The "ecology monks" are those actively engaged in environmental and conservation activities and who respond to the suffering which environmental degradation causes.
A major aim of Buddhism is to relieve suffering, the root causes of which are greed, ignorance, and hatred.
The monks see the destruction of the forests, pollution of the air and water, and other environmental problems as ultimately caused by people acting through these evils, motivated by economic gain and the material benefits of development, industrialization, and consumerism.
As monks, they believe it is their duty to take action against these evils.
Their actions bring them into the realm of political and economic debates, especially concerning the rapid development of the Thai economy and control of natural resources.