Countries

Description of plantation resources

Introduction

Estimated forest cover in 1990 was 12 000 073 ha, constituting about 25 percent of the country's land area (FAO, 1993). All forestlands are state-owned. In 1989, the Royal Thai Government imposed a total ban on logging in natural forests; thus, plantation forestry has been given more emphasis, especially private afforestation.

Development of forest plantations

The first forest plantations of Tectona grandis are reported since 1898. Until 1960, the establishment of plantations remained a sporadic activity with a total area of 8 500 ha. Regular planting started in 1961.

Most of the plantations are located in the northern and northeastern region. The Royal Forest Department (RFD) and the Forest Industries Organisation (FIO) originally implemented plantation programmes. Later on, a state owned enterprise, the Thai Plywood Company, and other private concessionaires joined in.

The three divisions of the RFD - National Forest Land Management, Silviculture and Watershed Management - have been working in three different types of areas. The Silviculture Division concentrates on establishing industrial plantations whereas other two divisions establish plantations on denuded and watershed areas, mainly for non-industrial purposes.

Industrial plantations by the Silviculture Division to 1980 were 133 800 ha, 55 percent of which were planted to Tectona grandis (RFD, 1980). The total planted area up to 1985 was 542 100 ha, of which 110 000 ha were planted in the last three years (RFD, 1985). The pace of planting remained the same and the total area planted up to 1994 rose to 827 677 ha, of which the major area was planted by RFD.

In addition, private plantations, woodlots and agro-forestry plantations are reported to have been widely established in Thailand but the extent of these is not known.

Rubber plantations constitute a major supply of roundwood in Thailand. The total area of rubber plantations in 1999 was 1 913 865 ha.

Species composition

Information about the composition of species in plantations is highly inadequate and incomplete. Native Tectona grandis has been the most favoured species for industrial plantations. Other broadleaved species such as Pterocarpus macrocarpus, Dipterocarpus spp., Swietenia macrophylla and Hopea odorata are planted on a smaller scale for industrial purposes.

Among conifers, the native pines, Pinus merkusii and P. kesiya occupy a sizeable area. In addition, P. caribaea, P. oocarpa, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Acacia auriculiformis, A. mangium, Casuarina spp., Melia azedarach and Azadirachta indica are planted both for industrial and non-industrial purposes (Zabala et al., 1993, RFD, 1980 and Kaosa-ard, 1995).

Trend

A Special Forestry Extension Fund has been established to support tree planting by farmers on land to which they have legal rights over a period of 5 years. It is proposed to plant 800 000 ha in the next five years through this fund. Another 800 000 ha is to be planted in watershed and conservation areas (RDF, 1996a). The manufacture of rubber-wood furniture is expanding rapidly due to its growing demand overseas, mainly in Japan and the USA.

Issues

On the basis of long-term provenance trials, Thailand has identified suitable provenances of Tectona grandis and Pinus kesiya and made significant advancements in tree improvement.

A national inventory of plantations has not been done. As a result, the actual area of existing plantations at any point in time is not known.

References

FAO. 1981. Forest resources of tropical Asia. In Tropical Forest Resources Assessment Project. Technical Report 3, UN 32/6.1301-78-04. Rome.

FAO. 1993. Forest Resources Assessment 1990 - Tropical countries. FAO Forestry Paper 112. Rome.

FAO. 1998. Forest plantation areas 1995. November 1997, revised July 1998. Report to the FAO project GCP/INT/628/UK. By Pandey, D. (unpublished). Rome.

Kaosa-ard, A. 1995. Teak (Tectona grandis Linn.), Domestication and breeding.

Kashio, M. 2000. Industrial plantations under the GMT of Thailand (electronic mail communication).

RFD. 1980. Country report. In 11th session of Asia and Pacific Forestry Commission. Suva, Fiji, 6-10 April 1981. Bankok. Royal Forest Department.

RFD. 1985. Country report. In 13th session of Asia and Pacific Forestry Commission. Beijing, China 30 March to 3 April 1985. Bankok. Royal Forest Department.

RFD. 1994. Forestry statistics of Thailand 1994. Bangkok. Royal Forest Department.

RFD. 1996a. Country report. In 16th session of Asia and Pacific Forestry Commission. Yongan, Myanmar, 15-20 January 1996. Bankok. Royal Forest Department.

RFD. 1996b. Forestry statistics of Thailand 1996. Bankok. Data Centre Information Office, Royal Forest Department.

Zabala, N.Q. & Vivekanandan, K. 1993. An overview document, The existing situation on forestation and future requirements for improved productivity of man-made forests in the member countries of FORTIP. Los Baños, Philippines. UNDP/FAO Regional Project, Field Document No. 10 RAS/91/004.