The total landmass of Thailand is 51.12 million hectares, including 25 principal watersheds and 16.35 million hectares of rainforest, which amounts to 31.86% of the country’s area. The area of the subproject includes two main landscapes in Northern Thailand and Southern Thailand. It covers 5 principal watersheds, 21 sub-watersheds, and 2 broad regions, north and south. The total project area is 289,684 hectares.

These areas have significant importance with respect to biodiversity, reduction of greenhouse gas emission, and are rich in natural resources needed by the Indigenous groups for their sustenance and livelihood. The geographical areas included in this project have a relatively healthy forest. In some places, the forests are 70% healthy with regard to forest cover and wildlife diversity, such as upper Khun Tae, Mae Pae, Mae Yod, Mae Lai, Huay Mae Lid and Mae Lan Kham watersheds. Studies and surveys of biodiversity by IMPECT over 320 hectares during 2016 to 2019 in Mae Tae village show that the conservation area remains biologically healthy. It also showed the appearance of the rare Rafflesia plant and more than 27 types of vines among 60 varieties of plants, and the tracks of 25 forest animal breeds. The Pgakeunyaw Association for Sustainable Development [PASD] found more than 111 species in Mae Yod community.

The subproject area encompasses 86 communities of 8 ethnic groups in Thailand, namely, Karen, Hmong, Lisu, Lahu, Iu Mien, Akha, Laweu and Mani. Thailand’s legal framework allows for some recognition of IPLC use of lands (community title) and forests (community forests). According to Landmark, there is no data on the total area claimed by IPLCs. Many protected areas have been established despite the presence of IPLCs within such areas. Indigenous peoples have not been recognized for many years in Thailand, they have been considered as “wards of the king,” not as full citizens. This is slowly changing, for example with the government supporting cultural activities during International Day of Indigenous Peoples. People rely on forests as an important resource base for community food production, for example, the collection of forest mushrooms, gardens and orchards, and wet and dry rice cultivation, provides food and income to inhabitants. However, rotational agriculture practices used by IPs and LCs have been used as a reason to evict them from their territories, claiming that these practices destroy forests and contribute to climate change. In the south, the 12 Mani communities are hunter-gatherers and their culture and lifestyle differs from other ethnic groups. The Mani communities do not accumulate food for future consumption and, thus, they are more mobile and use wider areas in comparison to the agriculture-based communities.