From 1993 to 1997, export of wood products (plywood, veneer sheets, veneered panels, particleboard, fibreboard, parquet panels, wood in chips or particles, fuelwood, wood charcoal, wooden furniture, wooden doors, windows and their frames and other wood products) earned a yearly average of US$ 362,388,765. Exports of some forest products and other products (Live snake, natural honey, salangane's nest, cinnamon and cinnamon-tree flowers, furniture of cane etc.) earned an average of US$ 17,968,430 annually over the period 1995-1997.
Thailand's roles in global forestry can be broadly summarized in categories:
i. as a host country with IUCN and DANCED to organize the International Conference on Prospects of Cooperation on Biodiversity Activities: Challenges and Opportunities for the Scientific Community on 15-19 January, 1993 at Rim Kok Hotel, Chieng Rai;
ii. as a host country with FAO to organize the International Conference on Tropical Forestry in the 21st Century on 25-28 November, 1996 at Kasetsart University, Bangkok;
iii. as a host country with DANCED and CIDA to organize International Workshop on Strategies and Institutional Arrangements for Natural Resources and Environmental Management in Watershed Areas on 13-14 February, 1997 at Dusit Island Resort Hotel, Chieng Rai;
iv. as a part of the technical and economic cooperation programme, Royal Thai Government has supported the budget to implement "Thailand-Vietnam Agroforestry Technology Development Project" at Ninh Binh province of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
i. Asia - Europe Forum
The kingdom of Thailand, as a host country, organized Asia-Europe Meeting, ASEM on 1-2 March, 1996 at Srikit National Convention Centre, Bangkok. The objectives of meeting are:
· to have mutual vision in the development of Asia and Europe;
· to help the agreement on politics, economics cooperation and promotion of other aspects.
In addition, the study group was formed to promote the exchange and build up the cooperation of technology relating to agriculture, environmental protection etc. Regarding the meeting, ASEM unanimously approve to establish Asia-Europe Environmental technology Centre (AEETC) in Thailand, Asia-Europe Business Forum, Asia-Europe Foundation in Singapore and Asia-Europe University in Both regions.
ii. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO)
Thailand become a member of the ITTO in 1986 when ITTO was established. Thailand is one of the producer countries. Thailand has signed the renegotiated International Tropical Timber Agreement 1994. As a member of the said Agreement, Thailand will be offered the information and technical cooperation in order to develop the production and tropical timber trade sustainably.
iii. Climate Change
The Kingdom of Thailand has ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change on June 12, 1992 and has taken on December 28, 1994. It has been effective on March 28, 1995. So Thailand has necessary commitment on the conditions under the said Convention for example the evaluation of emission and sequestration of Green House Gases. In addition, the Royal Thai Government, has appointed the working group to conduct a research/study on Climate Change.
i. The Royal Thai Government has ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and has approved the operational plan of Fiscal Year 1998. The programme of biological diversity study includes four projects:
· research on biological diversity of forest insects;
· study on the impact of biological diversity changes in the watershed and possible resolution;
· research on sustainable biological diversity (phase1);
· research on biological diversity of rattan in the south.
ii. CITES
The Royal Thai Government has ratified the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and has approved the operational plan of Fiscal Year 1998.