Impact of COVID-19 on forest communities in Thailand

In Thailand, COVID-19 has made life harder for communities, many of which are already facing droughts, stagnant wage growth and rising poverty. Poverty rates had already risen in 2016 and 2018 in Thailand, according to the World Bank.  Now, with large parts of the economy shuttered or slowed because of the crisis, poor families are struggling as incomes vanish.

As part of its response to the pandemic, RECOFTC Thailand conducted an initial survey in April of local communities throughout the country who depend on forests and their products for survival. Many are ethnic and other marginalised groups. They have all been involved in RECOFTC’s projects or those of its partners to strengthen community forestry in Thailand.