knowledge

Steven G. Platt — 2018-10-06

The herpetofauna of Myanmar remains one of the least studied and poorly known in Asia, and even basic distributional and natural history data are lacking for many species. This situation is particularly alarming given the need for such data when prioritizing conservation action and crafting effective management plans. Furthermore, ethnobiological investigations have long been neglected in Myanmar despite the ethnic diversity of the country. We here report field observations with accompanying locality data for turtles (18 species), snakes (27 species), and lizards (7 species) from western, central, eastern, and southern regions of Myanmar during 2009–2017. We also present natural history observations, and information on folk herpetological knowledge and conservation status of selected species.