Current Status and Measures to Combat

Illegal Logging and Trading of Siamese

Rosewood (Dalbergia cochinchinensis Pierre)

in Thailand

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Regional Dialogue on Preventing Illegal Logging and Trading of Siamese Rosewood

18-19 December 2014 Bangkok Thailand

Prasert SORNSATHAPORNKUL, PhDDirector , National Parks and Protected Area Innovation Institute

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

about Siamese Rosewood

Scientific Name : Dalbergia cochinchinensis PierreFamily : LEGUMINOSAE- PAPILIONOIDEAECommon name : Siamese Rosewood /Thai name : Payoong

slow-growing, medium to large size, 15-25 m high hard wood with beautiful purple-red color found in dry evergreen and moist deciduous forests

at 100-200 meter above sea level natural habitats in Indochina, Thailand, Cambodia,

Lao PDR and Vietnam. high economic tree species, highly demanded in the markets believed to be auspicious species for lucky symbol

and prosperity used for building constructions and furniture

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Natural Distributions in

Northeastern and Eastern Regions

In 4 Forest Complexes

Phukiew-Namnao FC (No.6)

Phupan FC (No.7)

Panomdongrak-Phataem FC (No.8)

Dongphayayen-Khaoyai FC (No.9)

Map of Forest Complexes in Thailand

Siamese Rosewood in Thailand

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Legislation and Criteria in Protection of Siamese Rosewood in Thailand

National levelForest Act B.E.2484 (1941) and amendment by

the National Council of Peace and Order in 2014 National Parks Act B.E. 2504 (1961)National Reserve Forest Act B.E. 2507 (1964) Wildlife Reservation and Protection Act B.E. 2535 (1992)

International levelSiamese rosewood is also considered as Venerable Species

under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2009.Siamese rosewood was listed in the CITES Appendix II from

outcomes of the meeting of COP16 to CITES during 3-14 March 2013 in Thailand

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Possible pathways and routes of transboundaryillegal logging and trading of Siamese Rosewood

Identification of Groups involved in illegal logging of Siamese Rosewood

Demand groups

Thai capitalists

Cambodian groups

Laotian groups

Vietnamese groups

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Measures on protection and suppression of illegal logging of Siamese Rosewood

Verification of posession

Establishment of checkpoints

Establishment of patrol units

InternationalOutside the forest

Public relation in conservation

Promotion of plantation

Study and research

Public Awareness and development

CITES

Protection and Suppression

Inside the forest

Gathering intelligence

Border areas

Closing and destruction of routes

Import-Export

Aerial patrol

Diagram showing Overall Measures to Suppression and Protections of Siamese Rosewood in Thailand

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

The specific operational projects or task forces by the Department of National Parks during 2013-14

Specific Operational Plan for Integration Task Forces to Protection and Suppression of Illegal Logging of Siamese Rosewood in the Protected Areas in the Northeastern Region for Year 2013

Illegal logging 149 cases

Defendants/Offenders 90 / 57 persons

Confiscated Siamese rosewood/timbers 1781 pieces/logs

84 cubic meters

Encroachment of forest areas 33 hectares

Other relevant confiscated equipments 454 pieces/units

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Project on Protection and Suppression on Illegal Logging of Siamese Rosewood in Dongphayayen- Khaoyai Forest Complex World Heritage Site - Phase I (1 December 2013 – 30 April 2014)

Illegal logging 138 cases

Defendants/Offenders 86 persons

Confiscated Siamese rosewood/timbers 1532 pieces/logs

or 118 cubic meters

Confiscated vehicles (trucks, vans, boats) 32 vehicles

Other relevant confiscated equipments 298 pieces/units

The specific operational projects or task forces by the Department of National Parks during 2013-14

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Legislation and Protection of Siamese Rosewood in Thailand

Project on Protection and Suppression on Illegal Logging of Siamese Rosewood in Dongphayayen- Khaoyai Forest ComplexWorld Heritage Site - Phase II (1 May – 30 September 2014)

Illegal logging 144 cases

Defendants/Offenders 27 persons

Confiscated Siamese rosewood/timbers 136 pieces/logs

70 cubic meters

Confiscated vehicles (trucks, vans, motorbike) 60 vehicles

Other relevant confiscated equipments 356 pieces/units

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Integration of task force for patrolling

Arial patrolling

Arrangement and planning

Marine patrolling

Land patrolling

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Confiscated Siamese rosewood/timbers from the forest protected areas

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Confiscated Siamese rosewood/timbers from the forest protected areas

Storage of confiscated Siamese rosewood

Defendants/Offendersof illegal cutting

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Constraints and challenges in combating illegal logging and trading of Siamese Rosewood in Thailand

Insufficiency of personnel Insufficiency of equipments (radio, camera, etc) Insufficiency of gun and bullet as well as inefficient condition of gun Lacking of welfare for officers Some capitalists and officials related in illegal logging of Siamese Rosewood by hiring villagers around protected areas to cut and conceal logs outside forest areas, residence areas, farms and public reservoirs until the logs will be transported to neighboring countries Some villagers take part in the illegal logging by giving information of officers to the offenders so that number of logs are removed from the forest Legislative provisions on punishment of illegal logging of Siamese Rosewood are not high enough allowing offenders to repeat the crime due to the high price of the logs

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation / MNRE

Ways forward and recommendations in combating illegal logging and trading of Siamese Rosewood in Thailand

The focal point should be established for compilation of information, analysis, inspection and coordination with related agencies; Aerial patrol should be supported increasingly; Coordination in high-level agencies should be made firmly and continuously to exchange information and replenishment of personnel; Capacity building program should be conducted and revised to encourage effective and updated operation allowing efficiency and safeguard of officers;Good condition weapons as well as bulletproof vest and welfare should be provided; International cooperation should be created to find measures on protection of Siamese Rosewood;Punishment provisions should be increased; Appropriate measures on disposal of confiscated timbers should be created and applied; and Integration of task forces should be made available all the times.

Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation

x Thank you x

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment