Current national forest policies National forest policies From 1962 to 1981, four national economic and social development plans (NESDP) stipulated that 50 percent of the country area must be reserved under forests. This was reduced to 40 percent in the fifth NESDP (1982-1988) to suit economic and social conditions. The sixth NESDP specified 15 percent of the forests to be managed for conservation purposes and the remaining 25 percent to be managed for production. This was reversed by the seventh NESDP (1992-1996), which reacted to rapid forest degradation and the deterioration of the environment; forest areas for conservation were increased to 25 percent and 15 percent was allocated for timber production. The most recent NESDP still maintains 40 percent as forestland. This figure does not correspond with the real situation. The latest information and data derived from remote sensing in 1998 indicate that forest cover in Thailand has shrunk to 25.28 percent. However, forestlands outside forested areas are still recognized as state forests by forest acts, although they may be without any trees.