Protecting the precious forests of Thailand

In the world today, an estimated 18 million acres (7.3 million hectares) of forest, which is roughly the size of the country of Panama, are lost each year, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This is an astounding figure and is equivalent to approximately 50 football pitch being removed every minute. 

In Thailand in the year 2016, there was approximately 30 % of the land area covered by forest at an area of 15.2 million hectares ha. This forest area covered all forest types including: swamp forest, degraded forest and areas reforested. 

How will we feel, if the area of forests in Thailand is continuously reduce at the amount of 71,910 ha annually? 

This is the great loss of area of watershed forests that provide hydrological services to the 66 million population of the country. Regarding the severe climate change impacts, the situation is getting worse. Are the left over watershed forests that Thailand has, sufficient to ensure the sustainable livelihoods of the total Thai population? Would Thailand still be the Rice Bowl of Asia under the worst case scenario?

Protected Areas
Today this forest area is protected under the National Parks Act (1961) for those areas designated as National Parks, and under the Wild Animal Reservation and Protection Act (1992) for those areas designated as Wildlife Sanctuaries. These two classifications comprise the two principle categories of Protected Areas in Thailand. Despite having these two pieces of legislation designed to protect these forest areas however destruction and multiple threats impact upon the forest area and continue to reduce its extent. This means that the livelihood security of the Thai population continues to be undermined.