Forage plants, as primary producers, play an essential role in maintaining populations of large herbivores. The availability and quality of these forage plants can affect the health and viability of these animals. Seasonally dry forests of Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary and Huai Thab Salao-Huai Rabum Non-Hunting Area are recognized as one of the largest contiguous pieces of forests in mainland Southeast Asia and serve as a home to many large herbivore species, particularly banteng (Bos javanicus birmanicus). However, our understanding of forage plants and their dynamics is still limited. Therefore, the current study was undertaken to understand the dynamics of forage plants, prescribed burning effects, and the associated environmental factors. During 2018–2019, the results showed that the highest forage availability was in June after the prescribed burns at 156.2–252.6 kg ha⁻¹ and the lowest in February before the burning at 16.8–39.8 kg ha⁻¹. Environmental factors that impacted the forage availability include canopy cover, tree density, tree basal area, soil bulk density, soil pH, and topography. However, the impacts of these factors varied among the studied plant life forms, suggesting the importance of active habitat management through prescribed burns and stand improvement to maintain sufficient forage for large herbivores in the future.

Fire is a necessary disturbance in tropical deciduous forests, as it helps clear the understory community and allows regeneration of grasses and forbs for local wildlife. Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary (HKK) and Huai Thab Salao-Huai Rabum Non-Hunting Area (HTS) are parts of a few places in Southeast Asia with deciduous forests. However, this area was heavily logged up until 1989, followed by a long period of fire suppression. The consequences of these changes on understory communities have not been investigated. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the understory communities and their aboveground biomass before and after the annual prescribed burns in HKK and HTS. Understory plant composition and biomass were surveyed in November 2018 (before the fire) and May 2019 (three months after the fire) in 128 temporary plots, covering of deciduous dipterocarp forest, mixed deciduous forest, mixed deciduous forest with bamboo, and open area. We identified a total of 480 understory species, including 37 grass species, 214 forb species, 73 shrub species, 153 tree seedling species and three species of bamboo in the study plots. Grasses in the DDF plots were at 72.79 ± 22.41 kg ha${}^{-1}$, accounting for only ten percent of the understory plants in the plots. The understory community in the DDF plots was dominated by shrubs and tree seedlings of competing species, especially after the fire. The results suggested that past logging activities and long-term fire suppression had reduced the number of mature key dipterocarp forests and hindered the regeneration of grasses and forbs. Maintaining the structure of dipterocarp forests and sufficient food sources for the local wildlife species will require more active habitat management of the study areas.

This study investigates the potential of creative tourism in Thailand’s national parks and the role of social media in promoting creative tourism experiences. The objectives were to examine creative tourism activities, identify visitor segments based on activity preferences and media use, and propose targeted communication strategies to enhance engagement and support sustainable tourism. A mixed-methods design combined document reviews of 133 national parks, field surveys in 10 parks, and a structured visitor survey with 1133 respondents across terrestrial and marine parks. The study identified 25 tourism activities, of which 20 were classified as creative tourism. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed four key dimensions: nature-based learning, scenic immersion, community participation, and culinary experiences. Cluster analysis segmented visitors into five groups: Local Advocates, Nature Explorers, Food Enthusiasts, Nature Learners, and Diverse Enthusiasts. Media preferences varied across groups. Nature Explorers and Food Enthusiasts engaged strongly with short-form videos and scenic visuals, while Local Advocates and Nature Learners preferred educational and text-based formats. Diverse Enthusiasts, the largest segment, interacted with multiple content types. Scenic imagery emerged as the most influential theme overall. These results provide practical implications for designing creative tourism strategies and creating social media campaigns to diverse groups of tourists in Thailand’s national parks.

Pongpattananurak N, Phumsathan S, Somleewong T, Rasri P. 2023. Sound management strategies in swiftlet ranching: An experiment from Southern Thailand. Biodiversitas 24: 6218-6228. Edible-nest swiftlets are well-known for the medicinal properties of their nests. With the global demand, swiftlet ranching has emerged as a vital industry. Swiftlet houses employ acoustic stimuli to entice wild swiftlets. However, the use of loud acoustic stimuli in swiftlet houses has inadvertently led to sound pollution in urban areas. This study investigates the interplay of acoustic stimuli, loudness, and environmental factors in attracting swiftlets while reducing noise. Our findings highlight the critical role of sound management in swiftlet ranching. Higher loudness, especially around 80-90 dB, significantly increases swiftlet activity and maximizes daily counts. Furthermore, optimizing loudness levels, particularly at around 80 dB, extends the swiftlet presence duration, offering valuable ranching benefits. Strategic loudness management is recommended to balance attraction and noise control. Timing acoustic stimulation during mornings and late afternoons aligns with swiftlets' natural behavior. Lowering loudness to under 70 dB during midday minimizes disturbances, especially in populated areas. Weather conditions, including outdoor absolute humidity and temperature, also influence swiftlet attraction. The study finally provides guidance for complying with environmental noise regulations, demonstrating that sound levels of 70-80 dB effectively control noise. These insights support swiftlet ranching while respecting urban communities and coexisting harmoniously.

This research aimed to evaluate the potential of Thailand's national forest reserves for promoting sustainable recreational activities. Research tools included a comprehensive tourism potential assessment form for evaluating tourism development. Additionally, semi-structured interviews and focus group meetings with key informants were conducted to gain insights into local perspectives, challenges, and opportunities related to tourism. Site surveys were conducted during January - August 2021. The study initially conducted an assessment of 122 destinations located within 85 national forest reserves across the country to determine their tourism development potential. Subsequently, 16 national forest reserves exhibiting high potential were selected for on-site surveys. These revealed a diverse range of recreational resources within the national forest reserves, including waterfalls, rapids, rivers, viewpoints, ecotourism sites, nature trails, hot springs, caves, geographic landscapes, and archaeological sites. The assessment of tourism development potential identified six areas with high potential, eight areas with medium potential, and two areas with low potential within the national forest reserves. To effectively promote recreation and sustainable tourism in Thailand's national forest reserves, the Royal Forest Department, responsible for overseeing these areas, should prioritize the following key considerations: 1) development of interpretive programs that align with the unique features and highlights of each area to enhance visitors' learning experiences, 2) active involvement of local communities in tourism development initiatives, and 3) provision of basic service facilities to support visitor activities. This is a normative assessment, and future studies should focus on the ways that tourism is reshaping these landscapes and livelihoods.

This study investigates the potential of creative tourism in Thailand’s national parks and the role of social media in promoting creative-tourism experiences. The objectives were to examine creative tourism activities, identify visitor segments based on activity preferences and media use, and propose targeted communication strategies to enhance engagement and support sustainable tourism. A mixed-methods design combined document review of 133 national parks, field surveys in 10 parks, and a structured visitor survey with 1,133 respondents across terrestrial and marine parks. The study identified 25 tourism activities, of which 20 were classified as creative tourism. Ex-ploratory Factor Analysis revealed four key dimensions: nature-based learning, scenic immersion, community participation, and culinary experiences. Cluster analysis seg-mented visitors into five groups: Local Advocates, Nature Explorers, Food Enthusiasts, Nature Learners, and Diverse Enthusiasts. Media preferences varied across groups. Nature Explorers and Food Enthusiasts engaged strongly with short-form videos and scenic visuals, while Local Advocates and Nature Learners preferred educational and text-based formats. Diverse Enthusiasts, the largest segment, interacted with multiple content types. Scenic imagery emerged as the most influential theme overall. These results provide practical implications for designing creative tourism strategies and creating social media campaigns to diverse groups of tourists in Thailand’s national parks.