Thailand Promotes Legal, Sustainable Timber Trade at Global Forum
Thailand's natural resources minister promoted legal and sustainable timber trade at an international forum in Macau, highlighting the country's efforts to expand green areas while supporting domestic timber industries through reformed regu
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin led Thailand's delegation, including Forestry Department Director General Nikorn Sirodjananan, at the Global Legal and Sustainable Timber Forum 2026 (GLSTF 2026) in Macau's Special Administrative Region. The international gathering allows countries to exchange knowledge and experience while advancing cooperation on legal timber trade, sustainable forest management, and timber industry development across the supply chain.
In his keynote address, Suchart stated that the Thai government, under Prime Minister Anuthchai Charnvirakul, prioritizes expanding green areas while developing a green economy and environmentally friendly industries. The approach balances natural resource conservation, economic opportunity creation, and improvement in public quality of life.
Thailand has reformed laws and regulations to promote the cultivation and commercial use of timber on privately owned or legally controlled land. Farmers, businesses, and the public can now develop timber as both an income source and raw material for domestic industries. The government also encourages fast-growing and economically valuable tree species to increase green cover and timber supplies domestically, supporting the entire timber industry chain from cultivation through value-added processing.
Successfully promoting legal timber requires transparent supply chains traceable to source, ensuring consumer and market confidence domestically and internationally. Suchart emphasized that economic timber development is crucial to Thailand's transition to a low-carbon society by increasing green areas, absorbing greenhouse gases, and improving resource efficiency through technology and innovation.
"Modern timber industry development cannot proceed alone but requires international cooperation and multi-sector partnership from government, private sector, and civil society," Suchart said. "Thailand is prepared to use the GLSTF network to exchange knowledge, technology, and best practices to promote legal timber use, expand green areas, create economic opportunity, and raise living standards, leading to balanced and sustainable long-term timber industry growth."
