The Pang Soong Nature Trails – The Pilot Project

In 2003, As a company that earns it main income from tourist related operations, Track of the Tiger T.R.D. (Tourism Resources Development) reallised that the future of our business and the environment we work in relied heavily on our playing a proactive role in ensuring the wellbeing (financial, social & environmental) of the communities in those areas in which we work.

Simply put, we believed that the tourism industry more than any other, should function under a 3BL (triple bottom line business model), partnering local communities and entrepreneurs, if it was to survive beyond the next generation.

We took on the challenge of protecting the spectacular Mae Lai forest by ensuring the local population could earn a living from it, whilst preserving it as a sustainable source of income, an environmental education resource, and an archive of local wisdom for future generations.

Note* The collapse of the villager’s traditional market for fermented tea products mean villagers were leaving for the city, and their 200 year role as custodians of the Mae Lai Forest was in danger of coming to an end.

We set up our own non-profit arm Volunteers Without Borders in 2004 through which we could provide volunteer labour and donor funding to the Pang Soong Nature Trails Project, a private sector operated-community owned eco-attraction (or PPP – Private-Public Partnership) with seed funding provided by the PATA Foundation. Trail entrance fees paid by all visitors go directly and in full to a community social security fund and the villagers have determined that they be used as described under project overviews.

Note* The records are open to inspection to all and are presented to the village committee at each meeting monthly.

The longer term goal is of course to develop the capacity of those community members who want to improve their circumstances beyond what the trail revenue will provide.

To achieve this, the company introduced a range of projects that we believe will provide equal opportunity for all who seek it.

They are determined(in collaboration with the different groups in the community, to suit:

Importantly, they are implemented through the traditional village leadership channels so as to minimize the conflict, and are available to all on an opt-in basis allowing rewards to accrue to those groups in the village that work on them.

Note* There are clearly defined and mutually agreed roles and responsibilities agreement in place between the company and the village committee that govern exactly what each party must do and how each will benefit. Detail is available on request.

Progress would be slow if not impossible without the invaluable hands on assistance and direct funding provided by individual donors and our volunteers, schools, universities and corporate clients.

The task ahead represents a huge challenge but the support for the development model – the project won the prestigious SKAL Ecotourism Award 2006 – and accolades from those who have volunteered with us assures us we are on the right path.

Working with others

Track of the Tiger & the VWB are interested in collaborating with any third party tourism SME (private or community owned) in northern Thailand (and the region) to develop their products providing they will be operated in accordance with responsible tourism best practices.

Several such projects are currently under development, including the Sanpatong Sustainable Agriculture & Home Stay project detailed on this website.