07+Thailand

**Country:** Thailand
 * Topic:** Deforestation
 * Committee:** 07
 * Name:** Lizzbeth M.
 * Period:** 0

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__**Background of the Topic:** __ Deforestation, or the conversion of forests into non-forested land, is a major issue around the world today. Deforestation dates back to the 1950s and is one of the causes for climate change, extinction, and social problems. It impacts the biodiversity of an ecosystem and destroys the habitat of animals and plants that have grown adept to the conditions of such areas. Therefore, deforestation can lead to the elimination of organisms that cannot adapt to other condition around the world. The rate of deforestation has increased, and countries like Thailand, China, Nigeria, Indonesia, Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, and Columbia lose between 1,500 and 50,000 sq. km of forest annually. These countries are also affected by social problems that developed due to deforestation. Natives to the land do not want the forest to be destroyed yet the land still ends up being a profit to those who cut it down. __**UN Involvement:**__ Deforestation continues at an alarming rate, yet the topic had not been clearly discussed in the UN, until the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) developed a UN Forum on Forest. In 2005, the Forum gave out a Press Release stressing the problem of global deforestation. “The alarming rate of deforestation continues to warrant international attention and there is a need to renew the pledge to combat deforestation and restore forest functions (such as production, protection and conservation) at the landscape level, by rehabilitating degraded lands with, inter alia, forest plantations, and to improve the livelihoods of poor people living in and around forests worldwide as a priority.” No actions have been taken since, in order to solve the problem. __ **Country’s Policy and Involvement:** __  Thailand loses on average 34,125 sq km of forest land due to illegal dispensation of forest for trade. The UN can do much more than is being done. They have the power to enact policies to help establish project to reforest lands. Meanwhile, as a precaution to the future destruction of forest land in our country, Thailand just recently established five forest policies using National Plans and Acts. These plans and acts include: The Forest Act of 1941, The First National and Social Development Act of 1961, The Second National Development Plan, The National Forestry Policy of 1985, and The Tenth National Development Plan. The most important of these plans is the Tenth National Development Plan because it has been enacted to last from 2007 to 2011. It is meant to protect the 33% of all forest and 18% of already protected forest. Moreover, it is helping the cause of reforestation, or replanting forest trees and plants. Other than the five plans, Thailand has set policies that require both public and private sects to help establish a way of reversing the rate of deforestation. Furthermore, we are also funding scientific studies to determine ways of increase the efficiency of agricultural land for more production, and we are trying to establish a natural resource development plan to integrate into the National Social and Economic Development Plan. Thailand is contributing time and money to make deforestation a smaller problem. <span style="DISPLAY: block; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span style="DISPLAY: block; FONT-SIZE: 90%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left"> <span style="DISPLAY: block; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">__<span style="DISPLAY: block; FONT-SIZE: 90%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">**Solutions:** __    <span style="DISPLAY: block; FONT-SIZE: 90%; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; TEXT-ALIGN: left">As a country affected by this critical issue, Thailand has pondered solutions to this topic. We propose four solutions regarding economic, ecological, and social issues interconnected with deforestation. The first policy is The Thailand Reforestation and Ecologically-Responsible Education Act (T.R.E.E. Act). This policy would mandate countries with alarming rates of deforestation to find reforestation methods that fit both their economic and ecological needs. Moreover, it would also provide for scientific invetigations that can help improve the quality of ruined soil in deforested areas, for agricultural advancement, and that can help find more eco-friendly methods of deforestation that do not emit large amounts of carbon dioxide. The second policy is The Logging Company Economic Policy, or The LCE Policy. The LCE Policy would also contribute to reforestation. In this policy, the profit of logging trade or wood trading companies would be distributed between the company and reforestation organizations. The company would be required to give 0.3% of their profit for every tree they cut down in an existing forest. The third solution would be to unite the UN Forum of Forests to discuss repercussions for those who are practicing illegally deforestation. If we show people that we are taking serious action toward deforestation, they might reconsider their options. Last but not least, Thailand proposes to start the Forests Also Contain Tenacious Species (F.A.C.T.S.) Organization. This committee would meet twice a year, each year in a country affected the most by deforestation starting with Brazil and Thailand following, to discuss ways we can help the people of the country with financial problems or problems resulting from the effects of deforestation. Thailand is willing to give $150,000 anually if other countries accept these proposals and help fund them by giving a minimum of $130,000 annually. ======