Community Forest Support Group (CFSG) works with indigenous communities in Northern Thailand to create awareness about rainforest conservation and resource management. It also hosts communication training sessions to increase the dialogue between village leaders and government officials and to empower villagers to take part in the decision-making processes that affect their communities. Communista, the income-generation arm of this project, creates steady work for Thai women and uses a percentage of its profits to fund community projects that promote sustainability in a region threatened by illegal logging.
Fifty percent of CFSG’s profit is dedicated to raising awareness about resource management in Northern Thailand. The group also publishes a news magazine, an academic library and a weekly documentary TV series to promote a greater understanding of the issues facing indigenous communities.
CFSG also organizes 3 day/2 night study trips to introduce Thai citizens from urban areas such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai to villagers and communities that have implemented successful community forestry projects. The weekend exchange gives both groups the opportunity to learn about each other's culture, build friendships and break down prevalent misconceptions and prejudices regarding indigenous peoples’ lifestyle and their relationship to the forest.