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Forest Conflict in Thailand: Northern Minorities in Focus

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Abstract

This paper aims at exploring the local background of and solutions to the forest conflict in upland areas inhabited by ethnic minorities, who are called hill tribes, in northern Thailand. A so-called hill tribe problem has been officially identified as a result of the slash-and-burn cultivation and other perceived problems, such as opium poppy cultivation, illegal immigration, and the suspicion of disloyalty to the state. This has created distrust and tension between the groups and authorities. The local conflict has recently been related to the dilemma of conserving the forest from all human interference, while many people live and make their livelihood within and adjacent to the protected areas. Furthermore, as the results imply, strictly protected areas and reforestation have also increased the competition over land and natural resources and, thereby, the likelihood of local conflicts. The scarcity and pollution of water, illegal logging, and poor fire control have contributed to the conflicts between local communities. The conflicts between the local communities and officials have been nourished by political and public discussions. Using definitions and terms with negative connotations and ignoring the heterogeneity between the groups or labeling some groups as malevolent have increased distrust and strengthened existing stereotypical images. Conflict resolution starts with efforts toward better mutual understanding, and changes in structures and attitudes are necessary. Local cooperation, utilization of traditional methods, and local institutions are central to conflict solving.

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Acknowledgments

This paper is part of the author’s doctoral thesis research, which was funded by the Academy of Finland and the Finnish Graduate School for Development Studies. Funding for fieldwork was provided by the following private foundations: the Emil Aaltosen säätiö, the Finnish Cultural Foundation, and the Heikki ja Hilma Honkasen säätiö. The Department of Forest Ecology at the University of Helsinki, VITRI in particular, has provided facilities for my work. I am grateful to the villagers who participated in the study and provided valuable material for my research. I also thank the reviewers of this article for their excellent and thorough comments, which helped to improve the paper.

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  1. Viikki Tropical Resources Institute (VITRI), Department of Forest Ecology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Minna Hares

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Hares, M. Forest Conflict in Thailand: Northern Minorities in Focus. Environmental Management 43, 381–395 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-008-9239-7

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