May 24: National Community Forest Day – Morality and Environmental Management through the Buddharaksa Community Forest

This article, prepared for Thailand’s National Community Forest Day on May 24, highlights the significance of the Community Forest Act B.E. 2562 (2019), which institutionalized people’s participation in forest conservation. The case study of the Buddharaksa Community Forest in Sikhio District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, illustrates the integration of legal frameworks, environmental stewardship and Buddhist morality under the “Moral Community driven by Baworn” principle (home–temple–school–state). The establishment of local community forest committees, supporting infrastructure and active participation from both the Sangha and laypeople transformed the Buddharaksa Forest into a model of sustainable development. Findings suggest that community forests not only prevent deforestation and biodiversity loss but also foster moral values, strengthen local resilience and provide a replicable model for other communities across Thailand.