Biodiversity

Conservation: Plant, Animal, and Wildlife Genetic Resources

University of Phayao is situated within a lush forest ecosystem surrounded by natural water sources. This environment fosters a rich biodiversity, providing a vital habitat for numerous wildlife species, particularly amphibians and diverse bird populations. Recent avian population surveys on campus have documented over 50 bird species residing within the university grounds. To sustain this natural heritage, the university has actively organized dedicated initiatives over the past year to promote environmental conservation and enrich local flora and fauna populations.
University of Phayao is located within the national reserved Mae Tum Forest, in Tambon Maeka, Amphur Muang Phayao, Phayao Province. In requesting permission to utilize the area, the university followed all requirements set by the Royal Forest Department and was granted permission to use the requested area.
University of Phayao is deeply committed to biodiversity conservation and the safeguarding of genetic resources for food, agriculture, and wildlife ecosystems. Given its unique geographical location surrounded by natural forested mountains, the university has fully implemented long-term conservation programs supported by dedicated facilities.

Plant & Genetic Resources Conservation (RSPG-UP)

As an active member of the Upper Northern Network of the Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG), University of Phayao has designated in-situ and ex-situ conservation zones on campus. This includes the Orchid Genetic Conservation Area, the preservation of the "Kammok Luang" forest — the university's symbolic native tree — and specialized gene/tissue-culture laboratories and greenhouses managed by the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
From June 25 to 27, 2026, University of Phayao, led by Professor Dr. Samer Thanoi, Vice President for Research and Innovation, together with Assistant Professor Dr. Boonrit Sinkangam, Deputy Director of the RSPG Coordination Center, and the working committee, attended the national workshop "Knowledge and Learning Exchange Among the Networks of the Plant Genetic Conservation Project Under the Royal Initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (C-RSPG) for Fiscal Year 2026," held at the Amari Don Muang Airport Hotel, Bangkok, and Chulalongkorn University's Saraburi Campus. The workshop served as a national platform for higher education institutions across Thailand to exchange knowledge, experiences, and best practices, with the objective of collaboratively driving royal initiatives on plant genetic conservation and safeguarding Thailand's natural resources. It also emphasized the integration of research, academic excellence, and community service to ensure sustainable resource conservation and utilization.
The event was honored by the presence of Dr. Phanphermsakit Aruni, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), who delivered the opening remarks and a keynote lecture on "Driving Green University Policies Towards a Sustainable University." The lecture highlighted the crucial integration of natural resource conservation into university administration and management frameworks to support multi-dimensional sustainable development. Participation in this workshop underscores University of Phayao's steadfast commitment to honoring the RSPG royal initiatives, strengthening collaborative networks with other higher education institutions, and advancing the university's vision of becoming a "University for Sustainable Development."

Kammok Luang Forest Garden

University of Phayao has officially designated a dedicated ecological "Green Zone" within its campus, transforming it into a forested park for both community relaxation and environmental preservation. A primary focus of this initiative is the in-situ and ex-situ conservation and propagation of "Kammok Luang" (Gardenia sootepensis Hutch.), the symbolic native tree of the university, driven in response to the Royal Initiative of the Plant Genetic Conservation Project (RSPG).
To build a comprehensive genetic resource database, the university's research team conducted extensive botanical and ecological studies, including classification, identification, and precise mapping of the plant's distribution across campus using Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers, focusing on two main locations: the Kammok Luang Plaza at the Phra Phuttha Bhujakaraks ascent and the plaza in front of the University of Phayao Demonstration School. The Kammok Luang trees showcase their vibrant yellow, nocturnal-blooming, fragrant flowers across several natural sites on campus, including the Sufficiency Economy Learning Center, the Thai Green Peacock Conservation Forest, and the Huai Thap Chang Forest Area.
According to recent botanical survey data, the university has recorded 144 naturally occurring, mature Kammok Luang trees within its campus perimeter. To ensure long-term preservation, an additional 336 trees have been systematically planted across five key landscape zones. As part of its medium-term conservation and reforestation pipeline, the university's RSPG task force has also successfully propagated 2,500 healthy saplings (currently 2–2.5 meters in height) in its nursery facilities, prepared for upcoming forest expansion and genetic safeguarding. This ongoing conservation work is supported by the collaborative efforts of the Division of Buildings and Grounds alongside dedicated RSPG data and coordination officers.

Phai Luang Cotton Garden

Associate Professor Dr. Supakorn Pongbangpho, President of University of Phayao, presided over the official opening of the "Phai Luang Cotton Garden," co-inaugurated by Mr. Thawat Sutthawong, President of the Phayao Provincial Administrative Organization, and attended by the university's executive team, staff, students, and local community networks. The garden is a strategic collaboration between the Division of Student Affairs and the research project "Research and Development of Phai Luang Cotton for Income Generation and Community Sustainability," fully funded and supported by the National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT).
The core objective is to conduct comprehensive botanical studies on "Phai Luang" (Grand Cotton), a rare native perennial tree cotton variety indigenous to Northern Thailand. The university has designated this specialized garden as an ex-situ conservation and nursery facility to collect, preserve, and secure the genetic resources of this native agricultural plant, while elevating its economic value to bolster the grassroots economy of local communities. Fully matured cotton crops were harvested and distributed to the "Phai Luang Research Network," comprising 10 distinct local community groups. These yields are used to craft the traditional "Phai Luang Puranaghata Trees" — sacred hand-woven cotton offerings used in the robe-wrapping and bathing ceremony of the historic Phra That Chao Jom Thong pagoda in Wiang Phayao during the local 6th lunar month festival, bridging biodiversity conservation with cultural heritage preservation.

Animal & Wildlife Conservation

Thai Green Peacock Sanctuary

The university campus serves as a vital natural habitat for the endangered Thai Green Peacock (Pavo muticus). University of Phayao has established the "Thai Peacock and Wildlife Conservation Forest" to safeguard their nesting and foraging grounds, working in tandem with local communities under the "Peacock and Forest Conservation Network" to monitor and protect wildlife population genetics.
The Green Peafowl Learning and Conservation Center was established to coordinate integrated solutions for "People and Green Peafowl coexistence in a sustainable way." The roles and duties of the center can be divided into:

1. Education and conservation through DNA studies, leading to the conservation of authentic Green Peafowl species and conservation guidelines by cultivating both in habitat and outside the habitat.
2. Promoting the community economy from bio-based knowledge — extending biological knowledge that is valuable in academics to create economic value, bringing well-being to humans and Green Peafowl living together in a caring and sustainable way.
3. Preserving arts and culture as an intellectual asset leading to a creative economy of cultural tourism alongside environmental conservation, drawing on Green Peafowl's role in the civilization of various ethnic groups in Asia to support the conservation of Thai peacocks for sustainability.

The Green Peafowl Learning and Conservation Center has been created as a center for integrating each field of science to enhance the coexistence process between humans and nature, and will serve as a model agency in managing the relationship between knowledge, community, and wildlife to support each other in a sustainable way.

The Silence of the Frogs: Ueng Phao Bank

The School of Agriculture and Natural Resources has worked on frog conservation for over eight years. The "Ueng Phao Bank" project, led by Assistant Professor Kriengkrai Seetapan and the Fisheries Technology and Innovation team, operates under the royal initiative of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn (RSPG Project) to bring frogs back together with the communities who depend on them. Villagers collect breeding pairs of Ueng Phao from their own community forests and bring them to the university, where researchers breed the frogs in controlled conditions and raise the tadpoles to healthy juveniles before releasing them back into the exact community forest their parents came from.
This year alone, over 40,000 juvenile frogs (from 40 breeding pairs) were released into four community forests: Ban Bua in Tambon Mae Ka, Ban So in Tambon Mae Na Ruea, Ban Sang in Tambon Ban Sang, and Ban Tha Champee in Tambon Tha Champee, with each release timed to the early rainy season.

Waterfowl and Aquatic Weed Management

University of Phayao released 10 baby ducks to add color to public parks and water sources. Raising ducks enriches the area's greenery and biodiversity while naturally controlling duckweed and other aquatic weeds on the surface of natural water sources, supporting ecological balance and sustainable land and water management.

Innovative Community Network for High-Quality Buffalo Production

University of Phayao has developed a research project on an innovative community network for high-quality buffalo production, catering to domestic and international trade. The project establishes model learning areas and community innovators to solve and manage buffalo farming careers in Phayao and Chiang Rai provinces, improving income, well-being, and quality of life sustainably, and promoting value chain and area transformation through community innovators.
The use of estrus induction technology, artificial insemination technology, and an online pedigree application has resulted in high-quality buffalo calves, helping to reduce inbreeding and expand distribution channels. Meat buffalo are sold at 30,000–50,000 baht per head and breeding buffalo at 50,000–100,000 baht per head. In terms of food management, innovative methods have been implemented to grow high-quality animal feed plants, ensuring buffaloes receive sufficient protein and nutrition, while using agricultural waste as feed has also helped reduce costs.

Bullfrog (Glyphoglossus molossus) Conservation

The Innovation and Technology Transfer Institute, together with the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, implemented the project "Technology and Innovation of Community Water Management for Economic and Social Enhancement for the New Normal Life" under the Integrated Economic and Social Upgrade Program (1 Tambon 1 University). Led by Dr. Sitthisak Pinmongkolkul, project leader in fisheries, the initiative released bullfrogs to increase natural protein food sources in local communities: more than 64,000 released to Pong and Oi Sub-districts, Pong District; more than 70,000 released to Fai Kwang and Mae Lao sub-districts, Chiang Kham District; more than 10,000 tadpoles released by people in Mae Suk Sub-district, Mae Jai District; and more than 20,000 tadpoles released in the genetic conservation area at the Sufficiency Economy Center, University of Phayao.

Aquatic Biodiversity and Food Security

University of Phayao utilizes its campus water reservoirs, including the Huai Thap Chang Reservoir, as protected aquatic conservation zones to maintain fish genetic diversity, support local ecosystems, and serve as an open learning laboratory for sustainable agriculture.

Sufficiency Economy Learning Center

The Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources operates the Sufficiency Economy Learning Center to bring the philosophy of the Sufficiency Economy to life, serving as a model for students and a learning resource for nearby farmers to apply in their own contexts. The center, covering an area of over 150 rai, has adopted the New Theory Agriculture on the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy of His Majesty King Rama IX, and opens its facilities for technology transfer, training, and study visits on plant varieties, agriculture, livestock, fisheries, and product processing.
Activities are open to the public, personnel, and students, including picking fresh, clean, safe, chemical-free vegetables at prices starting at 10 baht, with varieties such as 10 types of salad vegetables, broccoli, heart-shaped cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, flower seedlings, and many other vegetables.

Rice Planting Activities During the Rainy Season

University of Phayao organizes rice planting activities at the beginning of the rainy season, considered a good start to farming since rice requires a large amount of water. Heavy rain between August and September helps the rice plants flower and produce good ears. The harvested products are donated to areas experiencing poverty, helping to relieve suffering and reduce household expenses.

Black Soldier Fly (BSF): Reducing Aquaculture Feed Costs

As aquaculture — raising aquatic species such as tilapia, catfish, and frogs — faces rising feed costs, with commercial feeds in 20-kilogram bags now ranging from 300 to 450 THB, the Black Soldier Fly (BSF), an insect containing up to 40% protein, has shown promise as a sustainable, cost-effective feed for both aquatic and terrestrial animals. The School of Agriculture and Natural Resources began BSF research in 2019, utilizing vegetable scraps and leftover food from university canteens as larvae feed. The results were remarkable: BSF reduced aquaculture feed costs by up to 100% for certain fish species while simultaneously tackling the food waste problem.

Local Flora and Fauna

University of Phayao preserves local plants from extinction, planting them in various areas such as along campus roads, around school and office buildings, and within the university's forest area.
The University of Phayao Demonstration School participated in a tree planting initiative spearheaded by the University of Phayao Volunteer Operations Center under the Division of Student Affairs, planting banana trees and various fruit-bearing plants beside the school as a sustainable food source for the university community, with future harvests intended for students and for meal preparation in the university's "Imjai" kitchen. This project directly supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 2 (Zero Hunger) and Goal 15 (Life on Land).
The School of Science also organized "ปลูกผักเพราะรักวิทยา" at the vegetable plot near the parking lot in front of Building 1, to promote the well-being and health of students and staff and foster strong relationships among them. The event was led by Associate Professor Dr. Sittisak Pinmongkolkul, Dean of the School of Science, with participation from faculty, staff, and students who learned vegetable planting techniques and worked together to create a green space on campus, aligning with SDG 15 (Life on Land) through sustainable land use, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration.
University of Phayao has also transformed abandoned and unused land into a vegetable garden, offering a free source of food for students. In addition to supporting student welfare, the garden functions as a sustainable green space that promotes environmental stewardship and community engagement.