Formulating policy recommendations for potential rubber plantation owners and rubber wood consumers in Thailand to obtain international forest management certification

Abstract

The severity of environmental problems affecting air, soil, water, biodiversity, and forests, prompted relevant organizations to create mechanisms to prevent and manage these problems. One of these key mechanisms is Forest Certification, which is classified into two types, namely, Forest Management Certification (FM) and Chain of Custody Certification (CoC). The FM and CoC are certified by the relevant organization such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC). These mechanisms will have an impact on the industry and commerce that use wood and tree products as a production base because of wood product importers may only import the certified products. This research project was designed to formulate policy recommendations for the potential development of rubber plantation owners and rubber wood consumers in Thailand to obtain international forest management certification. This was done using research data from two subprojects, namely, subproject 1: The analysis of rubber plantations on forest management certification status in Thailand, and subproject 2: Analysis of the factors affecting forest management certification of rubber plantations in Thailand. This resulted into four main policy recommendations in four broad areas: 1) Formulation of national policies and strategies to promote and access the forest certification systems for rubber plantation owners and rubber wood consumers; 2) Development of relevant organizations to promote and support forest certification in Thailand by determination and development of governmental organizations with the mission and potential in problem solving/negotiation and the potential developments of rubber plantation owners and rubber wood consumers for the whole system; 3) Development and availability of rubber plantation owners and rubber wood consumers in Thailand to obtain international certification; and 4) Research support in response to the development of forest certification in Thailand