The destruction of the environment was not a significant issue in Thailand until
the rapid industrialization of the country became a national priority after W or ld War
II (Sponsel and Natadecha 1988:305). Even then, it was not until the 1980s that
nature conservation became a widespread concern, despite the earlier efforts of such
environmental NGOs as Wildlife Fund Thailand and the Project for Ecological
Recovery. The adoption of the issue by the ecology monks beginning in the late
1980s has raised the movement to a new level. It can no longer be seen simply as an
economic or political debate between environmentalists and developers, but has now
been placed on a moral plane. The monks are concerned with the suffering of both
humans and wildlife which results from the destruction of the forests and watersheds.
As it is a moral issue, the monks are interpreting the scriptures to support their
actions and are adapting traditional rituals and symbols to involve lay villagers in the
movement.