In the realm of sustainable forestry, Thailand steps up its game with the recent launch of eTree, a collaborative enterprise between the Royal Forest Department (RFD) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This trend-setting digital platform is explicitly conceived to assist farmers in registering their commercially-grown trees for timber. This innovative approach has already proven its effectiveness, with over 645,000 trees successfully registered across 37,000 rai of land by more than 5,000 people, as confirmed by Boonsuthee Jeravongpanich, the Forest Economics Office (FEO) director.
eTree emerges as a solution for those who are enthusiastic about participating in forest plantations for commercial goals but are hindered by legal obstacles. Up until this point, such individuals found themselves in a predicament when they wished to register land for commercial tree growth due to stipulations in the Forest Plantation Act. Now, thanks to eTree, the path is considerably smoother. The platform provides an uncomplicated and efficient way for these farmers to manage their plantations, register their grown trees, and handle the legal administrative tasks required when the trees are ready for transport and sale.
Moreover, every tree’s complete owner information recorded in the eTree’s database serves as a globally recognized legal certificate. When the timber is prepared for sale, this data offers solid proof of legitimate ownership. This innovative approach, as noted by Mr. Boonsuthee, is a progressive step towards enhancing the sustainability of Thailand’s timber industry.
Thailand’s strategic 20-year plan aims to broaden its forest cover from the current 31.68% to a more wholesome 40% by 2037. This entails the need for an extra 27 million more rai dedicated solely to growing trees. eTree proves to be a practical tool to aid in achieving this ambitious target.
In a seal of approval for the new platform, Chongsathit Angwitthayathon, the representative for the sustainable timber trade program of the UN-REDD in Thailand, stated that eTree, after being tested and used for several years, has proven its worth. It’s useful in supporting the practice of community forest growing for timber, and, significantly, increasing legal forest plantations in the country. This crucial contribution not only accelerates Thailand’s forest cover increase but also plays a vital role in curbing illegal logging, ensuring a greener and more sustainable future for the country and the planet as a whole.
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