On 17 June 2025, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously proceeded to Chiang Rai Province to follow up on efforts to improve the quality of life for local communities. Upon arrival at Mae Fah Luang – Chiang Rai International Airport, Her Royal Highness continued by royal helicopter to Baan Puna, Mae Fah Luang District, to visit the people and observe the oil tea cultivation research project. The initiative—jointly supported by the Chaipattana Foundation and the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage—benefits 403 households through the cultivation of oil tea across 2,010 rai of degraded forest. It promotes sustainable livelihoods alongside agriculture, livestock, and handicrafts.
Her Royal Highness also visited the community handicraft center, where the Mae Fah Luang Foundation integrates local wisdom with skill development and employment, particularly among women, through its DoiTung social enterprise.
Later, Her Royal Highness visited Sangwan Wit 8 School, established in 1991 with support from the Princess Mother’s Charitable Fund. Her Royal Highness presented educational materials and saplings to representatives and engaged with the school and village committees.
At the Doi Tung Royal Villa, Her Royal Highness graciously presided over the 2/2025 Board Meeting of the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage and stayed overnight at the Villa.
On 18 June 2025, Her Royal Highness visited the Mae Fah Luang Subdistrict’s community waste separation center, a collaboration between the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, local administration, and Thai Beverage Public Company Limited. The model has eliminated waste sent to landfills across 24 villages and 8 schools, while repurposing 40% of waste through circular economy innovations. This effort has reduced emissions by 973 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent.
Her Royal Highness also visited the economic forest plantation to observe a macadamia tree planted by Her Royal Highness the Princess Mother in 1989—marking the beginning of the Doi Tung reforestation effort. Operated under Navuti Co., Ltd., a social enterprise, the plantation demonstrates how economic forests have generated livelihoods, replaced narcotic crops, and restored degraded hillsides—realizing the Princess Mother’s vision to “plant forests, plant people.”
Today, the forest covers 90,000 rai and supports 10,000 people on Doi Tung. Its carbon absorption is certified at 419,000 tones CO₂ equivalent, and the Foundation’s Forest development approach has expanded to 536,169 rai across Thailand.
