INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

Engaging local communities in participatory management processes and benefit sharing: Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex

Background Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex (KKFC) is situated in three provinces in western Thailand (Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan). It consists of Kaeng Krachan National Park, Kui Buri National Park, Chaloem Phrakiat Thai Prachan National Park and Mae Nam Phachi Wildlife Sanctuary. Thailand has nominated KKFC to become its third Natural World Heritage site. Natural World Heritage sites are globally recognised as the world’s most outstanding protected areas. The UNESCO World Heritage Convention provides a unique framework for securing the conservation of over 200 of the world’s most important natural areas, recognised as being of Outstanding Universal Value. It has been recognised that engaging local communities, in all stages of the World Heritage process, is critical for the long-term success and conservation of Natural World Heritage sites. The project ‘Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex – Engaging local communities in participatory management processes and benefit sharing’ aims to support Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) in its efforts to engage local communities, in particular, Karen ethnic communities, in the management and planning processes of the proposed World Heritage site. KKFC lies in the Tenasserim Range on the boundary between Thailand and Myanmar and covers a vast area of semi-evergreen forest and moist evergreen forest totalling 482,225 hectares. The complex protects the headwaters of many important rivers such as Phetchaburi, Kui Buri, Pranburi, and Phachi Rivers. KKFC is located in the Indo-Malayan ecoregion and is rich in biodiversity as a result of being a conversion point of four zoogeographical sub-regions and four floristic provinces. KKFC is home to many threatened species including the Sunda pangolin (Manis javanica) and the Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis), both listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesTM. It also provides a refuge for the endangered Asian elephant, tiger, the Lar gibbon and many other globally important species.

INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE

Objective of the project The project ‘Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex – Engaging local communities in participatory management processes and benefit sharing’ is a long-term initiative that aims to contribute to the conservation of the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, nominated as a World Heritage Site in Thailand, by engaging local communities in participatory management processes and benefit sharing. The project, which started in 2016, aims to ensure joint management and community-based conservation of the outstanding natural values and biodiversity of Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex by supporting participatory land use planning and shared governance mechanisms. The initiative is building on lessons and experiences on co-management gained from Thailand’s first and second Natural World Heritage sites, Thungyai-Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuaries and Dong Phayayen-Khao Yai Forest Complex, and other protected areas in Thailand. The project is also drawing on international experiences and best practices, such as UNESCO’s COMPACT methodology on ‘Engaging Local Communities in Stewardship of World Heritage’ and IUCN’s Best Practice Guideline on ‘Governance of Protected Areas’. Expected outputs The project is working closely with park authorities, local communities and governments to:

• Initiate a management planning process for the proposed World Heritage site, with a focus on land use agreements and shared governance and benefit sharing.

• Support participatory land use planning and sustainable livelihoods in the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex and its buffer zone to ensure the long-term conservation and sustainable use of natural resources in the area.

Map of Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex © DNP (2015) Donors: Keidanren Nature Conservation Fund, U.S. Department of State (Lower Mekong Initiative) Partners: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), Royal Forest Department, Karen Network for Culture and Environment, District and Sub-District Administrations

Contacts Petch Manopawitr, Thailand Programme Coordinator Petch.MANOPAWITR@iucn.org Ratkawee Boonmake, Field Coordinator Ratkawee.BOONMAKE@iucn.org

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