Post-logging Ban Timber Tree Planting in Thailand and the Philippines

More than two decades ago, Thailand adopted a total logging ban policy in natural forests. The Philippines in turn, applied logging moratorium in most provinces. These restrictions of logging in natural forests caused a serious domestic timber supply shortage in both countries; at the same time, opening new market opportunities for planted timber. The process of timber tree domestication in both countries takes different paths—Thailand promotes local tree species; the Philippines adopts exotic species. The bureaucracy of planted timber (i.e., planting registration, harvesting, and transporting permits) on the other hand, follow the same path. This finding has far reaching implications on the future of smallholder forestry in the tropics.

This paper (1) discusses post-logging ban tree planting policies and practices in Thailand and the Philippines, (2) examines the smallholders’ response, and (3) discusses the future of tree planting from the vantage point of the economic and environmental values of the planted trees.

Based on recent field work in Thailand and the Philippines, this paper argues that the future of smallholder forestry would depend on incentive availability. These include market incentive, government subsidy, environmental service payments, and other locally available incentives.