Forestry Stakeholder Mapping in Thailand

January 2013

Report by: Sureeratna Lakanavichian, Ph.D. Forest and People Research Centre (FP) Faculty of Agriculture, Chiang Mai University Thailand

Funded by the European Union EU FLEGT Facility and the Governments of European Forest Institute Finland, France, Germany, the www.euflegt.efi.int Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.

Table of Contents 186

Executive summary ...... 3 Table of Abbreviations ...... 5 1. Introduction ...... 6 2. Objectives of the Study ...... 7 3. Methodology ...... 8 General approach of the Stakeholder Mapping Study ...... 8 Methods ...... 9 4. Results ...... 11 Findings from the stakeholder consultation ...... 11 Stakeholder landscape in Thailand ...... 16 Capacities and constraints of stakeholders in possible VPA negotiations ...... 17 5. Consultative Summary Workshop ...... 23 6. Conclusions ...... 25 7. Recommendations ...... 26

Annex 1: Forestry related industry associations/federation ...... 27 Annex 2 : Forestry-related private sector ...... 31 Annex 3: Government Agencies ...... 33 Annex 4: Forest-planting groups/individuals and workers ...... 44 Annex 5: Civil society/NGOs involved in forestry issues (Local / International) ...... 46 Annex 6: Workshop participant list ...... 52

This report has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND

Executive summary

The European Union has been working with the Royal Thai Government (RTG) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) since 2010 through the EFI/FLEGT Facility and the FLEGT Asia Regional Support Programme, raising awareness among stakeholders about the EU FLEGT Action Plan and the possible FLEGT VPA negotiations between Thailand and the EU.

A study was commissioned to map the various Thai stakeholders that might be directly or indirectly affected by the outcomes of such negotiations, should they occur, and to gather initial ideas on how to engage multiple stakeholders in the VPA process. The aim of the study was to identify key stakeholders, assess their capacity and level of organisation, determine their means of engagement in the forest sector in Thailand and learn how they perceive the FLEGT VPA preparations.

Based on the literature review and the stakeholder consultation, six categories of key stakeholders were identified: 1) Forestry-related industry associations/federation; 2) Forestry-related private sector; 3) Government agencies; 4) Forest-planting groups/individuals and workers; 5) Civil society/NGOs involved in forest-related issues; and 6) Parliament.

During the discussions, stakeholders were informed about the VPA process, and many also participated in three major FLEGT-related events held in Thailand in 2012. Stakeholders’ main concerns about the FLEGT process and changes to the international timber market can be summarised into five areas:

1) loss of export earnings (particularly for small and medium enterprises); 2) increased administrative procedures and higher costs; 3) high cost of compulsory third-party monitoring under the VPA; 4) insufficient capacity; and 5) increased risk of weak governance and corruption.

Engaging multiple stakeholders in the FLEGT VPA negotiation process would be feasible, provided that an effective coordination system is created both within and between stakeholder groups. Activities promoted by the RTG to date have focused mainly on the trade aspects because the private sector has demonstrated the greatest interest in pushing forward the VPA and responses from other stakeholder groups have been limited, as they have not appreciated the full extent of opportunities that may arise during the discussions of the governance aspects of the VPA.

During the Consultative Summary Workshop held as part of this study, the more than 100 participants showed a great degree of interest in being involved in the VPA process. It is therefore important to ensure that every category of stakeholder is involved in the VPA process from the outset to implementation.

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Suggested practical modalities for establishing a platform for stakeholder involvement are either a network or working groups, to be set up with the agreement of all relevant stakeholders (including the government), possibly before negotiations begin. Representatives of stakeholder groups should be directly elected and not appointed.

To enable meaningful participation by stakeholders that have been at the margins of the process, further information sharing is needed; these stakeholders also require enhanced access to all elements of the process, particularly to any governance issues that might arise during negotiations. In addition, confusion between the FLEGT VPA process and the requirements of the EU Timber Regulation needs to be resolved.

The main recommendations of the study are as follows.

 If possible, adjust the composition of the National FLEGT Negotiation Committee so that it represents a wider range of stakeholders by incorporating a few more members from the categories of civil society/NGOs and forest-planting groups/individuals/workers.  Form either a functional network or working groups of key stakeholders and enhance their involvement in the VPA preparation and negotiation processes.  Investigate the potential role of Parliament in monitoring the negotiation and implementation phases.  Make additional efforts to reach stakeholders that have not been involved.  Encourage the government to carefully consider the long-term effects of subsidies of the pararubber replanting scheme, including the disincentive it has created to planting teak, Dipterocarpus alatus and other tree species.  Explore ways to develop closer links with stakeholder consultations being carried out in Thailand in the context of REDD+.  Seek to coordinate approaches between the RTG and stakeholders with counterparts in other countries in the region that are in the process of entering or have already entered into VPA negotiations with the EU; for example, the ASEAN Secretariat has been conducting some work on FLEG(T). In particular, the ASEAN Social Forestry Network could serve as a useful forum for discussing issues pertaining to social/community forestry rights and ethnic minorities and/or indigenous populations.

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND

Table of Abbreviations

ASEAN Association of South East Asian Nations

ASFN ASEAN Social Forestry Network

BAAC Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives

DFID Department for International Development (UK)

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations

FIO Forest Industry Organization

FLEGT Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade

FSC Forest Stewardship Council

GIZ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (German German

Agency for International Cooperation

ITTO International Tropical Timber Organization

IUCN International Union for the Conservation of Nature

NESAC National Economic and Social Advisory Council

NGO Non-governmental organisation

OTOP One Tambon One Product (project aimed at diversifying income for villagers)

RECOFTC Center for People and Forests

REDD+ Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation

RFD Royal Forest Department of Thailand

RTG Royal Thai Government

TEI Thailand Environment Institute

TLAS Timber Legality Assurance System

USAID United States Agency for International Development

VPA Voluntary Partnership Agreement

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1. Introduction

The success and credibility of Voluntary

Partnership Agreements (VPAs) negotiated as part of the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan depend on the effective and balanced participation of all stakeholder groups and on equitable access to the process. A primary purpose of such stakeholder participation is to ensure that a country’s VPA negotiating team receives the best possible information and advice. ForestandPeople Research Centre Experience with VPAs from various countries has demonstrated the value of stakeholder involvement, discussion and consensus-building in creating trust among stakeholders, promoting professionalism in their interactions and improving their ability to communicate and interact with one another.

However, stakeholder consultations take time. In particular, time is needed to identify and organise stakeholders and to establish structures via which stakeholder groups can interact and communicate with each other. Therefore, systems to enable effective stakeholder participation processes need to be established before VPA negotiations begin. Multi- stakeholder consultation must also be incorporated into the VPA negotiation process so that each item subject to negotiations receives sufficient input and feedback from stakeholders.

With the Royal Thai Government (RTG) considering entering into VPA negotiations with the EU, a study was commissioned to map the stakeholders that might be directly or indirectly affected by the outcome of any negotiations and to determine how to engage these stakeholders in the VPA process.

This study was conducted by the Forest and People Research Centre of Chiang Mai University, Thailand. It forms part of the work plan of the EU FLEGT Asia Regional Support Programme (‘FLEGT Asia’), the overall goal of which is to promote good forest governance, thus contributing to poverty eradication and sustainable management of natural resources in Asia. FLEGT Asia is a project of the EU FLEGT Facility, hosted and managed by the European Forest Institute (EFI) to provide direct support to the implementation of the EU FLEGT Action Plan, particularly to VPAs negotiated between the EU and a Partner Country.

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND

2. Objectives of the Study

The aims of this study are to identify key stakeholders, assess their capacity and level of organisation and determine their means of engagement in the forest sector in Thailand and their degree of involvement in FLEGT VPA preparations. In addition, initial ideas on ways to establish a multi-stakeholder process to support possible VPA negotiations are analysed. The study draws on existing information, experiences in other countries and the work of institutions and organisations with experience in designing (VPA) multi-stakeholder processes.

The specific objectives of the study are:

- To identify key stakeholders in Thailand that may hold an interest in the VPA process, that are directly or indirectly affected by forest operations and timber- processing activities or that will be directly or indirectly affected by the enforcement of the legality definition to be developed under a VPA. Possible stakeholder groups include: the private sector, including both small local enterprises and larger export-oriented companies; labour organisations; NGOs; local communities; local villagers; minority ethnic groups; government agencies at central and local levels, including forestry, finance and customs departments and the judiciary, among others; and other relevant parties.

- To understand the concerns of the stakeholder groups, namely their rights and interests, their capacity to follow political processes, their structure and degree of organisation, their past or current work on issues related to FLEGT (e.g. law enforcement, transparency, timber tracking) and their current means of engagement in the forest sector.

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND

3. Methodology

In the context outlined above, the scope of the Forestry Stakeholder Mapping Study is to assist the establishment of a multi-stakeholder process by providing a preliminary analysis of the effects of the possible EU FLEGT VPA negotiations on the key stakeholders and outlining possible participation schemes. To ensure access to as many stakeholders as possible, the approach and methodology were developed based on the specific context of the Thai forest sector and industry. Socio-economic and cultural aspects and political influences were also taken into account.

General approach of the Stakeholder Mapping Study

The EU has been working with Thailand on FLEGT since 2010 through the EFI/FLEGT Facility and FLEGT Asia. During this time, the EU has been informing the RTG and raising awareness among stakeholders on the EU FLEGT Action Plan and possible VPA negotiations. This process has involved workshops, field trips and discussions between the responsible officials from the Royal Forest Department of Thailand (RFD) and stakeholders identified at that time, with mixed outcomes.

The main stakeholders involved in these activities had been identified by their direct involvement in the EU–Thailand timber trade, and thus comprised mostly the private sector, its various associations, Private Forest Plantation Cooperatives, the Board of Trade of Thailand and the Federation of Thai Industries. Small-scale and/or marginalisedstakeholders and parts of civil society were excluded unintentionally, probably because understanding about those stakeholders was minimal; as a result, these groups have received hardly any information about the FLEGT VPA process. Therefore, the methodology was designed so that the research team could direct special attention towards reaching small-scale and/or disadvantaged stakeholders and civil society; these groups include forestry-related NGOs (national and international), universities and local government (Tambon Administrative Organizations, or Ao Bo To in Thai, and elected local councils whose members are engaged in forestry and its governance at local level.

To ensure that all relevant stakeholders are included in the VPA process, the study adopts a supply chain approach, drawing on preliminary findings from the study ‘Timber flows and their control in Thailand’ by the consultancy LTS International and current knowledge on the involvement of civil society in Thailand’s forest sector. The study also builds on other analytical outputs by university researchers with the aim of identifying any actors with a particular interest in forestry and assessing their current activities. That is, the study identifies and assesses stakeholders that have demonstrated an interest and/or direct or indirect involvement in the forest sector (e.g. those involved in the production, processing and/or sale of forest products, and those with a general interest in forestry) with respect to their engagement or potential engagement in the VPA dialogue. This includes government agencies with responsibility for forest-related matters, namely those authorised to issue permits for harvesting, transporting or processing forest products and those involved in land management, environment, health and safety, customs, commerce, law enforcement and labour regulations. Also involved are some NGOs, local communities, elected local governments, local villagers, minority ethnic and/or indigenous groups, trade associations, worker groups, the private sector and donors, among others.

The study was undertaken in close collaboration with other recent studies under FLEGT Asia/EFI FLEGT Facility, and draws also on existing stakeholder analyses conducted in other countries in the region (Vietnam and Indonesia) engaged in the VPA process.

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND

Methods

The study was conducted as a series of stepwise activities: 1) initial stakeholder identification, 2) use of participatory methods to engage identified stakeholders in discussions and 3) individual in-depth interviews with selected representatives. The details of each part of the methodology are presented below, followed by a description of the current stakeholder landscape in Thailand and suggestions for enhancing stakeholder participation in the VPA process.

Initial stakeholder identification through a literature review and consultations with experts

The review drew upon existing information, current networks, industry and civil society reports, participant lists from national meetings on issues related to forest management and forest governance, multilateral institutions (e.g. UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), UN-REDD Programme) and bilateral development partners (German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), UK Department for International Development (DFID), US Agency for International Development (USAID)). Consultations with RFD officials and review of other available research documents helped in identifying other forest-related groups. Participant lists from FLEGT workshops, networks of international NGOs (e.g. WWF, International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)) and other relevant international and national sources were also helpful.

Once stakeholders had been identified, they were placed into groups based on similarities in their characteristics, objectives and approach. These groups were then used to form categories of stakeholders in Thailand relevant to the FLEGT VPA negotiation process. Categories of stakeholders were then clustered, based on their interests, interactions and internal organisation.

Discussion with identified stakeholders using participatory methodologies

Selected participatory methodologies were employed for discussion and consultation with the identified stakeholders. The aim of these meetings was to exchange information and discuss important issues related to the forest sector and the VPA negotiation process.

1) In collaboration with the FLEGT Asia/EFI FLEGT Facility team and the FLEGT Focal Point at RFD, the author compiled a concise Thai-language briefing set on VPAs for distribution to potential stakeholders that lacked knowledge about the process. It seemed obvious that any information previously distributed had not reached all stakeholders.

2) The author conducted discussions with selected stakeholders using appropriate participatory methods (details below). The individuals identified for each group/category of stakeholders (4–8 individuals with strong backing from their constituencies) provided input on behalf of the larger representational composition of the groups (e.g. government (national/regional/local), civil society, NGOs, communities, workers, private sector). Each stakeholder group identified was consulted over the course of the study. Comments by all stakeholders on the study methodology were welcomed and the method was adjusted accordingly.

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Four participatory methodologies for focus groups were adopted: 1) stakeholder and institutional analysis (Venn or Roti diagram); 2) prioritisation of problems and concerns (matrix ranking); 3) cause–impact analysis of the relevant problems; and 4) trend analysis. The names of the methods describe the techniques used for acquiring information. Before any of these methods were applied, it was necessary to build rapport with the stakeholders. Given time and workload constraints for stakeholders, only one method could be applied per group. The two-way exchange in the focus groups led to better understanding of stakeholders’ concerns and problems and the possible impacts upon them.

Individual in-depth interviews of key stakeholders and further research

A representative sample (at least two, and preferably four, individuals) from each of the identified stakeholder categories/clusters was interviewed to determine stakeholders’ interests, agendas, internal organisation, capacity, constraints, perceptions of the forest sector (and, where possible, of the VPA process) and their thoughts on the potential and perceived impacts of the VPA process on their interests. Confidentiality of stakeholder representatives’ identity and comments is preserved at their request. Other key aims of the interviews were to collect initial ideas for the most effective means of engaging stakeholders in the FLEGT VPA process and to identify specific opportunities for strengthening the capacity of key stakeholders to engage in the process.

ForestandPeople Research Centre

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4. Results

The results are presented in three sections:

1) findings from the stakeholder consultation, including identification of the key stakeholders, stakeholders’ interests and concerns in relation to VPAs, groups’ internal organisation, perceptions of the forest sector and/or the FLEGT VPA process, and potential and perceived impacts of the VPA process; 2) stakeholder landscape in Thailand (see Figure 1); and 3) capacity and constraints of stakeholders in relation to the VPA negotiation process.

In general, stakeholders expressed a keen interest in participating in the possible VPA negotiation process.

Findings from the stakeholder consultation

Identification of key stakeholders

Based on the literature review and consultation, six categories of key stakeholders were identified: 1) forestry-related industry associations/federation; 2) forestry-related private sector; 3) government agencies; 4) forest-planting groups/individuals and workers; 5) civil society/NGOs involved in forest-related issues; and 6) Parliament. Details of each category are as follows.

1) Forestry-related industry associations/federation: Thai Timber Association, Thai Furniture Industries Association, Sawmills Association, Thai Parawood Association (parawood is considered a by-product of an agricultural species), forestry-related groups/clusters within the Federation of Thai Industries (e.g. Sawmills and Dry Kiln Industry Group, Furniture Group, Pulp and Paper Association), Board of Trade of Thailand, small and local woodcraft associations (i.e. Baan Tawai Handicraft’s Business Association) and local wood-processing cooperatives (i.e. Don Mool Wood Product Service Cooperatives). For details, see Annex 1.

2) Forestry-related private sector: timber and timber-product companies and wood importers and exporters. The timber-product import and export companies are active in their relevant associations and the Federation of Thai Industries. This category includes all types of companies dealing with timber and timber products, from imports to exports and domestic transactions. For details, see Annex 2.

According to a baseline study by Forest Trends (2011):1

The FAO estimates that two thirds of the 2,500 wood-based industries operating in Thailand are furniture producers (FAO 2009:61–62). These manufacturers employ upwards of 260,000 people (11% of total manufacturing), and paid out approximately US$560 million in wages and salaries. In addition, FAO estimates

1 Forest Trends, 2011. Baseline study 5, Thailand: overview of Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade, p. 40; quoting FAO, 2009. Thailand Forestry Outlook Study. Asia-Pacific Forestry Outlook Study II. Working Paper No. APFSOS II/WP/2009/22. FAO: Bangkok.

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND

that there were 3,000 timber traders, 242 smaller scale sawmills, over 5,000 smaller scale woodworking operations, 22 particle board mills, 4 hardboard mills, 7 medium-density fiberboard mills in 2004. Assuming these figures have stayed roughly stable since 2004, plantations and wood processing can thus be considered as a strategic sector for the Thai economy.

3) Government agencies involved in the forest sector and/or assigned to support the FLEGT VPA scheme: RFD and Forest Industry Organization (FIO; semi-private enterprise) within the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Department of European Affairs within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Department of International Trade Promotion and Department of Trade Negotiationss within the Ministry of Commerce; Customs Department within the Ministry of Finance; Office of the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund within the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives; and the Ministry of Interior. Interestingly, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Committee of the National Economic and Social Advisory Council (a government think-tank whose members are elected) became involved in the FLEGT process following a grievance presented to them by the Thai Parawood Association. For details on this category, see Annex 3.

Finally, the role of law enforcement agencies (including the Natural Resource and Environmental Crime Division of the Thai Police Force; Customs; Prosecution Department for Economic and Natural Resources; Department for Special Investigations; and National Anti- Corruption Commission) and the criminal justice system in combatting illegal logging should not be overlooked.

4) Forest-planting groups/individuals and workers: Private Forest Plantation Cooperatives; independent forest plantation owners (small, medium and large); hedgerow tree planting and agroforestry landowners (including pararubber plantations); and workers in the forest sector (formal and informal). Workers in the forest sector are particularly vulnerable because they fall into the wider category of agricultural workers, which is excluded from the scope of the 1998 Labour Protection Act (as amended 2008); however, workers in wood-processing industries are generally covered by the provisions of this Act. Thailand has ratified 15 International Labour Organization Conventions, including three core conventions (C.100 on Equal Remuneration, C.138 on Minimum Age and C.182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour); however, Thailand’s ratification of core conventions on freedom of association and collective bargaining (C.87 and C.98) is still underway.2 For more details on this category, see Annex 4.

5) Civil society/NGOs involved in forest-related issues: universities offering courses on forestry, natural resources and/or the environment; the Tree Bank and its network; forest- or conservation-related Thai NGOs (e.g. Loei Fund for Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development, Sustainable Energy Foundation, Thailand Environment Institute (TEI)), international NGOs (e.g. WWF Greater Mekong Programme, the Center for People and Forests (RECOFTC), Environmental Investigation Agency), multilateral organisations (e.g. FAO, UN agencies) and development partner organisations (e.g. GIZ), local villagers and refugees from neighbouring countries living in or near the forest. For more details on this category, see Annex 5.

6) The Thai Parliament is tasked under Article 190 of the Constitution of Thailand B.E. 2550 (2007 AD) with scrutinising any proposed international treaties or agreements, approving them and giving the government the mandate to negotiate regarding them. During

2 ILO website http://www.ilo.org/asia/countries/thailand/lang--en/index.htm; for the list of conventions not ratified: http://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=1000:11210:0::NO::P11210_COUNTRY_ID:102843 (both accessed 5 December 2012)

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND negotiations, the Parliament retains the right to be informed and to monitor progress, and then to scrutinise the draft treaty before ratification.

Stakeholders’ main interests and concerns

Interests:

During the two years that Thailand and EU/EFI have been working on the FLEGT process, the private sector has been the primary stakeholder group supporting the initiation of VPA negotiations. In particular, larger exporters of timber products, aware of the requirements of the EU Timber Regulation, were demanding that the government take immediate action so that FLEGT licences could be issued before the EU Timber Regulation came into force in March 2013. This trade-centred perspective has created some confusion between the objectives of the VPA and the requirements of the EU Timber Regulation.

Government agencies have been responding to this pressure from exporters, although at a relatively sluggish pace because of conflicting priorities. It has to be noted that government agencies have exhibited some reluctance to address the more complex issues surrounding the legal aspects that might need to be addressed during the negotiation of a VPA, such as land tenure, community forestry rights, forestry workers’ rights and the rights of local villagers and refugees living in or near the forest. This neglect of the forest governance aspects has created a situation where other actors that might be affected by negotiations have not been able to obtain sufficient information or to appreciate the possible opportunities of the negotiations.

Concerns:

The main stakeholder concerns can be summarised according to the following five themes.

1) Loss of export earnings: Many key stakeholders hold the misperception that entering into VPA negotiations as soon as possible would prevent any negative impacts of the EU Timber Regulation on export revenues. In particular, small and medium enterprises are concerned that they will struggle to provide sufficient information to fulfil the requirements of the due diligence system under the regulation.

2) Increased administrative procedures and costs: Some small- and medium-scale forest plantation owners and other small and medium enterprises in the sector fear that a strict timber legality assurance system (TLAS) will require them to provide documentary evidence at all stages from the harvesting site to the final point of export, thus increasing bureaucratic procedures and operating costs, possibly even to the point of driving them out of business.

3) High costs of compulsory third- party monitoring: Small and medium- sized operators are concerned about who will bear the costs of monitoring, given that very few could afford costs similar to the voluntary certification scheme currently operating in Thailand (i.e. Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification).

4) Capacity: Stakeholders feel that they ForestandPeople Research Centre will need the government’s support in

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND setting up the TLAS and documentation system. Small and medium enterprises and the forest-planting groups/individuals will need additional support. Some concerns were also expressed about whether potential negotiators had sufficient technical knowledge of all the aspects covered by a VPA.

5) Increased risk of weak governance and corruption in the timber-processing and timber- product export sectors, because of lengthy control processes or the additional burden of verification.

Internal organisation within the stakeholder categories

Each of the six stakeholder categories identified has its own form of internal organisation, as follows.

1) The forestry-related industry associations/federation have two levels of organisation: (a) organisation within each association according to its own statutes and applicable administrative rules, such as provisions governing the election of the governing committee, especially its chairperson and secretary, and (b) membership of the Federation of Thai Industries and Board of Trade of Thailand, which means an association’s representatives could be elected onto the committee of the Federation or the Board of Trade of Thailand.

2) The forestry-related private sector is regulated by the law on the establishment of companies, under the purview of the Ministry of Commerce. Most companies are also members of relevant trade associations and of the Federation of Thai Industries and the Board of Trade of Thailand. It is important to note the risk that small enterprises that do not belong to an industry association may not be represented or heard at all.

3) Government agencies involved in the FLEGT VPA process must follow the laws and regulations of the RTG. They are subject to a strict hierarchical bureaucracy that severely limits the initiative of individual government officials, which often results in a ‘wait-and-see’ attitude. Moreover, the high level of personnel rotation has delayed the FLEGT VPA preparation process.

The National FLEGT Negotiation Committee, created by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on 7 June 2011 and tasked with coordinating the government agencies involved in the FLEGT process, had only met twice as of December 2012.

4) Within the forest-planting groups/individuals and workers, each group is governed by relevant rules and regulations and individuals may coordinate with each other according to their interests or group establishment. For instance, the Private Forest Plantation Cooperatives must follow the rules of the Cooperatives Law, while also establishing some organisational structures in accordance with the interests of its members. Independent forest plantation owners (small, medium and large) and the hedgerow tree planting or agroforestry landowners may coordinate with each other and form groups according to their interests or regions, as with the example of the Natural Agriculture Network, which was created to exchange information and techniques about organic farming, natural farming and agroforestry. Forestry workers, being excluded from the Labour Protection Act, do not have a union of their own and have no access to collective bargaining.

5) The internal organisation of civil society/NGOs involved in forest-related issues is complex because it varies according to their political status, their target issues and the extent and nature of their networks. The civil society landscape is fragmented and the existing networks are not very effective in disseminating information, particularly information that is not felt to be of immediate and direct interest. Each NGO must also

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND follow its own rules and regulations, stemming from the relevant legal base; each civil society group maintains original principles and operates under the relevant laws.

6) The Parliament is governed by the relevant sections of the 2007 Constitution and relevant laws and regulations. The Thai Parliament is bicameral, constituted by the Upper House or Senate and the Lower House or House of Representatives. The Senate has some appointed and some elected members, while all members of the House of Representatives are elected.

Stakeholders’ perceptions of the forest sector and/or the FLEGT VPA process

In general, stakeholders in all categories deal with forest-related issues in accordance with their own interests, or other influences. The views expressed by the various stakeholders indicate a broad range of interests in forest-related products and the forest sector, and the wide variations in how the different categories of stakeholders perceive the forest sector is quite astonishing.

As a state agency, the RFD must follow the laws and regulations on forest harvesting operations, forest plantation and forest use, while protecting designated forest resources (national forest reserves) strictly. The RFD has managed several programmes involving various civil society organisations, NGOs and the private sector. Thus, stakeholders’ perceptions of the RFD are diverse: some report good collaboration on forestry-related projects, some refer to a low level of participation in some projects and others openly criticise RFD implementation; in some cases, there are open conflicts between the RFD and other authorities or civil society or ordinary citizens (for example, in some cases of forced displacement of minority forest dwellers from national parks or wildlife sanctuaries established after they had settled there).

The forestry-related private sector (companies) must comply with the RFD’s rules and procedures under the relevant forest laws, depending on their products and types of business (domestic or import–export-oriented). The forestry-related associations/federation, which are composed of private companies, must comply with national laws and rules as well as with procedures set by government agencies. For certain products, private sector operators feel they are over-regulated and burdened by excessive administrative requirements. They also believe that some of the applicable laws are outdated and need to be amended. Forestry plantation owners, of all sizes, and forestry workers hold both positive and negative perceptions of the RFD, depending on their experiences with RFD officials and how they were affected. Perceptions held by civil society/NGOs differ depending on their principles, status and actions. Some NGOs may work differently from the RFD in conserving forest resources and other natural resources because they hold different principles.

It is therefore rather difficult to neatly summarise how forest stakeholders perceive the RFD, the forest sector or the FLEGT VPA process. In particular, as relatively few stakeholders have been exposed to and understand the FLEGT VPA process, it is too early to draw any conclusions on how stakeholders in Thailand generally perceive the process.

Interestingly, a new group has recently become involved in the FLEGT VPA process: the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights of the House of Representatives, whose aim is to help clarify the legal aspects of any potential VPA negotiations between Thailand and the EU, in order to prepare the main issues for the consideration of the government and the Parliament under Article 190 of the Constitution of Thailand B.E. 2550. The Standing Committee has been involved only since this stakeholder mapping exercise began, because the National FLEGT Negotiation Committee had

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND overlooked the possibility of directly engaging the Parliament. The Standing Committee has therefore taken on the task and appointed a Working Committee to examine the issue. Between August and late October 2012, this Working Committee on the FLEGT VPA met once a week (except when it had to deal with other urgent tasks) to examine the FLEGT VPA processes in other countries, their pros and cons the existing publicly available signed VPA agreements, and to assess the potential impacts of the possible negotiation. The Working Committee also held public hearings in various regions and provinces, in order to prepare a framework approach to VPA negotiations, for presentation by the Standing Committee to the Parliament in January 2013. The Parliament will decide whether or not to approve the proposed VPA negotiation framework, depending on the evidence and prospective outcomes as explained by the Standing Committee and responsible government officials.

Issues related to the potential and perceived impacts of the VPA process

Issues related to the potential and perceived impacts of the VPA process fall into five themes: 1) difficulty of importing timber from producing countries without documented proof of legality (e.g. FLEGT licence), which may lead to lower production by timber-product factories, thus leading to reductions both in incomes in the industry and in the national GDP following the introduction of the EU Timber Regulation; 2) production of wood-related goods may decrease because of difficulties with verifying the origin of raw materials within Thailand, thus causing deterioration of the timber industry in Thailand; 3) prices of timber products may rise, creating difficulties in transactions between producers and consumers; 4) smallholder or small-scale forest plantation owners may encounter new obstacles in selling their timber to export companies because of limitations such as verification of wood origin requirements and de facto tenure; and 5) long-term impacts on Thailand’s forest industry because large volumes of timber are currently imported without any certification or legality assurance and the domestic timber market is relatively small.

Stakeholders do not appear to appreciate the potential benefits of a VPA, namely increased transparency and improved governance of the forest sector, possibly because the most active stakeholders have had a narrow focus on trade.

Stakeholder landscape in Thailand

The stakeholder landscape in Thailand can be depicted as in Figure 1. The six categories of key stakeholders are shown in four circles, with the categories Forestry-related private sector and Forestry-related associations/federation combined because of their relationships and similar features, and Parliament included with Government agencies because of its official role in the approval of the negotiation mandate. The distance between each stakeholder category/cluster (circle) and the VPA process at the centre of the diagram indicates the strength of the relationship: the closer a stakeholder category/cluster is to the centre, the stronger its relationship with the VPA process. The size of each stakeholder- category circle indicates its significance or influence on the VPA process.

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Figure 1: Stakeholder landscape in Thailand

Government agencies involved in forest sector;

Parliament

Forest- Forestry-related planting associations/ groups/ VPA federations individuals process (incl. forestry- and workers s related private

sector)

Civil society/ NGOs and local forest communities

Capacities and constraints of stakeholders in possible VPA negotiations

A general consensus appears to have emerged from discussions with all key stakeholders and with both the National FLEGT Negotiation Committee and the Working Committee on the FLEGT VPAs by the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights of the Parliament, that it is necessary for Thailand and the EU to negotiate a FLEGT VPA. At the time of writing, it was expected that Parliament would debate the negotiation mandate in the first quarter of 2013; the key stakeholders’ capacities and constraints are analysed below (in separate sections) based on the assumption that the mandate will be approved.

Capacities of stakeholders in possible VPA negotiations

As described above, there are six categories of key stakeholders with an active interest in VPA negotiations. Within each category, certain individuals or groups may have the capacity to contribute positively in the potential VPA negotiations: 1) in the category of Forestry- related industry associations/federation, the Thai Timber Association, the Thai Furniture Industries Association, the forest-related groups in the Federation of Thai Industries and the Thai Parawood Association; 2) in the Forestry-related private sector, those timber and

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND timber-product companies that are involved in their relevant associations in the first category; 3) among Government agencies, those whose Director General was appointed as a member of the current National FLEGT Negotiation Committee; 4) among Forest-planting groups/individuals and workers, the Private Forest Plantation Cooperatives, the hedgerow tree planting or agroforestry landowners, and workers in the forest sector; 5) among civil society/NGOs involved in forest-related issues, the universities, the Tree Bank and its network, Thai forest- or conservation-related NGOs and international NGOs and development partner organisations active in Thailand; and 6) Parliament.

Although those in the latter three categories have been quite active in the preparation phase to date, it is unclear how and to what extent they will be able to participate in VPA negotiations. The current National FLEGT Negotiation Committee is composed almost exclusively of representatives of government agencies: the exception is one member of the private sector representing the industry association; civil society and NGOs are not represented on the committee at all. However, the Working Committee under the Standing Committee has already proposed that the National FLEGT Negotiation Committee have more representatives from the private sector and civil society. As for Parliament, although in principle it holds the right of monitoring and of being informed of the progress of negotiations, the modalities have not been decided.

Some parts of civil society and many NGOs will not be directly affected by any future VPA negotiations, but may be unwilling to be excluded from the process of establishing the VPA negotiation platform. Civil society organisations that work with local people on various aspects related to forests in each region or province may not necessarily be aware of the FLEGT VPA process, or of how it may affect them and their work. In particular, civil society organisations may hear a lot of complaints or grievances from forest plantation owners, especially smallholders, regarding the VPA negotiation scheme.

In some of the discussions, some medium- and large-scale forest plantation owners expressed the extreme opinion that the government should not allow the export of timber products to the EU market at all, as they perceive a scarcity of wood in the Thai domestic market.

Some small plantation owners in the north and northeast of Thailand, overwhelmed by hardship and the excessive administrative burdens associated with growing and harvesting protected species (i.e. teak), have already switched to cultivating species that are not subject to regulation by the RFD but are considered to be by-products of agriculture, such as pararubber and eucalyptus. In some cases, they have given up, selling their plantation plots to the highest bidder, mainly the rich and/or outsiders, and changing their source of livelihood completely. This has led to a reduction in the area of forest plantations and represents a partial failure of the national policy of promoting forest plantations, which in turn affects the private sector and encourages wood-processing companies to import more timber from abroad.

A notable constraint, therefore, is the new national policy giving major incentives to pararubber plantations, which has encouraged many former planters of teak (Tectona grandis) or Dipterocarpus alatus to switch species. Members of the Private Forest Plantation Cooperatives include plantation owners of all sizes, from smallholders to large landowners. The Cooperatives must comply with the 1992 Forest Plantation Act and work closely with the RFD Bureau of Reforestation Promotion, owing to their participation in the RFD reforestation- support project during 1993–1996, established in commemoration of His Majesty the King’s 50th year of reign in 1996. At that time, each member of the Cooperatives received support

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in the amount of 3,000 Baht/rai3 to plant the designated forest species on their own parcel of land. However, some members in several provinces have recently had to give up their plantations because of difficulties following the harvest procedures set out in the 1941 Forest Act. This is particularly the case for teak and Dipterocarpus alatus, for which there are 16 bureaucratic steps to complete under the RFD authority before harvest. The recent incentives for pararubber offer much greater support, up to 17 000 Baht/rai given every time a plantation is renewed after harvest (approximately every 20–25 years). It is not surprising, therefore, that many forest plantation owners have switched species.

If the production of teak or Dipterocarpus alatus is to be encouraged, not only will the available support and incentives have to compete with rubber-planting subsidies, but it will also be necessary to reduce the administrative demands, reducing the 16 steps and implementing a more manageable and less costly process. Although those in the category of forest-planting landowners have the necessary capacity to continue the production of Teak, they need a lot of support and encouragement.

It is obvious that the government agencies assigned to the FLEGT VPA negotiation process must take responsibility for all the tasks allocated to them. However, the criteria by which the Director General of the RFD or the heads of other agencies involved should select officers to prepare for VPA negotiations are unclear. The need for English-language skills seems to be a major limiting factor for most of the government officials involved in the VPA preparation and negotiation processes. In addition, with the delays in obtaining the negotiation mandate from Parliament, the FLEGT VPA process has come to be seen as a low priority; consequently, the responsible officials have not been able to devote sufficient time to it, given their competing tasks and priorities.

Some owners of forestry-related companies that are members of their relevant associations have been involved in the VPA preparation process from the outset. Those that have had regular contact with RFD personnel regarding their timber-harvesting and wood-processing permits have often also been involved in the RFD’s VPA-related tasks, such as meetings, workshops and field trips. Some company owners have therefore been exposed to the FLEGT VPA process, thus gaining access to relevant information, and are ready to participate in VPA-related activities and processes. A few forestry-related associations and groups in the Federation of Thai industries, including the Board of Trade of Thailand, have been quite active in the forest sector and the VPA process, because their members are the owners of forestry-related companies. In addition, the Federation of Thai Industries and the Board of Trade of Thailand have a network of provincial offices across the country, which may be helpful in distributing information

Centre Research People and Forest during the potential VPA negotiations.

The key civil society organisations/NGOs involved in forest- related issues have been supporting various forest-related activities and conservation. Each Thai NGO has its own objectives, rules and methods for working in the forests and forest

plantations. Many are formed as an immediate response to a particular problem that might be geographically limited, dissolving almost immediately

3 Paid in three instalments of 1000 Baht a year over three years. One rai equals approximately 0.6 ha.

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND after the problem is solved. Networks are also loosely structured and function in a very informal way. In addition, their capacity to communicate in English is quite limited.

Some ASEAN and other regional networks are present in Thailand, such as the ASEAN Social Forestry Network (ASFN), Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact and RECOFTC, with varying degrees of activity and rather minimal interest in FLEGT. International NGOs (e.g. WWF Greater Mekong Programme), multilateral organisations (e.g. FAO, UN agencies) and international development partner organisations (e.g. GIZ) have the capacity to support information exchanges and capacity building for the Thai stakeholders involved in FLEGT VPA preparation and the possible negotiation process, although they may not have been directly involved to date.

A prominent Thai NGO involved in tree planting is the Tree Bank and its network. The Tree Bank has been very active in training its members in forest inventory techniques so that the members can measure all planted trees and calculate the data for significant variables and carbon sequestration. This Tree Bank aims to use the trees as assets. Another group of the Tree Bank associated with the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives (BAAC), called the ‘BAAC Tree Bank’, has moved away from the ideas of the original Tree Bank by allowing its members to use their land parcels and trees as collateral for loans with the BAAC. Members of the BAAC Tree Bank are encouraged to request loans from the BAAC accordingly. Other NGOs mentioned in this category, although not directly dealing with forest trees or forest plantations, may also help with networking, information sharing and exchange and capacity building for sustainable forest management, with an emphasis on good governance. Civil society, particularly universities offering degrees in forestry, natural resources and/or conservation, has sought to teach and research various subjects related to forests, forest plantations, natural resources conservation and sustainable natural resource management.

FAO recently launched the EU FLEGT FAO Programme, funded by the EU, to support projects in capacity building and stakeholder engagement processes; this programme is applicable to Thailand.

Constraints on stakeholders in a possible VPA negotiation process

Constraints on stakeholders in engaging in a possible VPA negotiation process can be divided into five issues. The constraints tend to be related to positive or negative aspects of internal organisation within each category of stakeholders, institutional structures and political influences, as follows.

1) Internal organisation in each group/association and the tension for groups between their own objectives and association requirements may weaken those in the category of forestry-related industry associations/federation (including the Board of Trade of Thailand). The consequent weakness may affect capacity and representation in the VPA negotiation process. These constraints inevitably affect those in the category of Forestry-related private sector, because private companies dealing with forest-related products and industry have formed associations. 2) The diversification of objectives of each group or private company over time, which has resulted in unexpected outputs within forestry-related industry associations, may hinder the implementation of policy and work plans related to the potential FLEGT VPA negotiations. As a consequence, there is a risk that some private companies may jeopardise the efforts of their respective associations. 3) Conflicting and rapidly changing priorities within the government add an element of uncertainty to the everyday work of government officials assigned to the VPA. This

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factor may also engender some inertia in government officials’ activities and strong protection of their positions. A particular concern is that some mid-level officials in relevant departments assigned to work for the National FLEGT Negotiation Committee may be transferred to other positions or responsibilities, in which case the newcomers will need time to learn about EU FLEGT, the VPA and its processes. It is essential to support continuity of the government officials responsible, as well as superior officers at the level of Deputy Director General, Director General and Permanent Secretary of each relevant ministry. The institutional structures of ministries and departments in the RTG are rather rigid, which makes adjustments difficult, despite the introduction of a decentralisation policy in 2002, when the Cabinet announced the restructuring of the government and the establishment of a few new ministries. In particular, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment was separated from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. Furthermore, the RFD was also divided into two departments: the RFD and the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (which is in charge of REDD activities in Thailand, among others), although the Parliament decided in September 2012 to re-unite the two departments because of overlaps in their work and responsibilities. Their unconventional designs of various positions have created chronic problems in the departmental administration and management of forest resource and other natural resources in Thailand. 4) Infrequently coordinated and loose structures of the forest-planting groups/individuals and workers emerged as an issue during discussions with key informants in this category. The Private Forest Plantation Cooperatives, a dominant group in this category, highlighted that many members resigned from the Cooperatives whereas others were forced out because of the hardships associated with owning a Teak or other protected species plantation compared with the attractiveness of switching to pararubber or oil palm. Member of the Cooperatives committee have attempted to retain their members but to no avail. However, although the network is being weakened by the dwindling of its membership, it is very interested in the VPA process and willing to participate because of the awareness of the major impact it may have on members. Also requiring special attention is the impact on individual owners and forestry workers who have not been represented in the process and who do not receive the minimum wage, cannot form a union and have a very weak position to start with. 5) Participation of civil society groups and NGOs engaged in forest-related issues in the FLEGT VPA process appears to have been ineffective so far, because of poor coordination of efforts by the responsible authorities and lack of cohesiveness in their views. In the 1980s and 1990s, civil society organisations and NGOs involved in forest-related issues were very active with regard to deforestation, later pushing the community forestry bill; however, their efforts have met with limited success, and the changes in government policies have discouraged them considerably. However, some recent blatant cases of timber smuggling (particularly of rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis)) have prompted renewed activity by civil society. In addition, NGOs and civil society involved in issues related to forest and natural resources have been encouraged to become active on emerging issues such as REDD, climate change, organic farming, sustainable agriculture and, to some extent, PES (Payments for Environmental Services).

As a result, a few prominent Thai NGOs related to forest and other natural resources, namely Green World Foundation, Seub Nakasathien Foundation (named after the prominent wildlife ecologist Seub Nakasathien, who devoted his life to conservation durig the decade of the1990) and Project for Ecological Recovery, have been contacted and introduced to the EU

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FLEGT VPA process and informed of the necessity of improving Thailand’s forest governance, in addition to establishing fairness in trade. However, these NGOs do not see themselves as being involved in the VPA because of their focus on conservation rather than on the commercial exploitation of the forests, although it may be useful to involve these NGOs in aspects related to forest governance. Nevertheless, other NGOs are involved in VPA preparations, such as the Tree Bank, Loei Fund for Nature Conservation and Sustainable Development, Sustainable Energy Foundation and the Environmental Investigation Agency. In addition, the TEI has expressed an interest in the VPA process, even though no TEI personnel have ever participated in such activities because of their unavailability and limited access to information on the VPA in Thai. All identified international NGOs expressed an interest in the process and participated in the Stakeholder Mapping Study Workshop in Chiang Mai on 23 July 2012. Their support may encourage VPA preparations and further actions leading up to VPA negotiations in the near future.

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5. Consultative Summary Workshop

The Terms of Reference of the Stakeholder Mapping Study included the requirement to hold a Summary Workshop for the Stakeholder Mapping Study. The workshop was organised by the Forest and People Research Centre research team in collaboration with the team from FLEGT Asia/EFI FLEGT Facility and the RFD.

The aim of the workshop was to summarise the results of all discussions, exchanges and consultations with the identified stakeholders over the previous four months. It also facilitated further exchanges, reflections, comments and recommendations by the participating stakeholders, thus helping to finalise the outcomes of the study and map the stakeholders strategically as part of preparations for the potential FLEGT VPA negotiations in Thailand. . The responsible government authorities and key stakeholders need to ensure that the preparations lay a solid foundation for the negotiation process. Findings from the Stakeholder Mapping Study may support preparations for the possible VPA process in Thailand.

Although the National FLEGT Negotiation Committee comprises mostly government officials (the exception being one position held by the chair of the Thai Timber Association), key stakeholders need to be able to consolidate their networks so that they can provide inputs and recommendations for the VPA negotiations. Otherwise, the conceptual framework and materials for negotiation will be based only on official information, analysis and opinions, which might cause the reality and problems of the sector to be overlooked.

The workshop held in Chiang Mai on 23 July 2012, was attended by 105 participants from government agencies (RFD, Customs Department, Department of European Affairs, Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, FIO); forestry-related associations/federation; private sector (individual companies); civil society including national and local associations related to timber products; NGOs; civil societynetworks; universities; and international organisations (the full list of participants is given in Annex 6). Also attending were several members of the Standing Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights of the House of Representatives.

The workshop opened with a session led by Mr Prayut Lorsuwansiri (the Deputy Director General of the RFD), Mrs Delphine Brissoneau (representative of the EU Delegation to Thailand) and Police General Viroon Phuensaen (chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Legal Affairs, Justice and Human Rights). This was followed by presentations by Dr Alexander Hinrichs (Regional FLEGT advisor of EFI ) and the author in the morning session. A participatory group discussion was held in the afternoon, focusing on two subjects for discussion: the legality definition and related issues and conflicts between forest tenure and land tenure. Key stakeholders’ opportunities for involvement in VPA negotiations process were also discussed briefly.

The workshop achieved its objectives, as evidenced by the lively discussion and feedback from participants. In his closing remarks, the Deputy Director General of the RFD thanked all participants on behalf of the RFD and the Forest and People Research Centre, Chiang Mai University. He noted that the valuable inputs would be included in the meeting on the effects of the EU Timber Regulation, held on 26 July 2012 by the Royal Thai Embassy to the EU, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the aim of which was to develop an approach to VPA negotiations, as a basis for drafting a framework for VPA negotiations. In his concluding remarks, Dr Hinrichs also thanked all participants for creating such a dynamic and productive atmosphere. He noted that the interest of the participants who were the key stakeholders identified in the study was obvious, and stated that he was very pleased to see

FORESTRY STAKEHOLDER MAPPING IN THAILAND such strong commitment and a clear work plan to further develop the VPA framework and parliamentary consideration. He noted that the findings from the Forestry Stakeholder Mapping Study would be used to gather more information on the groups of stakeholders, their interests and how they select their representatives for involvement in the potential VPA negotiations. He highlighted that the responsible authorities are already discussing how to improve certain procedures for legality assurance, which is one element under the FLEGT VPA negotiations.

The proceedings of the workshop are available in Thai and English at http://www.euflegt.efi.int/portal/documents/?did=417.

ForestandPeople Research Centre

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6. Conclusions

Key stakeholders in possible FLEGT VPA negotiations between Thailand and the EU can be placed into six categories: 1) Forestry-related industry associations/federation; 2) Forestry- related private sector; 3) Government agencies involved in the forest sector and/or related to the VPA process; 4) Forest-planting groups/individuals and workers; 5) Civil society/NGOs involved in forest-related and conservation issues; and 6) Parliament.

The main interests and concerns of the specified stakeholder categories are: 1) negative impacts on small and medium enterprises, including ‘One Tambon One Product’ (OTOP), caused by a possibly lengthy negotiation process and complex procedures; 2) possible exclusion of small plantation owners, forestry workers and local villagers; 3) high cost of compulsory third-party monitoring; and 4) increased risk of weak governance/corruption in timber processing and timber-product exports because of lengthy verification processes and multiple stages of approval in the current legality assurance system.

Engaging multiple stakeholders in the FLEGT VPA negotiation process would be feasible, provided that an effective coordination system is created both within and between groups in each stakeholder category. Activities promoted by the RTG to date have focused mainly on the trade aspects because the private sector has demonstrated the greatest interest in pushing forward the VPA and responses from other stakeholder groups have been limited, as they had not appreciated the governance aspects of the VPA. During the Consultative Summary Workshop held as part of this study, the participants showed a great degree of interest in being involved in the VPA process. It is therefore important to ensure that every category of stakeholder is involved in the VPA process from outset to implementation. Otherwise, the Thai VPA negotiation process will not achieve the objectives and expected outcomes of the EU FLEGT VPA in terms of the participation of multiple stakeholders.

Representatives from the stakeholder categories (except for government agencies) should be directly elected, but the selection may be revised by all groups/individuals in each category, if necessary. The responsible authorities and the National FLEGT Negotiation Committee should welcome all representatives. Furthermore, representatives from each stakeholder category should be involved at all stages of the VPA process.

Furthermore, before negotiations get underway, all stakeholders and the government should agree on practical modalities for establishing a platform of stakeholder involvement, either as a network or in the form of working groups. To allow for the meaningful participation by those stakeholders that have been at the margins of the process to date, greater sharing of information is needed, as is enhanced access to all aspects of the process, particularly with regard to any governance issues that arise during negotiations. In addition, the current confusion between the FLEGT VPA process and the effect of the EU Timber Regulation needs to be resolved, even for the most active stakeholders, who still appear to be rather confused.

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7. Recommendations

 The National FLEGT Negotiation Committee appointed by the previous Minister of Natural Resources and Environment consists of high-level government officials, as well as one representative from the private sector (the chair of the Thai Timber Association); this composition may not meet the EU’s requirement that multiple stakeholders engage in VPA negotiations. If possible, the National FLEGT Negotiation Committee should be adjusted by incorporating a few more members from the categories of Civil society/NGOs, Forest-planting groups/individuals/workers and Forestry-related industry associations/federation (one representative already appointed) to ensure the representation of a wider range of all stakeholders either on the committee or in the working groups. Wider stakeholder representation should be useful for intensive preparations and for what could possibly be a lengthy negotiation process, as it would mean that all issues could be addressed as they arise, which would add credibility to the process. Otherwise, the prospective negotiation process may be weak from the beginning, resulting in bias both in procedures and in any consequent decisions.  The formation of either a functional network or working groups of key stakeholders for engagement in the VPA preparation and negotiation processes is recommended. Representatives of the stakeholder categories must be elected, based on each category’s qualifications and requirements. Otherwise, the FLEGT VPA negotiations may be dominated by government officials with good intentions but with only partial knowledge of the reality on the ground. It is also important that the process at all stages, from preparation to negotiation, ratification and implementation, is transparent and accountable, so as to ensure a good governance platform for the Thai forest sector. The possible role of Parliament in the monitoring of the negotiation and implementation phases should be investigated.  Additional efforts should be made to reach stakeholders that have not been involved so far.  The government should carefully consider the long-term effects of its subsidies of the pararubber replanting scheme, including the disincentive it has creating to planting teak, Dipterocarpus alatus and other tree species.  Ways to develop closer links with stakeholder consultations being carried out in Thailand in the context of REDD+ could be explored.

The ASEAN Secretariat has been working to some extent on FLEG(T), and several countries in the region are in the process of entering or have already entered into negotiations with the EU. Therefore, the RTG and stakeholders could profit from contacting their counterparts in the region to coordinate their approaches. In particular, the ASFN could provide a useful discussion forum for issues pertaining to social/community forestry rights and minority ethnic and/or indigenous populations.

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Annex 1: Forestry related industry associations/federation

Remark: Contact person Mailing address Name Mandate Scope of work No. of associates, etc. Federation of Thai Established as the Association of Thai FTI is a full-service organisation that functions Five groups related to Dr Nilsuwan Queen Sirikit Industries (FTI) Industries (ATI) and later renamed as the via two avenues: the forest industry, as Leelarasamee, Chair of National Convention Membership includes Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The mentioned; there are 75 the International Trade Center, Zone C, 4th forest industry groups: ATI was formed on 13 November 1967 1) It works with the government to help provincial chapters. Negotiation Committee floor - Wood Processing and was upgraded to the FTI on 29 mobilise Thai industries to reach international 60 New (Sawmill and Dry Kiln) December 1987. The FTI is a private markets. It acts as a ‘matchmaker’ between Rachadapisek Rd, Industry Group sector organisation that brings together foreign industrialists and Thai resources, Klongtoey, 10110 industry leaders to promote Thailand’s Bangkok - Thai Furniture which combine the financial strength, socio-economic development. The main Industry Group planning ability and persuasive power of objectives of the FTI are: 1) to represent Thailand’s industrialists. - Pulp and Paper Thai manufacturers at national and Industry Group international levels; 2) to help promote 2) It prepares industry-related press releases - Thai Panel Product and develop industrial enterprises; 3) to for the media and distributes information of Industry Group work with the government in setting various types to members and other - Rubber-based national policies; and 4) to offer interested parties. In addition, FTI members Industries Group consulting services to members. have the opportunity to participate in

exhibitions in trade fairs, etc. The FTI seeks to

promote the relationship between operators,

both domestic and abroad, through relevant

joint activities. Board of Trade of The Board of Trade of Thailand has four The Board of Trade of Thailand has several There are 76 provincial Mr Kreangkrai Tieytasin 150/2 Rajbopit Thailand (and Thai missions: 1) to take a central role in the duties: 1) to provide advice and assistance in chambers of commerce. Road, Pranakhon, Chamber of Commerce?) business sector, expressing clear and solving the operational problems of its 1200 Bangkok strong positions on actions required to members’ businesses, which may result from overcome obstacles and enhance the government system and regulations; 2) to economic development; 2) to actively coordinate with business partners in communicate with and seek engagement continuously looking for resolution to with the government sector; 3) to obstacles; and 3) to support the private sector strengthen cooperation among members in seeking opportunities for modern business and businesses throughout Thailand and operating techniques by requesting 4) to emphasise the importance of scholarships for further study or training improving the education system so that it organised domestically and internationally.

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Remark: Contact person Mailing address Name Mandate Scope of work No. of associates, etc. is aligned with the needs of business, and improving governance levels in developing In addition, it provides a dispute resolution a strong, sustainable and competitive service by arbitration and reconciles duty business environment. guarantee documents for temporary admission of goods (Admission Temporaries Carnet or ATA Carnet), and issues Certificates of Standard of Products for Exports.

Thai Timber Association Founded in 1946 as the Thai Timber All types of wood products for exports and Mr Jirawat 13/47 Moo 1 Merchant Association, changed to Thai domestic uses. Many business Tangkijngamwong, Srinakarin 42, Timber Association in 2011. The operators/manufacturers also have to import President Srinakarin Rd, objectives are 1) to adjust the identity of various species of timber for manufacturing. Nongbon, Prawate, the Association for current timber Mr Ekasit Aneksittisin, Bangkok 10250 business, and 2) to support the progress Secretary General of timber businesses and the common good of its members.

Thai Furniture Industries 1) To support and promote industries Furniture manufacturing from domestic and The Secretary is the Mr Jirawat 65/13 Moo 3 Soi Association involved in furniture production. imported timber. End products are used same person as the Tangkijngamwong, Changwattana 1, 2) To promote and publicise know-how domestically or exported to Europe, the USA President of the Timber Secretary General Laksi, Bangkok in all kinds of furniture-making or other countries in Asia. Association 10210 techniques. 3) To support and protect the interests of those involved in making furniture and related products. 4) To serve as the headquarters and representative of members in exchanging ideas and technical knowledge with those concerned in the furniture industry. 5) To contact and coordinate with other associations, both domestic and international, involved in the furniture industry. 6) To promote cooperation and understanding among members. 7) To avoid becoming involved in politics in any way.

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Remark: Contact person Mailing address Name Mandate Scope of work No. of associates, etc. 8) To administer other matters that support the activities mentioned in clauses 1–7 above.

Thai Parawood 1) To promote cooperation and Products produced from pararubber wood Mr Sutin Phonchaisuree, 165 Kanjanavanich Association participation between the (known as ‘parawood’) for domestic uses and President Rd, Numnoi, Hatyai, government sector and private sector. exports. It should be noted that the Song Khla 90110 2) To promote and support pararubber trees have been planted for the development and capacity of the main purpose of latex. After each tree’s latex parawood industry system. is exhausted, it is harvested for wood and 3) To encourage and propose solutions then the land is replanted with rubber trees. for problems and obstacles in the parawood industry and related business. 4) To serve as a centre for manufacturers and an information centre of technical knowledge for parawood manufacturers. 5) To increase capacity and strength of the Association.

Baan Tawai Handicraft’s The Association was formed in March Woodcraft product sales and OTOP tourism Mr Prapan 33 Mhoo 2, Baan Business Association 2009 with the aim of helping its members promotion. The tree species used are mostly Pongchanchote Tawai, Tambon (BTHBA), Tambon in the woodcraft business, in terms of teak (from forest plantations), soft-wood Khunkong, Khunkong, Hangdong product improvement, shop arrangement, species such as rain tree, and other fruit-tree Hangdong District, District, Chiang Mai product exhibitions and guest reception species, such as jackfruit, mango and longan. Chiang Mai, 50230 Province for knowledge exchange. Baan Tawai is considered the original area for woodcraft products, and rewarded a good example of ‘One-Tambon One-Product’ (OTOP), which was promoted by the government via the Department of Community Development.

Don Mool Wood Product The Cooperatives was established in The Cooperatives are permitted to operate a Timber shortages are a Service Cooperatives, 1998, with the aim of providing members wood-processing machine with 581.02 horse recurring problem. Tambon Don Mool, with services regarding wood-processing power, which can produce only 600–800 m3 Moreover, the recent

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Remark: Contact person Mailing address Name Mandate Scope of work No. of associates, etc. Soongmaen District, factory permitted by the Royal Forest per month of sawn timber and timber high price of teak logs Phrae Province Department and timber procurement. The products. There are 256 members with an creates difficulty for timber it procures usually comes from the operating fund of 7 222 507.41 THB members. FIO, which gives the Cooperatives a good (187 743.89 EUR). Finished products include price for teak as part of a promotion. The furniture, woodcrafts, housing materials and Cooperatives also provides members with finished houses or pavilions made from wood-processing facilities, under a system timber and sawn timber. where members pay rent and electricity costs.

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Annex 2 : Forestry-related private sector

Name Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

Metro M.D.F. Co., MDF products In Karnchanaburi Ms Kesorn 99/9 Mhoo 5 Whai Nheow-Dong Sak Ltd Province Mettanurux Road, Tambon Whai Nheow, Ta Maka District M.C. Ply Co., Ltd Plywood In Nontaburi Province Mr Thanachit 39/4 Mhoo 4 Ruechupan Rd, products Ketwutpanya Tambon Zai Yai, Zai Noi District B.T.W. Bangkok Teak products In Bangkok Ms Pimboon 250 Phaholyothin 32, Phaholyothin Teak Wood Co., Changpueng Rd, Chantrkasem, Chatuchak, Ltd Bangkok, 10900 B.P.S. Millcom Wood products In Lampang Province Mr Attapon Phu- 136 Mhoo 1 Tambon Yangkok, Co., Ltd aphirom Hang Chat District, Lampang 52190 Union Parquet Veneer products In Tak Province Co., Ltd Leang Sap Wood products In Nontaburi Province Somboon Phanich 1994 Co., Ltd S. K. L. Prosperity Wood products In Nontaburi Province 1999 Co., Ltd Pin International Wood toys In Chachoengsao Mr Dudsadee 104 Moo5, Wellgrow Industrial Co., Ltd. Province Loaticharoen, Estate, Bangna-Trad Rd, KM. 36, Managing Director Bangsamak, Bangpakong, Chachoengsao 24180

GreenDot Wood products In Bangkok Ms Kanyaporn 21/10 Saladaeng Colonnade, Silom, International Co., Sangthavorn, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Ltd Marketing Director EURO Group Far Wood products In Bangkok East Ltd EAB Huat Seng Teak sawn In Bangkok Sawmill Ltd, Part. timber, plywood, veneer EAB Huat Seng Teak sawn In Ayuthya Province Co., Ltd timber, plywood, veneer, finger- jointed, boat decking Timber Impex Imported In Bangkok Co., Ltd hardwood sawn timber Eiam Pana Co., Teak sawn In Bangkok Ltd timber, hardwood sawn timber (imported), plywood, veneer, finger- jointed, boat decking Deesawat Furniture, In Bangkok Mr Jirawat 71/9 Moo 3 Changwattana Road, Industries Co., flooring, door Tangkijngamwong Laksi, 10210, Bangkok Ltd and contract millwork

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Name Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

Marubeni Co., Ltd Wood products In Bangkok Mr Kittipong 10th Fl., Sindhorn Building, Tower II, Wonganusit 130–132 Wittayu Rd, Lumpini, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330

Shaiyo AA Co., Wood chips Mr Chavalit 176/5 Moo 1 Bangwua, Ltd Sakuldamrongpanit Bangpakong, Chachoengsao 24180

Issara timber and Timber products In Bangkok Ms Suwatjanee 30/2 Moo 18, Buang Thoung Luang, Construction Jiewwasung Lumlukka, Pathumthani 12150 Material Co., Ltd Kadsan Wood products In Bangkok Mr Nattapat 40 Soi Charansanitwong 51, Bang International Co., Danchaiwitchit, Bum Hru, Bang Phlat, Bangkok Ltd General Manager 10700

Mae Yai Co., Ltd Wood products In Bangkok Ms Korn-uma 43/3 Moo 4, Tambon Bang Chang, Kaewsutthar, General Amphoe Muang, Pathumthani Manager Tropical Forest Wood products Ms Iravadee Raksakul, 51 Anson Rd, #02-63 Anson Centre, Pte Co., Ltd General Manager Singapore 079904

Siam Tree Wood products In Chachoengsao Development Co., Province Ltd Siam Forestry Wood products In Bangkok Mr Komsun 1 Siam Cement Rd, Bangsue, Co., Ltd Sawangveal Bangkok 10800 Planning Section Manager Stora Enso Fast-growing In Sa Kaew Province, 122 North Sathorn Road 2 (Thailand) Co., forest species about to move out of 10500 Bangkok Ltd and wood Thailand (to Lao PDR) products Khaomahachai Pararubber In Nakornsithammarat Parawood Co., wood products Province Ltd Krabiwood Pararubber In Krabi Province Industries Co., wood products Ltd Alphawood Co., Pararubber In Krabi Province Ltd wood products Paradome Co., Pararubber In Krabi Province Ltd wood products P. J. Chonburi Pararubber In Chonburi Province Parawood Co., wood products Ltd

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Annex 3: Government Agencies

Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

Royal Forest 1) To protect forests and strive The various offices are either 61 Phahonyothin Rd., Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900 Department (RFD) to prevent deforestation and headquarter and regional Mr Reangchai activities that contravene offices, as follows: Prayoonwet, forest legislation. 1) Headquarter offices Deputy Director 2) To plan and coordinate  Central Administration General reforestation and ecosystem Bureau, including rehabilitation. Administration Division, 3) To promote community Personnel Division, Finance Mr Banjong participation in reforestation, Division, Public Relations and Wonsrisoontorn, community forest Distribution Division, Discipline Director, Wood management and economic Promotion Division and Certification Division forest plantation. Training Division 4) To conserve, protect, maintain  Forest Protection and Forest Mr Sumet Sirilak, and manage forest land use Fire Control Bureau, including Director, and permits for timber use, Administration Division, Forest International forestland and forest products Check Point Division, Forest Forestry Cooperative industries. Fire Control Division, Office

5) To study and develop Prevention and Suppression knowledge about forests, Strategy Division, Prevention forest products and wood and Suppression Planning products, and other activities Division and Forest Protection as required by legislation or as Citizen Volunteers Division ordered by the Minister or the  Community Forest Cabinet. Management Bureau, consisting of Participation Promotion Division, Community Forestry Development Division and Administration Division  Forest Biodiversity Bureau, comprising Administration Division, Forest Biodiversity Survey and Database Development Working Group,

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Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

and Forest Biodiversity Conservation Promotion and Management Division  Reforestation Promotion Bureau, including Administration Division, Private Forest Plantation Division, State Reforestation Division and Seedling Nursery Division  Forest Land Management Bureau, comprising Administration Division, Forest Land Demarcation Division, Forest Land Usufruct Rights Management Division, Forest Resource Survey and Analysis Division and Forest Geographic Information System Division  Planning and Information Systems Bureau, including Administration Division, Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Information Systems Center, RFD People’s Services Center and Planning and Budget Division  Permits Bureau, consisting of Administration Division, Wood Certification Division, Timber and Non-timber Forest Products Permits Division, Wood Industry Permits Division, Forest Use Permits Division and Chainsaw Permits Division  Internal Inspection Group, including Administration Work and Internal Inspection Work

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Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

 Administration Systems Development Group, including Administration Sector, Structure and Work Systems Development Sector and Change Promotion Sector  Law Bureau, including Administration Division, Law and Legal Contract Division, Legal Case Division, Administrative Case Division and Investigation Division  Bureau of Royal Initiated Projects and Special Activities, consisting of Project Operation Division, Coordination Division and Administration Division  Government Transparency Coordination Center  International Forestry Cooperation Bureau, including Administration Division, International Cooperation Division, International Relations Division and Convention and International Commitment Division 2) Regional offices across the entire country:  Forest Resource Management Offices number 1–13.

Forest Industry 1) To provide services to the There are various offices at Mr Prasert 76 Ratchadamnoen Nok Rd, Organization (FIO, government and people in the headquarters and across the Netprachit Wat Sommanat, Pom Prap Sattru Phai, Bangkok 10100 state enterprise) forest industry country as follows: 2) To operate businesses in the  Office of Economic Forest forest industry, such as Development and Extension in

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Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

logging and collection of non- the Upper North timber forest products  Office of Economic Forest (NTFPs), timber processing, Development and Extension in MDF production, wood dry the Lower North kilning, wood chemical  Office of Economic Forest injection, wood distillation, Development and Extension in manufacturing from wood and the Central Region NTFPs and ongoing  Office of Economic Forest businesses and industry Development and Extension in related to wood the Northeast 3) To establish forest plantations,  Office of Economic Forest forest protection and forest Development and Extension in restoration for benefits in the South forestry, conducted by the FIO  The National Elephant or operated for assisting the Institute, under the Royal government Patronage of the late Princess 4) To conduct research on forest- Galyani Vadhana (the sister of related production and H.M. King Bhumibol) products  Office of Supporting Forest 5) To undertake activities to Industry share knowledge, attitudinal  Administration Office infusion and raise awareness  Office of Accounting and about forest resource Finance protection, rehabilitation and  Office of Activity Relations development, as well as  Office of Human Resources providing accommodation and  Office of Policy, Planning offering tourism services or and Budget other related activities  Office of Law 6) To conduct business or other  Office of Research, related activities for the Development and Information benefit of the FIO Systems

 Office of Economic Timber Innovation  Office of Business and Marketing

Department of 1) To analyse and assess the . Sector of the secretary to Ms Penkhae 443 Sri Ayuthaya Rd., Phayathai, Bangkok 10400 European Affairs, politics, security situation, the Director General/Deputy Intarasuwan, First

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Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

Ministry of Foreign culture and society of Directors General Secretary Affairs countries or groups of . Office of the Secretariat to countries and international the Department, being organisations in Europe responsible for general official 2) To recommend policy issues of the Department and approaches for maintaining other affairs that have not Thailand’s relationship with been assigned as countries, groups of countries division/sector or specific and international duties. It also administers the organisations in Europe Europe Watch Centre. 3) To provide a communication . Division of Europe 1 (EU channel between Thai and Western Europe), government agencies and consisting of Sector of Bilateral representatives of countries, relations, Sector of EU and groups of countries and Sector of ASEM/OSCE. international organisations in . Division of Europe 2 Europe (Northern and Southern 4) To implement other actions Europe), including Sector of according to the laws Northern Europe and Sector of pertaining to the Southern Europe. responsibilities of the . Division of Europe 3 Department or as ordered by (Russian Federation and the Minister or the Cabinet. Commonwealth of

Independent States, Central and Eastern Europe), comprising Sector of Russia and Commonwealth of Independent States, Sector of Central Europe and the Balkans, and Sector of Germany.

Department of 1) To foster the development of Headquarters, five domestic Mrs Wasinee 44/100 Nonthaburi 1, Muang, Nonthaburi 11000 International Trade, the competitive capabilities of Thai regional offices and 56 overseas Atisook, Trade Ministry of companies and businesses by offices, to share the mission and Officer Commerce organising activities and events achieve export targets for Thai that create opportunities to goods and services through increase exports effective coordination, and

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Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

2) To pursue a marketing strategy prompt and efficient assistance that helps Thai businesses reach in solving problems and their target groups by means of overcoming obstacles such activities as organising trade encountered by government shows in Thailand, participating in agencies and the private sector international trade fairs, organising Thailand exhibitions and Thailand outlet events overseas 3) To lead trade delegations and supporting joint promotions with foreign department stores 4) To explain the philosophy of the sufficiency economy to the private sector and how it applies to international trade. Based on the principles of moderation, sufficiency, and common sense, it entails being knowledgeable, circumspect and cautious in planning and in operations with constant regard for fairness to achieve balanced and secure responses to the rapid, wide- ranging changes in the economy, society and the environment. Department of 1) To study, analyse and There are various offices at Mrs Ratchawan 44/100 Nonthaburi 1, Muang, Nonthaburi 11004 International Trade recommend policies, headquarters as follows: Jindawat, Trade Negotiation, Ministry approaches and strategies, . Office of the Director officer of Commerce and to coordinate policies for General international trade negotiation . Office of Central 2) To hold trade negotiations at Administration various levels (bilateral, . Office of Service Trade subregional, multilateral and and Investment under economic trade . Office of Strategy for cooperative frameworks) and Trade Negotiations with other related . Office of Trade international organisations. Information Systems 3) To hold international trade Integration and

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Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

negotiations for services, Administration investments and electronic . Office of Asia commerce at bilateral, . Office of Strategy and subregional and multilateral Integration into the levels and under economic ASEAN Economic trade cooperative frameworks, Community and with other related . Office of Trade international organisations Readiness Development 4) To hold meetings on Free . Office of Trade Trade Agreements Negotiations 5) To study and analyse policies and measures in economic trade of the partner countries, and impacts of international trade negotiations on Thailand 6) To protect the national interest in economic trade at bilateral, subregional, regional and multilateral levels 7) To strengthen and distribute knowledge and comprehension about international trade negotiations, including policy recommendations, adjustment approach and expansion of economic trade cooperation. 8) To develop information systems for international trade negotiations 9) To implement other issues assigned to the Department under the law or by order of the Minister or the Cabinet.

Customs 1) To provide modern, There are several offices at Mr Sukan 1 Soontornphosa Road, Klong Toei, Bangkok 10110 Department, expeditious and world-class headquarters, in the Bangkok Sirichantaradilok, Ministry of Finance customs service metropolitan area and in the Legal Bureau,

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Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

2) To promote economic regions, as follows: Division of development and national  Investigation and Suppression International Law competitiveness through the Bureau implementation of customs-  Post-Clearance Audit Bureau Mr Chawanvith related measures  Legal Affairs Bureau Soontorncharoenwo 3) To enhance efficiency in  Customs Tariff Bureau ng, Legal Bureau, customs controls, targeting  Customs Standard Procedures Division of social protection and Valuation Bureau International Law 4) To collect revenue in an  Suvarnabhumi Airport efficient, fair and transparent Passenger Control Customs manner Bureau  Laem Chabang Port Customs Bureau  Human Resource Management Bureau  Central Administration Bureau  Information and Communication Technology Bureau  Bangkok Customs Bureau  Bangkok Port Customs Bureau  Lad Krabang Cargo Control Customs Office  Planning and International Affairs Bureau  Office of Customs Counsellor Hong Kong  Office of Customs Counsellor Belgium  Office of Customs Counsellor Guangzhou  Internal Audit Group  Administrative Systems Development Directorate  Regional Customs Bureau I, Regional Customs Bureau II, Regional Customs Bureau III, Regional Customs Bureau IV

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Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

Office of the Rubber 1) To collect allowance from 1) At the strategic level, the Mr Chamnan 67/25 Bangkhunnon Road, Bangkoknoi, Bangkok 10700 Replanting Aid Fund, rubber exporters to form a office is responsible for Klinhomyeun Ministry of fund stipulating strategies, Agriculture and 2) To provide aid to rubber supervising, following up the Cooperatives estate owners for replanting outcome of the operation, rubber seedlings of good according to the defined varieties in replacement of the strategies, such as the Board harvested trees. of the Rubber Replanting Aid 3) To provide aid to those who (BRRA) have no rubber estates, but 2) At the practical level, the wish to plant rubber trees office is divided into two under set conditions. sections: (1) Central section is responsible for administration, following up, evaluating the operation and management so as to ensure the local operation is efficient. The central office in Bangkok consists of 12 subdivisions: (1.1) The Office of the Examiner (1.2) The Office of the Administrator (1.3) The Bureau of Internal Audit (1.4) Subdivision of Information Technology (1.5) Subdivision of Research and Planning (1.6) Subdivision of Funding Promotion (1.7) Subdivision of Plantation Development Aid (1.8) Subdivision of Finance and Accounting

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Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

(1.9) Subdivision of Human Resources (1.10) Subdivision of Supplies (1.11) Subdivision of Training (1.12) Subdivision of Laws

(2) Provincial section includes the Provincial and District Offices of the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund, which is responsible for implementing the strategy in the regions effectively and efficiently. There are 45 provincial offices of the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund, 51 district offices of the Rubber Replanting Aid Fund, 12 provincial operation centres for rubber replanting aid and three rubber cultivation training centres.

Agricultural and The National Economic and Social The NESAC composed of 99 Mr Withee Supithak, 80th Anniversary Chalermphrakiat Government Center, Cooperative Advisory Council was formed in members selected nationally by Chairperson Ratthaprasasanaphakdi Building, Bangkok 10210 Committee of the 2000 under the 2000 National the searching committee (21 National Economic Economic and Social Advisory members), which is assembled and Social Advisory Council Act, which was based on using a searching process based Council (NESAC) the 1997 Constitution of Thailand on the 2007 NESAC Act. The 21 (B.E. 2540). The objectives of members of the searching NESAC are: 1) to provide advice committee are selected from and recommendations to the among representatives of Cabinet regarding socio-economic government departments, problems, encompassing relevant academia, the media and civil laws, namely Article 258 of the society/citizens’ organisations. 2007 Constitution (B.E. 2550) and The searching committee names the 2000 NESAC Act, and 2) to organisations as eligible to provide comments and propose their members for the recommendations on the National NESAC. The searching committee

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Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Contact person Mailing address

Social and Economic Plan and other selects a number of prospective plans in accordance with the laws NESAC members from the before implementation proposed list of the legitimate announcement. organisations; the number of proposed members must be at least three times the target number. The proposed members of each group/organisation are then selected as NESAC members, in accordance with the selection criteria, resulting in the final 99 members.

The selected members are divided into two groups, as per the composition requirements: 1) economic group (divided into agricultural, industrial and service production) and 2) social, natural resource-based and qualification. The NESAC divides its members into three working groups, namely permanent, support and ad hoc, depending on the state of any urgent issues. The permanent working group is divided depending on needs, for example, Agricultural and Cooperatives Working Group; Industrial and Commerce Working Group; Macro-economic Working Group; Natural Resources and Environment Working Group.

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Annex 4: Forest-planting groups/individuals and workers

Contact Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Mailing address Person Private Forest Plantation Founded in 1994 as a limited 1) To promote reforestation to support the Mrs Woraya 192/1 Mhoo 3 Cooperatives Limited cooperative association by the RFD goal of having forest area covering 40% of Thayalikhit, Tambon and forest plantation owners Thailand Secretary Najomtian, participating in the RFD 2) To support domestic production and General Sattaheeb District, reforestation project in consumption of timber Chonburi Province commemoration of 50th year of the 3) To help reduce deforestation in King’s reign. Plantation owners Thailand expected to receive 3000 THB over 4) To support its members in timber trade 20/77 Mhoo 8 a period of three years as part of and management, and promote sales of Boromarachonni 58 that project. The Cooperative has other agricultural products or services Rd, Talingchan, promoted reforestation or without the interference of other traders Mrs Yingluk Bangkok 10170 establishment of forest or middlemen Patipanthev plantations, preferably of the 5) To provide its members with loans if a, President protected forest species ever since. needed, and encourage savings 6) To promote learning among members and improve quality of life

The current number of members is unclear because some members left the forest plantation business by selling their forest plantations (and land) and converted to other sources of livelihoods completely. Some changed from teak plantations to pararubber plantations, in response to current incentive schemes.

Independent forest Objectives of this group are related The scope of work of this group depends Forest plantation owners to the tree species planted and upon their legal land titles. Land tenure is plantations

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Contact Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Mailing address Person (including pararubber income generation. In general, they considered the basis of plantation are plantation owners) are not officially organised, ownership and management, which may scattered although an informal network may affect the outcome of plantation across the be formed based on personal management. entire relationships and business targets. country, Teak plantations are mostly in the north of which is not the country. Eucalypt plantations are conducive mostly in the northeast. Pararubber to support plantations used to be mostly in the south, or but the species have recently been promotional promoted in the northeast and north quite activities. successfully. These owners need a lot of support from the responsible agency. Forest sector workers Because of their involvement in the The scope of work for forest sector No formal forestry business and relevant workers depends upon the business representati labour laws, workers in the forest owners’ products. They have no control ves. Very sector cannot form a union as they over their own welfare benefits because difficult to are considered to be the they are not protected by the current Thai reach agricultural sector (forest is labour law, which does not cover several considered to be an agricultural items in the relevant ILO convention. This sector). They may be able to make places forestry workers in a vulnerable demands on welfare and fair position, which sets them apart from payment if they perform well and workers in factories or private enterprises. the products generate a profit for business owners.

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Annex 5: Civil society/NGOs involved in forestry issues (Local / International)

Contact Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Mailing address Person

LOCAL

Tree Bank Tree Bank was formed in 2007 by Mr The headquarters and branches of the Tree Bank Trees must be Mr Pongsa 132 Mhoo 6, Tambon Pongsa Choonam, who began developing were opened in stages, with the first opening in valued while Choonam , Pakzong, Pa Toh the idea in 2005 The aims are: 1) to 2007. At present, Tree Bank has 3000 branches standing, not General District, Chumporn encourage people to plant trees and across the country, with more than 300 000 after harvest. manager maintain them well in whichever type of members in 53 provinces. The basic criteria for Tree planting land (agricultural land, other land use establishing a branch are: 1) at least 50 members must be areas), 2) to register the forest trees with a (currently in the range of 50–250), 2) a branch recognised as branch of the Tree Bank, 3) to assess the committee of 9–15 persons and 3) members with a long-term tree values while the trees are alive and use forest trees from two sources: trees newly planted for investment. them as assets and 4) to engage in group use in the Tree Bank, and old trees, planted before empowerment and ask the government to the initiation of the Tree Bank. recognise the value of trees by allowing people to use their trees as collateral for The main scopes of the Tree Bank are: 1) to value obtaining credit from state banks. standing trees, not dead trees, 2) to use forest plantations with trees or trees in any legal areas as collateral if seeking a loan from any bank, and c) to use trees as an economic tool to release villagers (tree owners) from current (likely permanent) debts. The indirect benefit of the Tree Bank is carbon sequestration, which can be easily calculated, based on the number of registered and measured trees.

Loei Fund for Nature 1) To promote conservation of The organisation was initially formed by WWF Mr Prayong 165 Mhoo 8 Baan Conservation and Sustainable biodiversity in Loei Province Thailand in 2004, with the aim of creating a local Attachak, Sricharoen, Tambon Development 2) To promote sustainable resource use organisation in Loei Province for natural resource Chairperson Loeiwangsai, Phuluang 3) To promote sustainable economic, conservation and social development. District, Loei 42130 social and cultural development 4) To promote participation of all sectors in resource management, conservation, use and development 5) To work for the public good or to collaborate with other philanthropic organisations for the public good

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Contact Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Mailing address Person

Sustainable Energy Foundation 1) To promote and support education, As a non-profit organisation, the Sustainable Energy Ms Supaporn PTT PCL., 555 (changed from: Green Globe research and development of energy Foundation aims to help create ‘knowledge’ among Worrapornpan Vibhawadee Rd, Institute in 2012) technology, as well as natural resource communities, which is considered a key factor in Chatuchak, Bangkok and environmental conservation, for inducing society to effect creative change for the 10900 the sustainable development of the benefit of local communities, society and the country economy, society, communities and as a whole. The ultimate aim is the strong, environment. sustainable growth of the country. 2) To promote and support energy management, alternative energy use, community energy, energy conservation and natural resource and environmental management for efficiency in use of energy and natural resources, resulting in potential increases in energy sufficiency in society and in local communities. 3) To promote and support education opportunities for children and youth, and raise awareness about social and moral responsibility, with the aim of developing good and qualified human resources which will be beneficial to the sustainable development of the country, and to implement or collaborate with other philanthropic organisations for the public good.

Thailand Environmental Established in May 1993, TEI is a non-profit, By working closely with the private sector, 16/151 Muang Thong Institute (TEI) non-governmental organisation focusing on government, local communities, other civil society Thani, Bond Street, environmental issues and the conservation partners, academia and international organisations, Bangpood, Pakkred, of natural resources in Thailand and at TEI helps to formulate environmental directives and Nonthaburi 11120 regional and global levels. It was founded link policy with action to encourage meaningful on the belief that partnerships are the most environmental progress in Thailand by: effective approach in achieving sustainable 1) conducting research activities within and outside development and better quality of life. It the country to benefit the conservation of advocates a participatory approach to natural resources and the environment, and by

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Contact Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Mailing address Person shared environmental responsibility. supporting and participating in the practical application of research findings, It was overseen by the Thai Environment 2) establishing up-to-date and reliable information Foundation, whose name was changed to systems and by providing for the extensive the Thai Environment Institute Foundation dissemination of quality information on in 2011. environmental issues, 3) developing and enhancing the knowledge and capabilities of staff so that they can be proud of their work and their organisation, and 4) producing quality research publications to be made available to relevant institutions and the general public, both locally and internationally. Furthermore, in line with its social obligations, TEI undertakes environment-related capacity-building activities among the more vulnerable groups of society in support of national poverty alleviation goals and within the overall framework of sustainable development.

Local villagers and refugees Local villagers can form civil society No scope of work can be specified at present. Any living in or near the forest organisations in accordance with Thai scope of work must consider the Thai Constitution legislation made under the Ministry of and relevant legislation, as well as the hardships Interior and the 2007 Constitution (B.E. experienced by the villagers/refugees. 2550). Civil society may voice the concerns and needs of its members. However, refugees must strictly comply with Thai laws and have no forum to voice their concerns or grievances.

INTERNATIONAL

Environmental Investigation EIA is known around the world for its The EIA’s scope of work covers three areas: Faith Doherty, 62–63 Upper Street, Agency (EIA) investigations into environmental crime and 1) Ecosystems and biodiversity Forest London, N1 0NY. its strategic defence of the natural world, The EIA’s work is based on the philosophy that all campaign team for which it adopts a variety of approaches. natural environments and living creatures are leader The EIA supports its findings with scientific interconnected; EIA focuses on the ransacking of documentation and ensures prominent forests and on species facing extinction because of

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Contact Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Mailing address Person representation at international conventions, the devastating impact of illegal trade in body parts, Charlotte creating the hard-hitting campaigns that over-hunting and the destruction of habitats. Davies underpin its global reputation. 2) Environmental crime and governance EIA seeks to tackle the situation where unchecked corruption and sophisticated criminal rings result in illegal trades that push species to the brink of extinction, transform thriving rainforests into impoverished landscapes and despoil the environment with waste technology and pollutants. EIA helps to confront this with direct exposure, training and information-sharing with authorities and capacity building in civil society. 3) Global climate Based on its view that climate change is, in part, driven by human activities such as the release of harmful gases, the illegal trade in Ozone Depleting Substances, mining and rampant deforestation, EIA focuses on raising awareness and pushing for climate-friendly alternatives and to stem the trade in illegal logging.

WWF Greater Mekong WWF is actively engaged with the Mekong The Living Mekong Programme is addressing all the Dr Peter 87 Soi Paholyothin 5, Programme River Commission and the Asian dangers, such as overfishing and infrastructure Cutter, Paholyothin Road, Development Bank in an innovative development, particularly the 149 planned large Manager of the Samsen Nai, Phayathai, approach to the issue of natural resource hydroelectric dams, while also providing solutions to Landscape Bangkok 10400 conservation and sustainable development. the pressing problems of population growth and Conservation WWF is jointly developing Environmental unsustainable development. Programme Criteria for Hydropower Development, which seeks to ensure that any real needs for additional hydropower energy can be met with the least environmental and social impacts.

Center for People and Forests To enhance capacity at all levels, and to The scope of work focuses on the Asia Pacific region Dr Tint Lwin P.O. Box 1111, (RECOFTC) assist people of the Asia Pacific region to in four areas: 1) communications, marketing, Thaung, Kasetsart Post Office, develop community forestry and manage fundraising, documentation, IT and MIS; 2) Executive Bangkok 10903 forest resources for the optimum social, programme coordination, monitoring and evaluation, Director economic and environmental benefits. gender and rights (four country offices: Cambodia,

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Contact Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Mailing address Person Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam); 3) capacity Somying When it was established in 1987, RECOFTC building, research and analysis, and technical Soontornwong, was named ‘the Regional Community services; and 4) finance and accounting, Thailand Forestry Training Center’. The current name administration, human resources and facilities. Country was adopted in 2011. Coordinator

Deutsche Gesellschaft für GIZ operates in many fields: economic • Specialised business units: Mrs Piyathip Project ECO-BEST Internationale Zusammenarbeit development and employment promotion; o German Public Sector Clients Eawpanich, (GIZ) governance and democracy; security, o Private Sector, Development Policy Forum Project Co- Department of National reconstruction, peace building and civil o Development-oriented Emergency and Director Parks, Wildlife, and conflict transformation; food security, Transitional Aid and UN High Commissioner Plant Conservation health and basic education; and for Refugees, Development Service environmental protection, resource o Centre for International Migration and 61 Phahonyothin Road, conservation and climate change mitigation. Development Chatuchak, Bangkok GIZ also supports its partners with o AgenZ – Agency for market-oriented 10900 management and logistical services, and concepts acts as an intermediary, balancing diverse • Corporate units: interests in sensitive contexts. In crises, GIZ o Information Technology carries out implements refugee and o Corporate Communications emergency aid programmes. As part of its o Auditing services, GIZ seconds development advisors o Corporate Development to partner countries. o Legal Affairs and Insurance

o Monitoring and Evaluation • Operational departments: o Africa o Asia Pacific, Latin America/Caribbean o Mediterranean, Europe, Central Asia o Germany o International Services • Internal services: o Commercial Affairs Department o Human Resources Department • Sector services: o Sectoral Department • Flexible business units: o Industrialised Countries o Global Partnerships, Emerging Economies o Migration

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Contact Name Mandate Scope of work Remarks Mailing address Person Food and Agriculture To assist people and UN member countries FAO is composed of seven departments: Mr Dhanush A. 39 Phra Atit Road, Organization of the United with sustainable development and natural 1) Agriculture and Consumer Protection Danesh Bangkok 10200 Nations (FAO) resource management for improved quality 2) Economic and Social Development of life and environmental sustainability. 3) Fisheries and Aquaculture 4) Forestry 5) Corporate Services, Human Resources and Finance 6) Natural Resources Management and Environment 7) Technical Cooperation.

Responsible Asia Forestry and The RAFT Program is a five-year programme RAFT works in eight countries in the Asia Pacific: RAFT and IUCN Allison The Nature Conservancy Trade (RAFT) funded by USAID’s Regional Development Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, were involved Bleaney, c/o IUCN Asia Regional Mission for Asia, which is designed to Papua New Guinea, Thailand and Vietnam. in the very Communicatio Office, 63 Soi influence the development and early stages of ns/Partnership Prompong, Sukhumvit implementation of the public policies and the EFI/FLEGT Manager 39, Wattana, Bangkok corporate practices needed to improve Asia 10110 forest management and bring transparency cooperation to the timber trade in Asia with Thailand, and were responsible for translating the briefing notes into Thai.

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Annex 6: Workshop participant list

Available upon request.