This study aimed to determine the stakeholders' willingness to pay (WTP) for the flooded forest conservation (FFC) in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve (TSBR), Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia. In addition to estimation of the WTP prices, the factors that affect the farmers' willingness to pay were determined. The possibility of establishing the mechanism for instituting payment for environmental services (PES) was examined. The study adapted the contingent valuation method (CVM) in estimating WTP and multiple regression analysis in determining the factors that affect WTP. Respondents included 157 farmer households randomly selected from the 3 villages, namely: Peam Khnang, Thnal Chheu Teal and Slat. The study found that the sample farmer-respondents have a high level of awareness on the benefits and functions of flooded forest. Sixty-four percent of the respondents were members of the FFC program; the rest did not join the program. Eighty-two percent of the respondents expressed willingness to pay for conservation of flooded forest. On average, the WTP price for a farm household was 2,357 riels per month. The respondents' willingness to pay was affected by factors such as age, income and participation in training program. They were willing to pay for conservation mainly because they wanted to protect the flooded forest as reported by 88 percent of the respondents. In terms of the method of collection, most of sample farmer-respondents would like the community themselves through the village leader to collect the WTP fund. The respondents said that they would prefer to pay the WTP fee monthly.

Citrus Huanglongbing (HLB) has been seriously damaging Cambodian citrus industry in terms of major yield loss, poor fruit quality, and shortened average lifespan of citrus tree. HLB is mainly transmitted by vegetatively propagated citrus seedlings and spread by psyllid vector in the field. HLB pathogen is a non-cultivable bacterium “Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus". Major strains of HLB pathogen have been investigated and the most virulent strain Type-II was commonly observed in Pursat sweet orange, mandarin and pummelo trees in Cambodia. Currently, there are no promising technologies and cultural practices to control HLB in citrus orchards in Cambodia. New health management practices of citrus HLB have been initiated in 2006 under the expert guidance of the National Taiwan University (NTU) and the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center in the Asian and Pacific Region (FFTC/ASPAC). Pathogen-free (PF) seedlings propagated in screen houses of the Royal University of Agriculture were transplanted in the demonstration orchard of Battambang and Takeo Provinces. The supply of the PF-seedlings of major citrus species cannot currently catch up with the demand of citrus growers. According to a preliminary survey, marcotted or grafted seedlings of sweet orange propagated by farmers transplanted in major citrus production areas such as Battambang, Pursat and Siem Reap Provinces were seriously infected by HLB. Up to now, fundamental knowledge and techniques such as identification of major strains of the HLB pathogen and establishment of disease indexing laboratory and pathogen-free nursery system have been conducted. In addition, a variety of relevant techniques and cultural practices to control HLB were transferred to Cambodia, such as technologies for the production of PF-seedlings and transplanting to demonstration farms for their health management, and so forth.

While the population grows, and in order to keep food secured in rural areas, the possibility of "Breeding and Rearing Giant Freshwater Prawn Larvae in Tanks Using Different Salinity" was tested. The experiment aimed to (1) Analyze the potential for reproducing a gonad somatic index of freshwater prawn broodstock, (2) Analyze the protein levels of artificial foods for rearing freshwater prawn larvae in tanks, and (3) Compare the survival rates of freshwater prawn larvae until the post-larvae level using different salinity. There were three treatments using different levels of salinity: 9‰, 12‰, and 15‰. There were three more replicates to check for accuracy, and each replicate was put at 50 larvae/per litre. The amount of water per tank was 60 litres. There were two kinds of feeds, Artemia Nauplii, which was provided in the morning and at night time, and an artificial feed consisting of 10g of baby powder, the yolk of a chicken egg, 3% of oyster oil, and 1.5% of lecithin for each 1kg of the food. The artificial feed was given three times a day (10 am, 1 pm and 2 pm). The analysis showed that an average of 1g of gonad weight was equal to 610.63 eggs and therefore 100g of gonad weight was equal to 61,063 eggs. The amount of protein, furthermore, provided daily to the prawn larvae was 25.15%, lipid 49.46% and ash 3.98% respectively of the feed. We compared the survival rates and the first treatment, with 9‰ of salinity, was observed to enable a survival rate mean of 5.440.18%. The second, with 12‰ of salinity, enabled 13.68±0.50%, and the third enabled 7.23±0.24% with 15‰ of salinity. Therefore, freshwater larvae adapted best with 12‰ of salinity, which was the most suitable brackish water to nurse and rear the freshwater larvae to post-larvae level.

The experiment was conducted at the Tang Hang Ly pig farm, located in Kandal province. 24-crossbred growing pigs were identified initially as T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃ with average weight 49.17±0.75 kg, 49.33±1.37 kg, 49.33±1.63 kg, 49.83±1.47 kg respectively. The aims of this research were, (1) to determine the optimum level of wheat bran in the diet for growing-finishing pig and (2) to evaluate the economic efficiency of using wheat bran in pig diet. The experiment was randomly designed by CRD (completely randomized design) and was divided into four treatments and three replicates. There were two pigs in each replicate and the pigs were offered feed with different levels: 0%, 25%, 35% and 45% of wheat bran in the feed concentration. The results showed that, the average daily weight gain in T₂ (610.4±38.3g) with the 35% concentration of wheat bran was significantly higher than the feed concentrations of 45% in T₃ (570.8±79.7g) and 25% in T₁ (562.1±71.58g). The control diet in T₀ had a weight gain of 558.6±88.62g. The daily feed intake was highest with the 35% wheat bran concentration in T₂ (2.231±0.02 kg/head), followed by lower feed intake with the wheat bran concentrations of 45% in T₃ (2.018±0.11 kg/head). This did not differ from the control diet in T₀ (2.032±0.23 kg/head) and the 25% wheat bran concentration in T₁ (2.023±0.09 kg/head). It was noted that the diet of T₂ with a wheat bran concentration of 35% consumed the most feed compared to the other treatments. Besides, there was a significant interaction with feed conversion ratio (P<0.05) in which T₂ (3.66±0.21) were much higher than T₀ (3.65±0.24), T₁ (3.62±0.34), and T₃ (3.55±0.21). This means that wheat bran was more effective if it was used at a lower feed concentration in order to gain 1 kg of meat. In conclusion, the results showed that the T₂ which was fed the 35% concentration of wheat bran could be utilized effectively as basal diet for growing finish-pig, which started from 50 kg to 100 kg, with superior economic returns.

Rice, the staple food of 2.7 billion people as well as prolific user of water, are at risk of severe water shortage and hence food insecurity. To cope with looming water crisis, we must sought water saving technologies to maintain and to increase rice production for meeting world's food needs with less water. A new strategy is the use of field water tube in SRI with AWDI application. A lysimeter scale experiment was conducted at Tokyo University to find out the effectiveness of Field Water Tube for monitoring the depth of ponded water, determining the right irrigation timing. The experimental layout was Demonstration Strip Design with twice replication where 5 different diameters PVC Tube (viz. 5 cm, 7.5 cm, 10 cm, 12.5 cm and 15 cm) were treatment and Hioki meter, tensiometer, moisture sensor, temperature sensor, data logger were used as instrument. When the water level went to 10 cm below the soil surface level then irrigation was applied in the drying cycle of AWDI. Throughout the study period, ponded depth/water level, moisture percentage, pressure, temperature was measured. The study revealed that all the treatments measured the water level perfectly and determined the appropriate time of irrigation in drying cycle of AWDI. The study disclosed that in measuring water depth all the water tube exhibited good relationship (in same diameter maximum r² value 0.9955 and minimum r² value 0.9876, in different diameter maximum r² value 0.995 and minimum r² value 0.965) to each other. It is demonstrated that water tube measurement has strong relationship with water level sensor measurement (Hioki Meter) and tensiometer. Field Water Tube proved that it is a water saving technology where AWDI done in SRI based on water requirement of the field not by predetermined interval approach.

Sraa sor (rice liquor) is a traditional khmer liquor made from rice with fermentation and distillation processes. The objective of this research is to describe the rice liquor processing in Takeo province. A semi structure questionnaire and observation were used to survey the rice liquor processing with 58 rice liquor producers. Producers learned the method of rice liquor production from their parents. Whole rice of Srouv Krohom (rice variety) or broken rice mixed with many varieties and mé sraa Vietnam (yeast variety) bought at local markets were used to produce liquor. Rice husk and fire woods were used for steaming or boiling rice and distillation. Producers used pond water or well water for cooking rice and rain water for adjusting alcohol concentration. The producers sold their sraa sor to middlemen because they could receive money on site. Amount of cooked rice was 20kg and yeast 500g at one time. Seventy eight litters of water were added after fermenting two over nights. Time spend on distillation was three hours. The alcohol degree was said 30 percent in final production by farmers.

Small-sized fish paste call Prahoc in Khmer is one of the most popular fermented fish products used as a condiment in Cambodia. It is the main food for Cambodian people, especially the remote poor. Prahoc is typically made from small fish such as the common small cyprinids (Henicorhynchus spp.) in Khmer Trei Reil. It was originated as a way of preserving fish during the longer months when fresh fish was not available in plentiful supply. Prahoc is traditionally produced by mixing whole fish with salt at a ratio of 3:1-5:1, and fermented for 3-12 months or longer. Moreover, some problems relating with processing were found and determinded to keep for base line information for the next researchers.

The Stung Chinit Irrigation and Rural Infrastructure Project (SCIRIP) aimed to improve living standard of the local farmers through increasing the size of farmlands and at least 2 times per year in rice farming. However, the total targeted area of 7,000 ha in the wet season and 30% in the dry season reached only 2,960ha and 20-30% respectively (mostly vegetation) and the yield was still low. The FWUC was established, but the project was still a problem for the farmers. The study aimed to: assess the process of the FWUC's formation and its roles and responsibilities in providing services to its members, assess the functioning of the FWUC and its performance compared with the defined roles and responsibilities, and analyse constraints and potentials of FWUC encouraged participation from its members. The researchers selected 10 different villages from 3 communes including 100 households of members and 50 households of non-members, 2 persons from FWUC, 10 village heads and 1WUG in each village, and 1 representative from each PDoA, CEDAC, AFD, GRET and PDOWRAM to be interviewed. The results showed that the project was designed with insufficient study of the location. There was too deep of a drain, too small of a watercourse of tertiary and quaternary canals, unequal land uniformity and poor quality of soil (basalt, young and old alluvium). The formation of the FWUC and its regulation did not involve participation from all its members. Moreover, only 50-60% of the regulations were implemented and these focused a lot on fishing activities, management of cattle and buffaloes, and the use of roads and ox-cart tracks, but less on management, water distribution, irrigation and canal protection. The participation from farmers was poor for the small plots of land they owned, traditional habit of rice field protection, multiple jobs, poor commitment and cooperation amongst farmers in system protection. In addition, pest booklets caused problems. The problem resulted from internal factors; poor project design, poor FWUC's implementation, poor participation from farmers and external factors; pest booklets and poor soil conditions.

Cambodian populations had 52% of women and 48% of men, where around 80% are farmers living in rural areas. Women are basically influential in generating family income. However women's role on decision-making in household livelihood is commonly ignored. So, the study aimed to assess the social class in every household livelihood, to assess the status of decision-making about household livelihood, and analyze the constraints and opportunities of women in decision-making. The result showed that 10% of households were rich, 50% were medium, 30% were poor and 10% were underpoor. In main jobs, 84% of households planted rainy season rice, 11% were business owners, 3% sell labour, 3% was Governmentt officials, 2% planted dry season rice, 2% did chamka and 1% did other jobs. In sub-jobs, 79% of households raised animals, 37% did chamka, 21% was business owner, 16% sell labour, 6% collected forest product, 1% planted rainy season rice, 1% planted dry season rice, 1% was fisher, 1% was motor taxi-driver and 1% did other jobs. The heads of families were mostly men except for widows and single women, who play very important roles as heads of their families as decision-makers. The constraints of women in decision-making in househood livelihood were due to: poor education, poor technical skill, busy on doing house work, weak health, poor self belief, poor self confidence in decision-making, no paticipation in society, traditional culture, and poor recognition on the income received from husband work. In constract, the opportunities were: patient, hardwork, fullfiling works, saving money, joining on decision-making in family and supported by government and NGOs. In conclusion, female participation in decision-making is very necessary for household livelihoods. So, the Government, NGOs, society and women themselves should participate to bring empowerment to women in decision-making, investing, managing and improving household livelihoods.

The aims of this research were to identify rice cropping systems and measures to control The Brown Planthopper BPH in outbreak areas in Kampong Speu province. In total, 80 households in Prey Vihear and Po Angkrong communes were randomly selected for an interview in 2008. The interviewed farmers did not grow rice all the year round and rice cultivars used were diversified. However, most cultivars are susceptible to the BPH. Moreover, Rice in early rainy season was a potential source for immigrant BPH multiplication. Almost all effective measures, both physical (mosquito net to trap insects and dispatching ducks in the fields) and chemical (Buprofezin, Fenobucarb and Denotefuran) were introduced by the Provincial Department of Agriculture (PDA). Meanwhile, the only one effective measure innovated by farmers was the application of used engine oil. However, this substance was not promoted by the PDA. No farmer lost rice completely in the outbreak year because all households possess small fragmented paddy fields in three different agro-ecosystems, so the periods of transplanting and growing were also different.

This paper examines the barrier of dry season rice intensification of community's irrigator under Irrigation scheme of Tapeing Thmor Water Reseroir. In total, 61 water using households and water use committees were selected for interviewing. The representatives of FWUC argue the irrigation is functioning quite well but smallholder farmers complain to have no access to irrigation water, supposedly due to inappropriate design and functioning of the canal systems. Some also argue that water management at the community level is not well organized, which leaves part of the smallholders farmers with no opportunities for dry season rice production. Field work also reveals that agricultural extension services are not entirely efficient and not evenly spread out through the community of water using farmers. In addition, the capital and labour needed for smallholder farmers to be engaged in dry season rice production with high purchasing of agricultural inputs usually leads farmers to contract loans from local moneylenders who charge a high interest rate. The paper discusses that further development for dry season rice production under Tapeing Thmor's irrigation scheme should focus on improving agricultural extension services and the provision of affordable access to credit in order to maximize its outreach.

The Tonle Sap Lake and its periphery exhibit many diversified land use patterns, including fishing areas, grass fields, agricultural land and forest land. Since there have been dramatic changes in these patterns, this research was conducted to identify the dynamics of agricultural land use from 2005-2010 and to investigate the farmers’ socio-economic status in the Baray and Kampong Leaeng districts of Kampong Thom and Kampong Chhnang provinces, respectively. To achieve the objectives, Spatial Analysis on Aerial Photos in 2005 and 2010, Direct Observation, Semi-structured Interviews and Structured Interviews were used. The results showed that the total agricultural land use in Zone 2 of Baray district increased from 23% in 2005 to 30% in 2010, while agricultural land in Zone 2 of Kampong Leaeng district increased from 46% in 2005 to 67% in 2010. 82.39% of total households in Baray district are farmers, while 86.19% of total households in Kampong Leaeng district are farmers, with an average of 5 members per household who rely on rice, subsidiary and industrial crops cultivations. Farming households owned an average of 2.11 ha of rice land and 0.26 ha of cropland in Baray, while in Kampong Leaeng they owned an average of 1.41 ha of rice land and 0.67 ha of cropland. On average, a household in Baray earned $1,452/year from farming and spent on $1,690/year daily living and agricultural production, while in Kampong Leaeng a household earned $1,568/year and spent $1,840/year. In conclusion, the dynamics of agricultural land use in Baray and Kampong Leaeng districts have reduced the flooded forest areas on the Tonle Sap Lake’s periphery. Although farmers have tried to increase their income by extending their productive areas, their income was still found to be lower than expenses. These farmers need to access more job opportunities to support themselves and their families.

Development of private enterprise in the form of land concessions granted for forestry/agro-business has been suggested as the means of development and poverty reduction in the rural areas in Cambodia. The study was conducted in order to examine the necessary economic and social impacts of Economic Land Concession (ELC) development on local community’s livelihoods. In Phnom Sruoch district of Kampong Speu province, 66 households were interviewed with qualitative methods applied to make out the five livelihood assets, coping strategies, timelines, and resources map of the area. The results indicated that the development of ELC in the case of Golden Land Development Co., Ltd. in Choam Sankae commune has a substantial negative impact resulting in the loss of access to land and natural resources which are the primary assets of livelihoods for the local people. The results in the survey were indicated that 29.62% of households are landless while 36.67% owned less than 0.5 ha per household. Most of the respondents have more difficulty to find firewood because of privately owned protected lands. To develop an intensive agriculture and agro-industry are among the purposes of ELC. In this study, it was recorded that only an estimated 2-3% of total granted lands had been cultivated. As a result, there were only 1.33% of local labor force had been employed. Meanwhile, the lack of skills and formal training prevent them from the opportunities to adjust in the rapid changes of land transformation. An estimated 62.5% households have migrated to other regions seeking for jobs with higher risks and low income. In conclusion, the local people in Phnom Sruoch district were not prepared to the land transformation. Therefore, this is one of the issues that should be taken into consideration on policy discussion on the role and strategy of land concession whether it could have a significant contribution to the development of the poor.

Tourism in Banteay Chhmar have been growing gradually since early 2002 with the assistance of the Banteay Chhmar Community-Based Tourism (CBT), a service provider to the tourists who visit and stay in the ancient historical resort. In 2008, there were 924 tourists visited the Banteay Chhmar tourist site. Due to the slow increase tourists visiting Banteay Chhmar, a field study was done in 2009 to investigate the current management of tourism in Banteay Chhmar. The objectives of the field study are to determine the impact of tourism on the local livelihood and environment, to evaluate the potential of tourist attraction sites and to analyze the constraints and opportunities for increasing tourism in Banteay Chhmar. In order to achieve the objectives, 14 semi-structure interviews, 17 questionnaires, 60 evaluation data sheets, mapping, some participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools, direct observation and a strength weakness opportunity threat (SWOT) analysis were conducted. The results showed that the Banteay Chhmar CBT plays important roles in tourism management. Since the tourism began, the share of tourism in employment contributes 12 % of the total income and improved people’s living standard. Moreover, awareness of cultural and environmental value had also increased. However, the overuse of water from the moat, vegetable gardening and waste disposal inside the temple affects negative impacts in the tourist site. Cultural and historical sites and local traditional ways of life are the main tourist attractions. Aside from the main attraction which is the Banteay Chhmar temple, other CBT services were also enjoyed by many tourists such as exploring the satellite temples, cycling, ox-cart riding and visiting the villages. Opportunities for tourist development were identified, such as increasing tourism through widespread tourism information, new income from visiting the temple and the temple’s registration as a World Heritage Site. In contrast, mass tourism versus of CBT be concerned about sexual trafficking issues, and drug smuggling could be constraints for future tourism development. In conclusion, the research suggested that any future tourism development must be balanced in all economic, social and environmental aspects.

One of the severe environmental problems facing in the northeast of Thailand is salt affected soil. In the total area of the northeast region at 16.928 million hectare, 2.848 million hectare is salt affected land, in which the Mahasarakham rock salt layer laid at the depth of 100-200 meters. The salt affected soil is causing various economic and social problems in the rural areas. As the salt affected soil was not so serious during 1940’s when the land was covered with forests, attention has been paid to an agro-forestry system, which is one of alternative agriculture combining with forests. It is expected to reduce the intensity of salinity in the area. However, planting trees does not provide short term benefits comparing to growing field crops, so agro-forestry is hardly to be accepted by local people. Thus, the integration of salt tolerant trees and other crops could be the most beneficial for farmers and soil environment. Accordingly, this study was focused on identifying what effective agro-forestry systems are in salt affected area. Existing agro-forestry practices in Khon Kaen Province were investigated in this study. The agro-forestry practices were conducted in patch forests, paddy bunds, plantations associated with animal husbandry, home gardens and vegetable gardens. The dominant trees in these locations were Sindora siamensis, Shorea obtusa, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Bambusa bambos and Mangifera indica. Also, the numbers of variety of trees planted in the salt affected areas were lower than that in the non salt affected areas. Based on the investigated results, it was proposed that agro-forestry practices with higher varieties of trees should be made in salt affected area.

Recently, in Kampong Cham Province of Cambodia, subsistence agriculture is being converted to commercial mono-culture, and the amounts of agricultural chemicals applied to farmlands are increasing every year. There seem to be many cases in which people apply agricultural chemicals without understanding the impact on health and food safety. It is necessary to promote and enhance understanding of sustainable agriculture among local people including farmers. So, this study dealt with the evaluation of local farmers’ acceptability on organic agriculture based on the participatory level. The extension activities, such as promoting sustainable agriculture through demonstrating how to make compost box and compost, leader training for their deeper perception on sustainable agriculture, and conducting workshops on sustainable agriculture through composting, were implemented in 2007. In the initial stage of the extension activities, farmers’ participation was evaluated as Level 3, participation by consultation, as the farmers participated by answering the questions. Also in 2008, following activities were implemented; introducing the farmers how to make pellet compost, initiating 4 model organic farms, leader training on making bio-pesticide and conducting workshops on sustainable agriculture through applying pellet compost. In addition to the extension activities, the surveys by interview and questionnaire for evaluating local farmers’ acceptability on organic agriculture were implemented occasionally. Through a series of the extension activities, the farmers’ participation was evaluated as Level 5, functional participation, as the farmers participated by forming the groups to meet the predetermined objectives of the extension project. According to the results of evaluating local farmers’ acceptability on organic agriculture based on the participatory level, it was considered that building local farmers’ confident through various extension activities is the most important key to increase local acceptability.

Since district has an intermediate position to multilevel planning system in almost all developing countries, there is a need to develop and prepare plan at district level incorporating the needs of the people, problems, potentials and developmental issues of the sub-districts to ensure sustainable rural development. With this view, the Regional and Rural Development Planning Programme of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) has intensified the planning workshop course to prepare sectoral plans within the district plans for strengthening decentralized planning exercise. This paper focuses sectoral plans on natural resources and environment, Pak Phli district, Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand. The objective of this study is to clearly focus on need assessment, policy analysis, problems and potentials analysis and finally, identification of development programmes and projects to fulfill sectoral, spatial and clientele requirements. The methodology is developed on participatory planning approach, concept of learning while working, group discussion/interviews, discussion with governmental officials through meetings, brain storming, group exercise and presentation. However, study shows that although Pak Phli is blessed with the attraction of natural resources and renowned with abundant agricultural products, orchard gardens, beautiful water reservoirs and waterfalls but soil backward situation (gravel soil, hard soil, salty soil or acidic soil), severe soil erosion, high soil degradation and improper waste management are the most significant problems while lack of land title, low soil fertility, flooding, non-functioning of community forestry project and water pollution are prioritized as problems in this district. In accordance with several recommendations, this study proposes three projects for developing of natural resources and environment sector: (1) Acid soil management by applying liming and organic farming practices; (2) Strengthening community forestry project by enhancing capacity building of existing community forestry groups; and (3) Improving municipal solid waste management system by involving private sector and community people to carry out community solid waste management.

System of rice intensification (SRI) is a rice farming practice developed in Madagascar under irrigated conditions. Recently, SRI has been diffused in rainfed paddy areas of Cambodia. Confirming the reasons for the diffusion will undoubtedly provide clues for improving rainfed agriculture unaffected by green revolution technology. In 2008, the authors introduced SRI to rainfed rice farmers in the Kampong Speu province of Cambodia. Six volunteer farmers unfamiliar with SRI techniques conducted an on-farm trial to compare conventional practices with SRI. The farmers adopted only several SRI principles, and a significant yield difference between SRI and conventional practices was absent. Even though yield did not increase dramatically, all cooperating farmers agreed to continue SRI at least in small-scale trial plots since SRI showed indications of being more efficient such as savings on the cost of seeds. In 2009, the farmers practiced SRI more rigorously following intensive training. The principle of "reducing number of seedlings per hill" was found to be the motivating factor that led to introducing SRI other principles. For example, the farmers were compelled to use younger seedlings. Conventionally, farmers grew a huge number of seedlings in a large nursery area, making it more difficult to grow young seedlings with care. SRI, and its advantage of fewer seedlings requirements, changed this practice and the farmers started using younger seedlings. As a result, yield difference between SRI and conventional practices in 2009 was larger than that in 2008. It was also observed that the farmers instituted several SRI principles in comparison plots for conventional practice, not only in SRI plots. The farmers introduced their own ideas in search of the best combination of SRI principles. Another remarkable result was that the farmers also took the initiative to introduce some SRI principles into their own non-comparison plots.

This paper provides critical appreciation of the experience of Thailand in restoration and conservation of degraded mangroves. Through literature survey, the constraints that hinder the successful restoration and conservation of mangroves, and opportunities that lead towards achieving such goal were assessed. Results revealed that since the second half of the twentieth century, Thailand lost more than half of its mangrove cover due to shrimp farming and charcoal production. This has raised concerns that led to enhanced efforts to restore and conserve the mangroves. Since Thailand ratified various relevant international agreements, it is obligated to pay serious attention towards the conservation and restoration of these ecosystems. Thus, the government launched various re-plantation projects and established impressive supportive infrastructures to facilitate such efforts. Meanwhile, the Tsunami 2004 also re-sensitized the Thai society to the protective role of mangroves as many communities took suo motu initiatives for the conservation of mangroves in their respective areas. However, ‘the success’ in mangroves conservation has remained very limited, which could be attributed to lack of policy integration and coordination among different agencies, narrow focus on the forest component of mangrove ecosystem, inadequate ecological knowledge and restoration skills among the forest land use managers, and halfhearted departmental support for community participation in mangrove restoration. Therefore, Thai policy makers must revisit the issues and opportunities, and devise appropriate policies to address the structural causes of mangroves degradation and achieve successful ecological restoration.