BASELINE STUDY 5, Thailand - Forest Trends

Elected Tambon Councils hold legal authority to develop and implement plans for the management and conservation
of all natural resources within their administrative territories. For example, small-scale forest-lands
are allocated to the local TAOs for reforestation and planting of trees (mostly teak and eucalyptus) (FAO
2009:30). TAOs include both legislative and executive branches. FAO (2009:32) notes that there is generally
little Tambon Council support for local people to market forest products or to establish community-based
commercial forest product enterprises (e.g. through the 1 tambon/1 product program), even though promoting
local entrepreneurship is in the interests of the TAO authorities. The issue may relate to a lack of knowledge of
the sector within the tambon councils, and/or that TAOs have prioritized other more lucrative local development
initiatives.
Village Authorities: Village political administration includes the village headman (phu yai ban), two assistant
village headmen and the village committee. Garden et al. (2011) report than in 2005, two thirds of Thailand’s
63 million citizens lived in villages. Ten to twenty villages usually comprise a tambon. Village-level institutions or
small clusters of villages would be most directly involved in community forest management initiatives in Thailand.
Ministry of Industry
Along with the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry helps to promote forest-based industries for
both domestic markets and export. The Ministry of Industry works on standardisation for Thai industries, including
forestry. For example, there is an Office of National Standard under the Ministry of Industry that has
established a forest certification committee. The Director of the MNRE’s FIO is also on the board of the Ministry
of Industry’s Forest Certification Committee.
Ministry of Commerce
Along with the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Industry helps to promote forest-based industries for
both domestic markets and export.
Customs Department is responsible for the legality of wood imports and export. Customs officials have the responsibility
of checking the customs forms (filled out and available online) and collecting the appropriate tax
fees for the imported and exported wood items. If any irregularities are encountered, the RFD and any other
responsible agencies are contacted.
National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB)
The NESDB prepares and promotes the National Economic and Social Development Plans on a five-year cycle,
formulates the policies to implement the plans and assesses the progress of forest development programmes
to ensure their consistency with the plan. The current NESDP runs from 2007-2012.
© EU FLEGT Facility, BASELINE STUDY 5, Thailand: Overview of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade, July 2011
This Action is funded by the European Union and the governments of Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK. The views expressed herein
can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.
www.euflegt.efi.int
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