For centuries timber was cut but the trees were never replanted. The consequences were bare hills and soil erosion. Today tropical rain forest only covers about 14% of Thailand's land area. However, in 1970 it was 45%. That is a 30% loss in about 30 years. In November 1988 a natural catastrophe occurred. After days of heavy rain bare hillsides released an avalanche of mud and uprooted trees engulfing 250 people in Phipun village near Nakhon Si Thammarat in the south of Thailand. Ecologists had warned of the risk for a long time. Following an inquiry by the former minister, president and present consultant of the king, Prem, the Thai government concluded in January 1988 that countrywide all concessions to logging companies must be withdrawn. Allegedly bribery was involved when these concessions were originally granted. Furthermore they implemented stricter export controls which were meant to stop the loss of indigenous forest. Slash and burn as practiced by the people living in the forested mountains of the north was made illegal.
Ten years ago the government started a program for reforestation under the patronage of the king. Although, this reforestation includes partly firewood and a rubber crop in addition to environmentally sensitive varieties of trees.
Plant-for-the Planet
Felix Finkbeiner, ein deutscher Schüler, startete im Alter von 9 Jahren die Umweltkampagne Plant-for-the-Planet. In Thailand unterstützen einige deutsche Einwohner diese Initiative, die insgesamt eine Million Bäume von Schülern und Jugendlichen pflanzen lassen will.
