The Nation
22 June 2014
The Thailand Environment Institute Foundation is targeting an increase in Thailand’s forest area from 22 per cent nationwide to 40 per cent by 2017.
It aims to achieve this with help from major corporations including Toyota Motor (Thailand ), PTT, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding and others.
The foundation has been linked with the corporations since 2008 under a campaign entitled “Eco Forest”.
Dr Sumet Tantivejkul, secretary-general of Chaipattana Foundation, said that Thailand is losing an average of three per cent its forest every year, because of city growth and people clearing trees to make residences, plantations or paddy fields.
“We lose most trees in the forests to commercial activities. The forest is more important for the environment than to cut it for commercial use only,” he said.