Thailand Tiger Action Plan - Global Tiger Initiative

Tiger conservation has gained a momentum in Thailand in the last decade.In 2004 during my first period as the Minister of Natural Resources andEnvironment, Thailand launched the first Tiger Action Plan thatgovernment agencies and partners have used as guidelines on tigerconservation. Since then, Thailand has made several significantdevelopments in tiger conservation. Our protected area managers at theDepartment of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) haveworked closely with international conservation organizations to establishand run an international standard patrol system known as Smart PatrolSystem in the core area of Thailand’s Western Forest Complex(WEFCOM). The system has become a model to other tiger rangecountries that are striving toward improving their protection systems for thetiger, a protection dependent species. The rigorous long-term tigerpopulation monitoring system in WEFCOM has revealed that WEFCOM isgiving better protection and supporting perhaps the largest tiger populationin Southeast Asia. The system has also a potential to support a largestsingle tiger population in the world.On the illicit cross border trade front, Thailand has been a hub for ASEANWildlife Enforcement Network (ASEAN-WEN) by working with otherASEAN countries to suppress illegal wildlife trade including tigers. InJanuary 2010 Thailand proudly hosted the 1st Asia International MinisterialConference on Tiger Conservation at Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan. Atthis international conference, our Prime Minister H.E.Abhisit Vejjajivamade an announcement that Thailand was ready to service other tigerrange countries by establishing the Regional Tiger Conservation andResearch Center at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, the natural worldheritage site and the core area of WEFCOM. Colleagues from ourneighboring countries come to experience the models Thailand hascreated for the recovering of wild tigers.With excitement I would like to present Thailand’s new Tiger Action Plan,DNP is the key agency to collaborate with other government agencies andpartners to implement the action plan and strive toward the goal ofrestoring wild tigers in current and potential tiger source sites andlandscapes in Thailand.With dedication, determination, and collaboration, I am strongly convincedthat Thailand will succeed in increasing tigers by 50% and will reach thegoal by the next tiger year of 2022. I would like to thank the hard andrelentless work and support from our partners and organizations to helpThailand restoring wild tigers and contributing to conservation communityin this important concerted effort.Suwit KhunkittiMinister of Natural Resources and EnvironmentThailand