When they came to Thailand, Hill Tribes people chose to live in the highland areas in harmony with nature, similar to that of their origins. However, these are also the watershed areas and protected forests of Thailand. Here, the villagers have the rights to use the land, but not to own it.
Food and non-timber products are collected from the forest and river. Village committee's prohibit the sale of timber products, although with permission, timber can be cut for personal use. The villagers know what to harvest and how much they can collect sustainably. If the villagers are sick, they can go to the forest and collect herbal medicine for most illnesses. Most traditional houses are built from bamboo and wood collected from the forest.
