Bangkok: The Royal Development Projects Office (RDPO) braved the rain to inspect the progress of "Doi Mon Lan," deciphering the success story of "forest restoration, water conservation, and job creation," continuing His Majesty's royal initiatives towards sustainability. According to Thai News Agency, the Office of the Royal Development Projects Coordination Committee (ORDPCC) visited the Queen Sirikit Highland Agricultural Development Station Project at Doi Mon Lan, Phrao District, Chiang Mai Province. This visit aimed to observe the success in improving the quality of life for highland residents, along with the restoration of watershed forests. Ms. Suphon Trinarin, Secretary-General of the Royal Development Projects Office, noted that the field visit was essential for monitoring the success of royal-initiated projects that have demonstrated tangible progress. The insights gained from these projects can be shared with a broader audience. She emphasized the importance of providing highland residents with oc cupational opportunities while preserving natural resources, reducing forest encroachment, and promoting sustainability. The visit featured tours that highlighted suitable highland occupations, exhibitions of local products such as coffee, tea, and agricultural produce, as well as OTOP goods from Phrao District. Attendees also explored a pavilion showcasing photographs of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's visits to Doi Mon Lan and viewed temperate vegetable plots, tea plantations, and fruit orchards suited to highland conditions. Model farmer plots were also visited, including a shade-grown coffee plantation under the brand "Akha Abu Ya Coffee" and an agroforestry plot demonstrating integrated farming and efficient land use. Established in 2004 at an altitude of 1,696 meters, the Queen Sirikit Highland Agricultural Development Station Project was initiated by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother. Its objectives include restoring degraded watershed forests, promoting proper agricultural techniques, cultivat ing suitable cash crops, reducing chemical use, and conserving soil and water while enhancing the local population's quality of life. The success of Doi Mon Lan exemplifies development that benefits people, forests, and water simultaneously. By providing suitable occupational options, reliance on forest resources is reduced, while restored watershed forests maintain water resources and support a healthy ecosystem. This contributes to long-term job security, quality of life, and environmental health, establishing Doi Mon Lan as a significant ecotourism destination in Chiang Mai province.
