Project Members
Who we are
- Youth Representatives
- Rabbit in the Moon Foundation
- Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary
- Working Model
Youth Representatives
The youth representatives selected to participate in the “One Community” Project are from 18-35 years of age, from six villages within the Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary. Their lives and livelihood are based within the communities, without having to go outside the project area. Some of the youth representatives have started their own households and are the primary breadwinners, while others hold key positions within their communities, including assistant village head, among others. Importantly, they all share the common goal of striving for harmonious co-existence between humans and nature in a sustainable manner and represent a key link in working together with sanctuary officials to safeguard the natural world heritage.
“One Community” Youth Representatives
Sanehphong Village

Kru Chaat
Puechaat Setaphun
Somporn
Somporn Maosri
Kru Za
Chanchai Sungthiti
Thong
Charoenpong GunthornpimanGongmongta Village

Lui
Suchart Saisungchavalin
Wang
Somwang Sungkarhongrong
Yai
Winai Pana-udomKoh Sadeung Village

Wat
Tawatchai Saisungtasnee
Joey
Pibul Saisungtasnee
Ball
Somjai Saisungtasnee
Jim
Krisada SaisungtasneeSalawa-Laiwo Village

Ueneung
Ueneung Aketawat
Chol
Chaovalit Vitoon
Neung
Teeraphat Gongkachornkiri
Nu
Sanai Pitakchatkiri
Aung
Sittichai Sungkasuwan
Athit
Athit TiankachornsriThilaipa Village

Bat
Sombat Kasetrumruay
Pat
Chaipat Jomwaree
Night
Chingchai Kanjanacharoenchai
Engpuseng
Engpuseng Chobduentang
Tik
Somkiat Wongngamchai
Ae
Sophon Jongrakchatthai
Pai
Boonchai Taweechindagaan
มะลุลี
นางสาวมะลุลี เกษตรรุ่งทรัพย์
ชฎาพร
นางสาวชฎาพร กาญจนเจริญชัย
Win
Jatuporn KasetrumruayJagae Village

Love
Thongluepho Kanchanagranggla
Play
Nuttawut Kanokvanich
Sek
Seksun SaisungkamolRabbit in the Moon Foundation
To learn, to experience for the Earth: “Fostering a healthy relationship between humans and nature for sustainable harmonious co-existence” (surviving, co-existing, thriving)
- Ideology
- All things are one, hence we give and we take as one
- Aspiration
- Any little step in helping human beings understand nature just a bit more is a truly worthwhile and necessary task
- Mission
- To facilitate the restoration of natural forests by providing necessary knowledge to the public on the ways of gaining from and giving back to natural forests
- Vision
- Humans, forest, and nature harmoniously co-exist and symbiotically support each other in a sustainable manner
The Foundation has identified 5 levels of learning strategy and self-transformation stages:
- Getting to know each other and one’s place in the ecosystem (humans and nature)
- Acknowledging each other’s benefits (humans and nature)
- Understanding balance and sufficiency within this symbiotic relationship – sustainable consumption (humans and nature)
- Understanding nurture and conservation (humans and nature)
- Transferring knowledge to the next generations (humans and humans)

Nature or the law of nature is the core body of knowledge upon which the Rabbit in the Moon Foundation builds its learning process for children, youths, and the general public, to be able to fully develop their human faculties to take in the world. Through “training”, these sensory faculties (sight, sound, smell, taste, touch, feel) are honed to more sensitively and intricately appreciate surroundings. Conscious efforts or firsthand activities – so called “direct experience” – enhance the human worldview, shaping individual perceptions of meaning and value, which go on to influence thoughts, speech, and deeds.
The learning or “training” process encompasses two sets of knowledge:
Know – Experience (physical reality) – Science
Feel – Appreciate (aesthetics) – Art
This two-pronged training on “conscious appreciation” forms the foundation for lifelong learning in individuals young and old who never cease to learn.
The Rabbit in the Moon Foundation has worked on designing and implementing this nature-based learning process – known as “Nature Study through Aesthetic Consciousness”– continuously for more than 20 years together with children, youths, and the general public.
Three core ideas are at the heart of the learning process:
Fun or joy, creating desire
Real experience, serving to train
Imagination, resulting from a self-learning process to create works of art or craft

Ultimately, the process of “Nature Study through Aesthetic Consciousness” aims to instill in children and youths a “sound worldview based on the reality of nature”, helping them to realize happiness and wisdom, as well as derive self-esteem from righteous acts, fuel a sense of wonder and craving for knowledge, and set themselves towards constructive short- and long-term goals through self-achievement.
Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary
Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in the heart of the Western Forest Complex which is a single consolidated forest track made up of 17 protected forest regions covering altogether 11.7 rais (1.9 million ha). This forest expanse, recognized for its biogeographical value, has been declared by the UNESCO as the first World Natural Heritage Site in Thailand.

Huai Kha Khaeng – Thung Yai Natural World Heritage Site
The Huai Kha Khaeng – Thung Yai Natural World Heritage Site comprises three wildlife sanctuaries: Thung Yai Naresuan West, Thung Yai Naresuan East, and Huai Kha Khaeng, which span 4,017,087 rais or approximately 6,427 square kilometers and is the largest remaining conservation forest track in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The area is home to abundant natural resources within complex ecosystems, has some of the richest biodiversity in Thailand and Southeast Asia, and is the source of many major rivers of Thailand including Mae Klong, Salween, Sakaerung, Tha Chin, and part of the Chaophraya.
The wildlife sanctuary area was recognized as the first Natural World Heritage Site in Southeast Asia and Thailand based on 3 considerations:
1) Outstanding intermix of wildlife species and biological evolution drawing on the ecosystems of 4 sub-regions– Sundaic, Indo-Burmese, Indo-Chinese, and Sino-Himalayan,
2) Unique biogeographical area of great scientific value and natural beauty, characterized by diverse forest types and terrains including mountain ridges, hill slopes, and grassland, among others, and also source of major rivers in Thailand,
3) Habitat of rare and endangered flora and fauna and complex ecosystems of much importance to the world.

Value and significance of Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary
Thung Yai Naresuan Wildlife Sanctuary was declared a wildlife sanctuary on 24 April 1974, encompassing an area of 2 million rais (320,000 hectares) in Thong Pha Phum and Sangklaburi Districts in Kanchanaburi Province and Umphang District in Tak Province. Subsequently, on 12 August 1991, Nam Jone National Reserve Forest area in Thong Pha Phum District, Kanchanaburi totaling 279,500 rais (44,720 hectares) was annexed as part of the Wildlife Sanctuary. As the administration area became very large, that same year it was split into two areas of administration – Thung Yai Naresuan East Wildlife Sanctuary situated in Tak Province and Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary situated in Kanchanaburi Province, with a remaining area of 1,331,062 rais (212,970 hectares).
Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary, given its special geographical location and diverse ecosystems lending to rich flora and fauna, has been declared by the UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage Site, in recognition of the following value and significance:
1) Location within a unique biogeographical area
Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary is situated between Thanon Thong Chai and Tanao Sri Mountain Ranges, at the interface of 4 biogeographical sub-regions: Sundaic, Indo-Burmese, Indo-Chinese, and Sino-Himalayan. Thus, the area is home to a unique intermix of wildlife distinct to the 4 sub-regions– including tapirs and black langurs (of the Sunda sub-region), rufous-necked hornbills and macaques (of the Sino-Himalayan sub-region), and gaurs and peacocks (of the Indo-Chinese region), among others.

In addition, the area is home to a diverse collection of plant species from 3 biogeographical sub-regions: Indo-Burmese, spreading north to south; Indo-Chinese, spreading east to west; and Malesian or Indo-Malayan, spreading south to north.
2) Rare and endangered wildlife species
Given the unique geographical location and conditions ideal in providing habitat to diverse wildlife species, including abundant water and food sources, a large number of diverse species of wild animals, including reserved species difficult to find elsewhere in Thailand, reside in the area. The animals found include 69 mammal species, 4 of which are reserved wildlife species– serows, Fea’s muntjacs, marbled cats, and tapirs, along with protected wildlife species including tigers, leopards, clouded leopards, Asian elephants, and wild deer, among others. There are also 289 bird species– such as white-winged duck, Snakebird, Khalij pheasants, great hornbills, plain-pouched hornbills, rufous-necked hornbills, among others. Over 48 species of uncommon reptiles are found– for example chitras, impressed tortoises, and Asian forest tortoises, among others. In addition, more than 15 amphibian species are discovered– including Smith’s litter frogs, lesser toads, swamp frogs, and creek frogs, among others. There are also over 80 different fish species– including Tiger botia, True eel, Maekong eel, Garra sp.hangdaeng among others.
3) Diverse forest resources
Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary is home to diverse types of forests– mixed deciduous forest, dry dipterocarp forest, dry evergreen forest, hill evergreen forest, and grassland, from which its name “thung yai” (expansive fields) originates as some forest tracks extend up to 10 square kilometers. The vegetation is this area consists of spread out trees, grass coverings, and palm species.
4) Important watershed area
Thung Yai Naresuan West Wildlife Sanctuary is the watershed of 4 major bodies of water: Khwae Ya, Khwae Noi, Kasat Yai and Suriya Rivers.