Looking back to a time when sustainability was not yet at the forefront of national discourse, few could envision how sustainable development might extend beyond job creation and income generation. Yet Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, with her far-sighted vision, saw beyond the conventional path. She not only promoted livelihoods for the underprivileged but also encouraged people to live in harmony with forests, rely on nature, and conserve the environment — allowing all forms of life to coexist and support one another.
The Royal Determination in Forest Preservation
Throughout his reign, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great tirelessly traveled across the nation to improve the lives of his people. His numerous initiatives, particularly in water management — the heart of sustainable development — laid the foundation for progress. Thousands of royal development projects across Thailand stand as lasting proof of his devotion.
The benevolence of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, whose water projects brought life to the land and the hearts of his people, was carried forward by Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother. Her Majesty’s mission was to restore forests and conserve Thailand’s biodiversity, with her efforts spreading across the country like rivers nourishing fertile soil.
A passage from an article compiled by the Royal Household highlights Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother’s deep concern and devotion to forest preservation:
“During her stay at Bhubing Palace in Chiang Mai, Her Majesty often took afternoon walks into the forest whenever royal duties allowed. If she noticed someone throwing a cigarette butt onto dry leaves and saw smoke rising, she would admonish them, warning that dry leaves easily catch fire and that wildfires spread rapidly, causing great damage and threatening wildlife.”
Through her visits to remote areas, Her Majesty not only witnessed the hardship of rural communities but also observed their reliance on forests for survival, as many lacked fertile land for farming. Some resorted to shifting cultivation, encroaching on forest areas and damaging watersheds. Recognising this, Her Majesty sought a sustainable solution — to help people live with the forest rather than from it. This became the foundation for her forest conservation initiatives in later years.
“Pa Rak Nam”: Continuing His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great’s Legacy
“His Majesty the King is the water; I shall be the forest — the forest that shows loyalty to the water.
His Majesty builds reservoirs, and I will grow forests.”
(Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother, Royal Address to the people at Ban Tham Tio,
Song Dao District, Sakon Nakhon Province, December 20, 1982)
This royal statement reflects Her Majesty’s determination to build upon the legacy of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, completing the natural balance between water and forests — the foundation for a sustainable way of life.
Her Majesty launched the “Pa Rak Nam” (The Forest Loves the Water) project in Sakon Nakhon Province in 1982. She ordered surveys of degraded or abandoned lands to be reforested with a variety of species — fast-growing trees such as acacia and eucalyptus for shade, valuable hardwoods such as teak, ironwood, and shorea for long-term use, and practical trees like bamboo, cassia, and local acacia for daily needs. Her Majesty also initiated commemorative reforestation projects and established several Royal Development Study Centres to encourage communities to learn sustainable living practices based on soil and water conservation.
“Ban Lek Nai Pa Yai” — Her Majesty’s Compassion in Action
With unwavering dedication and perseverance in forest preservation, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother initiated numerous projects to help people live alongside nature. Among them was the “Ban Lek Nai Pa Yai” (Small Homes in the Big Forest) project, launched in 1991 at Ban Huai Mai Hok, Omkoi District, Chiang Mai Province.
The project’s goal was to provide secure land for remote villagers while encouraging them to act as forest guardians, assisting officials in preventing illegal logging and encroachment. Her Majesty also promoted occupational development to improve living standards alongside conservation efforts. The project later expanded to other regions across the country.
All of Her Majesty’s royal projects share the same core philosophy — comprehensive and sustainable development, integrating environmental, social, cultural, and economic dimensions. They encourage communities to live in harmony with nature, care for their surroundings, and foster unity and self-reliance. Every household is empowered to earn a living and sustain its future.
Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother not only planted the seeds of sustainability across the land but also instilled a deep sense of environmental consciousness within the Thai people. Though time has passed, Her Majesty’s unwavering determination continues to shine — reflected in the nation’s prosperity, in the verdant forests that blanket the land, and in the hearts of the Thai people, now and always.
