present, the whole area has been registered as a wildlife sanctuary by the Royal
Forestry Department. In addition, the Royal Forestry Department by law directly
controls or takes care of this area together with the law enforcement.
The conservation zone, totaling about 4631 ha, is the zone in which the swamp
forest will be rehabilitated or reforested. Serious consideration must be taken should
there be a necessity to utilize parts of this zone for other purposes. Agricultural uses
or other uses will be focused only on the development zone which has an area of
about 16,268 ha. Therefore, all researches and implementation plan for agricultural
development will be confined to the development zone where, at present, several
reclamation projects have been carried out albeit rather slowly.
Research Requirements To utilize peatland for agriculture in Thailand, research is
indubitably necessary because there are tremendous problems associated with peat
soils. These include the required detailed studies on the soil characteristics that affect
the plant growth, crop selection and management, mechanization, drainage control,
and water management.
At present, the main researches urgently needed in Thailand are the studies on the
drainage control or water management, soil amelioration, and crop adaptation.
Without those studies, the agricultural development in Thailand peatlands is certainly unsustainable.
Preservation Zone
Conservation Zone
Conservation Zone
Development Zone
Fig. 27.16 Representative areas of preservation zone, conservation zone, and development zone
27 Sustainable Management of Peatland in Thailand
747
Forestry Department. In addition, the Royal Forestry Department by law directly
controls or takes care of this area together with the law enforcement.
The conservation zone, totaling about 4631 ha, is the zone in which the swamp
forest will be rehabilitated or reforested. Serious consideration must be taken should
there be a necessity to utilize parts of this zone for other purposes. Agricultural uses
or other uses will be focused only on the development zone which has an area of
about 16,268 ha. Therefore, all researches and implementation plan for agricultural
development will be confined to the development zone where, at present, several
reclamation projects have been carried out albeit rather slowly.
Research Requirements To utilize peatland for agriculture in Thailand, research is
indubitably necessary because there are tremendous problems associated with peat
soils. These include the required detailed studies on the soil characteristics that affect
the plant growth, crop selection and management, mechanization, drainage control,
and water management.
At present, the main researches urgently needed in Thailand are the studies on the
drainage control or water management, soil amelioration, and crop adaptation.
Without those studies, the agricultural development in Thailand peatlands is certainly unsustainable.
Preservation Zone
Conservation Zone
Conservation Zone
Development Zone
Fig. 27.16 Representative areas of preservation zone, conservation zone, and development zone
27 Sustainable Management of Peatland in Thailand
747