ABSTRACT
During the last decade, the percentage of Thailand's population living below the poverty line has declined by half to 11.4 percent in 1996. However, the proportion in rural areas has increased to 12.9 percent. In the ninth national economic and social development plan Thailand has targeted poverty reduction and set four main objectives, which include attacking poverty and inequality, increasing the potential of the poor, strengthening the poor-dependent economic sector and strengthening the participation process. To alleviate poverty, the present government has set up a series of activities, including debt suspension for farmers, improved capacity in sustainable agriculture, one sub-district one product programme, village and community fund, bank of the poor and the "30 Baht Health Care Programme". People in Thailand maintain a close relationship with forest and trees and a very large number of the rural poor derive some part of their livelihood incomes from forest resources. Forests still remain the main source of medicinal plants, construction wood, fuelwood and charcoal, and about 240 plant species are identified as edible. Their impact, however, has frequently been limited by failure of the government to transfer full or effective rights and by regulations and actions that restrict access by small producers to markets for forest products. Thailand has however, developed strategies for sustainable management of the forestry sector.