LIVING IN HARMONY, ADAPTING TO CHANGES
Since 2003, the Doi Tung Development Project in Chiang Rai province has been recognised by the UNODC as one of the world’s best examples of Alternative Development.
The project was established in 1988 by the Mae Fah Luang Foundation under Royal Patronage, founded by Her Royal Highness Princess Srinagarindra, known as the Princess Mother, on Doi Tung, a mountain in the heart of the Golden Triangle which used to be an opium hub.
While the Golden Triangle at present remains a prominent area for drug production and trafficking, the Doi Tung, covering an area of 15,000 hectares, is protected as a drug-free zone by the local community with about 11,000 people from six ethnic groups in 29 villages.
While residents of Doi Tung have their ID cards which allows them to live and make a living here, the community have their own rules to protect and strengthen their society.
Members in each village assemble and agree on the rules. Every village here aims to be a White Community — in other words, free from drugs. Family members and neighbours will keep an eye on each other and alert, openly or secretly, if they find someone is involved with drugs. The social measures will increase from warnings and assistance to quit, to pushing the drug user or seller out of the community with social sanctions.
According to the Mae Fah Luang Foundation, the income per household of the people of Doi Tung jumped 20-fold from US$802 in 1988 to $16,026 in 2016. The four social businesses under the Doi Tung brand generate some $15.3 million a year, enabling the project to be self-sustaining since 2000, not relying on external funding.
The forest area, which was destroyed for opium cultivation, revived from 28% of the area to 77% at present.
Culturally, the six ethnic minority groups in Doi Tung are able to continue their customs and traditions, living in harmony with each other while adapting to the changing world.