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We have been in the midst of a discussion as to the status of the teak forest of Thailand that once covered much of northern and eastern Thailand. One day the recycled teak that we use to construct our rustic furniture will be gone leaving us no source unless the teak forests of Thailand can rebound. So what are the prospects of these forests rebounding? In one word: poor. Let’s continue our investigation of what is currently going on in the great country of Thailand.An ever present danger in countries fighting to protect their forests from deforestation from Brazil to Indonesia to Thailand is illegal logging. The problem in Thailand is acute. Let’s discuss the problems in more detail based on a called “Achieving the ITO objective 2000 and sustainable forest management in Thailand”.
As we have mentioned in prior blogs, logging was banned in Thailand in 1989. A ban such as this does not work alone but needs supporting and complementary measures which frankly did not exist. Part of the problem manifested itself in illegal logging in neighboring countries. Although not perfectly executed however, the band has helped conservation efforts somewhat. The social impacts have also been mixed: improved environmental quality has brought about social benefits while employment and income in rural areas has declined.
The ban initially provoked a surge in illegal logging which has since been contained by tightening controls. The volume of confiscated timber is marginal but it is questionable whether the control is truly effective. Rather than large illegal logging operations’ going on the mode of illegal logging is small-scale activities often linked to timber buyers. Needless to say, these are much harder to find and stop. Wood traders have become sophisticated as the controls have improved. Under pricing, downgrading the product on official documents, and incorrect volume measurement are still going on and are extremely difficult to identify and control. Wood is extracted from the forest legally for household consumption only to end up in the market has also become a growing problem.
Authorities agree that corruption is a problem but its impact is so difficult to quantify. The central and local governments are involved in controlling illegal logging which is thought to have curved much of the illegal logging however it is very difficult to quantify.
Other effective controls have been media coverage, international concerns and export market requirements. However, more resources are still needed to strengthen mobile communication units for communicating illegal logging and for remote sensing monitors over the forest cover to monitor encroachment.
Tomorrow we will begin to summarize the conclusions of this study as it relates to the teak forests of Thailand.