Thailand’s early relationship with neighbouring colonial powers. The early
development of Thai forest management was intertwined with the demarcation
of Siam as a modern nation state. Teak played a central role in early colonial
relations with the British, who threatened to annex the northern territories of
rich teak forests if Bangkok could not subdue the region and provide safe
access to the teak trade (Luangaramsri, 2001). Consequently, throughout the
1890s Siam used its Ministry of the Interior to assert more control over the
northern Lanna tributary. The establishment of the Royal Forestry Department
within the Ministry in 1896 allowed Bangkok to obtain revenue through teak
concessions while asserting its territorial sovereignty in the north (Luangaramsri,
2001; Peluso and Vandergeest, 2001; Vandergeest, 1996). In 1899 the King
declared all land not cultivated or claimed by a person to be forest belonging
to the Kingdom and managed henceforth by the RFD, thus solidifying Siam’s
territorial control over the strategic region