The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has launched a new project to promote the sustainable management of Thai forests and to upgrade the timber industry.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister General Surasak Kanjanarat said after presiding over the project’s launching ceremony that the objective is to pave the way for the development and the stability of Thailand’s economic growth through an effective forest management policy following the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), of which Thailand is a member.
Both private and public sectors will be asked to take part in the reforestation effort under this policy. It is also aimed at promoting the sustainability of wood supply for both domestic and overseas demands.
The Forest Industry Organization has been playing a major role in standardizing the sustainable forest management and developing an effective Chain of Custody (CoC) system to identify sources of wood products. Around 24 private and public forest areas as well as 10 lumber manufacturers in Thailand have so far been awarded CoC certification for their compliance with the system.
