Watch a video report of MSU researchers at work in Thailand and Laos.
“This collaboration with Michigan State helps people realize that forests are important. The project fulfills both of (Thailand's) objectives: to help people live and grow things sustainably, and to transition the country to a knowledge-based economy. There are very few projects that serve both purposes – we are very satisfied.”
– Anond Bunyaratvej, secretary general, National Research Council of Thailand
“This project will be good for the village. Trees keep moisture in the soil. We can harvest our own products from them, which minimizes the cost of buying things. Trees also put more oxygen in the air and more organic matter back in the soil.”
– Kamwa Setsap, 62-year-old farmer who is part of the Inpang Network West in Sawang Daen Din in the Sakon Nakhon Province of Thailand
“We need to conserve as much forest land as possible. The people in the communities understand the concept of the project – it’s helping to build capacity. We want to put more information into the hands of younger people.”
– Prasertsuk Chamornmarn, deputy executive director, Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization
“Laos imports all oil and fuel, so this project is important for Lao energy independence. MSU has conducted demonstrations on crushing and processing jatropha nuts into biodiesel and helped provide information on markets for the nuts. Our job is to optimize the process.”
– Sithong Thongmanivong, professor, Faculty of Forestry, National University of Laos
“We started processing jatropha oil into biodiesel two years ago – we use every part of the plant. The households that are part of the center use the product.”
– Wanchai Salawasi, director of the Social Development Center Unit 5 in Khon Kaen, Thailand who has worked with the MSU Carbon2Markets team since January
“At the Inpang Network, we teach people about the importance of conservation. In the last two years, since we’ve started working with the MSU Carbon2Markets team, we've started to teach people about the value of carbon. In this group, the leader of the village understands the value of the project and the value of not cutting down the trees. The farmers have noticed that climate change affects their yields because there are more pests and diseases. After this project began, yields improved. The people here would participate in the project even if there were no money to be earned – they know they get more benefits than just money from the project.”
– Tawaichai Kulwong, director, Inpang Learning Center in Kut Bak, Thailand
“I met Professor David Skole at a conference five years ago and was very interested in his work on measuring carbon sequestration. I work with the Inpang Network, a network of farmers encompassing five provinces and 4,000 households in northeastern Thailand. We were already working on planting trees, but I wanted to get more value from the trees and that’s what carbon storage does. In June [2009], Thai forestry officials visited the Inpang Network to see the work being done. They want to make carbon offset credits part of government policy.”
– Usa Klinhom, biology professor, Mahasarakham University in Maha Sarakham, Thailand
“The MSU project has allowed us to learn new technology and build capacity, and has also offered access to markets.”
– Jesada Luangjame, director of silviculture research, Thailand Royal Forest Department
“This project has been a springboard for other projects. It’s helped bring the [Mahasarakham] university and the community together. This is a unique project because we all have the same philosophy of transferring education to the community. If the community is strong, the university is strong. We are augmenting the wisdom of the community with science. We are very proud to be part of this work.”
– Jeeraphan Suksringarm, dean, Mahasarakham University Faculty of Science in Maha Sarakham, Thailand
“The aim of our pilot project in the Trat Province of Thailand was to teach people about deforestation and global warming and to transfer knowledge about carbon storage to them. The local people were very happy to be involved.”
– Sura Pattanakiat, associate professor, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University in Salaya, Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand
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