Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother made tireless efforts to encourage people to take better care of the environment. Since she spent much time traveling to various regions of the country with His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great, Her Majesty became personally knowledgeable about environmental development and forest protection in particular.

One of Her Majesty’s best-known conservation efforts is the project “Pa Rak Nam – Forests Love Water,” a reforestation program introduced in 1982 in Sakon Nakhon Province, where villagers were urged to plant three kinds of forest for four uses: for construction, consumption, an energy source, and the environment. In this way, villagers could make a living with the forest without destruction. 

This program led to the “Ban Lek Nai Pa Yai – Little House in the Big Forest” project, ostensibly with the pure and happy scene from a 1932 children’s novel, Little House in the Big Forest, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, in the back of her mind. This project was aimed at creating interdependence and close relations between the forest and its inhabitants, with assistance provided in their agricultural practices and knowledge of arts and crafts to earn additional income.

Both Forests Love Water and Little House in the Big Forest projects help preserve wild animals and plants, especially those in danger of extinction. Her Majesty lent support to other projects, as well, such as sea turtle conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. 

The Queen also initiated a project for wildlife conservation in Phu Khieo wildlife sanctuary in Chaiyaphum Province. Phu Khieo is home to many species of rare wild animals, such as bantengs, tigers, mountain goats, wild elephants, and peacocks. 

Her Majesty’s work in conservation benefited the world at large and gained international recognition. On 17 November 2004, Queen Sirikit was presented with a Gold Medal by the international Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), also known as the World Conservation Union, in recognition of her dedication and exceptional contribution to the cause of conservation, and her untiring efforts to support community development and environmental management projects.

 After being honored by the IUCN, Her Majesty Queen Sirikit delivered an address saying, “My dream is that one day, ordinary people everywhere will have a greater desire to protect their children’s future livelihoods by not only refraining from harming the environment themselves but also helping the authorities prevent others from doing so.”

Previously, in November 1979, Queen Sirikit had received a certificate from the World Wildlife Fund, proclaiming her as one of the world’s leading conservationists. Her Majesty always stressed the need for conservation and improving the environment, saying that protection was not just for the present generation, but for future generations.