To create new knowledge and alternative options for community-based sustainable forest rehabilitation and management for up-scaling and replication in the wider Montane Mainland Southeast Asia (MMSEA) region in order to improve upland people’s livelihoods and safeguard  the  trans-boundary  ecological security in MMSEA region.

Identify and adapt the best practice for forest rehabilitation in the target areas and around the MMSEA;

Experiment and demonstrate good practice for forest rehabilitation, especially use of locally preferred, rare and endangered native tree species as well as local knowledge;

Develop capacity in sustainable forest rehabilitation and reach out to farmers and policy makers;

Integrate project lessons and network with other initiatives for a regional strategy on sustainable forest rehabilitation for wider replication in MMSEA.

Knowledge of ecological, social, cultural, and economic processes associated with forest degradation and rehabilitation in pilot sites is enhanced.

Replicable and adaptable model for community-based rehabilitation of degraded forest practices and related toolkits are developed and demonstrated at pilot sites.

The capacity of different target groups, including local communities and authorities, and young researchers in sustainable rehabilitation and management of degraded forests through tailored made capacity-building programs is strengthened.

Strategies and mechanisms for up scaling the effective practices on sustainable rehabilitation and management of degraded forests are developed and disseminated.

The project enhanced sustainable forest rehabilitation across MMSEA region by integrating traditional knowledge and scientific practices. In China’s Yunnan Province, degraded rubber plantations were revitalized through understory cultivation of Dendrobium chrysotosum and the introduction of rare native timber species (e.g., Betula alnoides), improving biodiversity and economic returns. Myanmar saw successful agroforestry models, such as maize-groundnut intercropping in community forests, reducing reliance on shifting cultivation. Lao PDR prioritized assisted natural regeneration (ANR), accelerating forest recovery by protecting woody species in grasslands.

Capacity-building programs trained over 15 junior researchers and local stakeholders in sustainable techniques, fostering cross-border collaboration. Participatory planning empowered communities to select site-specific tree species and rehabilitation models, ensuring cultural and ecological relevance. Soil improvement methods and alternative energy initiatives (e.g., fuel-efficient stoves) reduced deforestation pressures.

While agroforestry and understory models showed ecological promise, their long-term adoption hinges on rigorous cost-benefit analyses to align with farmers’ economic needs. The project established a foundation for regional replication, emphasizing integrated strategies that balance ecological restoration with livelihood improvements. Lessons and toolkits were disseminated through networks, promoting scalable solutions for transboundary ecological security in MMSEA.