1993 APT1 Conference : Identity, tradition and change

- 2 - How it’s changed Over three decades ago, 171-5 million rai or 53 percent of the country’s total area remained under forest cover. The age of forest clearance started when the .government granted a logging concession in 1968 for the purpose of trading and export, and by 1985, only about 93 million rai was left. This represents a shrinkage in forest cover of around 3.25 million rai yearly. Eventhough the government called off nationwide logging concessions to preserve the few remaining patches of forest land, the devastation of forests seems to be continuing as a result of illegal timber cutting and encroachment for the purposes of cultivation. The immense destruction of forest, especially in watershed areas, has brought to Thailand successive years of flash floods and drought. The rainfill in the North is not much in cruantity compared to other regions but the run off in the northern rivers is abundant since they are filled regularly by water discharged from watershed areas. It has been found, however, that after the deforestation of a vast area, the level of water in the Ping, Wang, Yom and Nan Rivers is highest in the rainy season (August) and continuous to drop off thereafter. Consequently, by the arrival of the dry season, the decreasing /3