Illegal logging paves way for Thai flooding disasters

The government is being blamed for encouraging forest clearances for rubber production

SEVERE FLOODING in southern Thailand over the past 10 days, which has claimed 51 lives, led to more than 40,000 people being evacuated, and which affected a population of two million, was aggravated by the clearance of rainforests.

Thawil Suwanwong, a former Thai department of agriculture official, has blamed the flooding on illegal logging activities and “forest encroachment” by rubber and palm plantations.

Interviewed by the Bangkok Post, he criticised the government and state authorities for promoting rubber and palm, boosting prices so high that people in the region were encouraged to clear forest areas.

“Nature has taken its revenge,” he said.

The long peninsula of southern Thailand, partly shared with Burma, has become the country’s biggest rubber-growing region, accounting for 90 per cent of the 3.2 million tonnes produced annually. The floods, however, have destroyed many plantations.

Thailand’s prime minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has also admitted that the effects of the flooding were exacerbated by rubber plantations and “inappropriate city planning” – much of it to facilitate tourism – blocking the natural drainage of floodwaters.

Abhisit conceded that the flooding could hinder the country’s economic growth. The government has approved a budget of 2.9 billion baht (€67.3 million) to pay compensation of 5,000 baht (€116) to each of the 579,000 families affected by the floods.

A further 3.24 billion baht (€75.2 million) is to be distributed to flood-hit farmers in the 10 southern provinces, but this package of aid doesn't include damaged rubber and palm plantations which have yet to be surveyed,said the Bangkok Post.

It is estimated that 176,000 farmers have been affected, with 1,600sq km of farmland flooded, including up to 80sq km of rubber plantations and 500sq km of rice paddies. More than four million head of livestock also perished.

The government has doubled emergency funding for each flood-affected province to 100 million baht (€2.32 million). Thailand’s King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit have donated 500,000 baht (€11,610) from their vast fortune.

The situation remains “critical” in three of the 10 provinces, as these are located in the path of receding floodwaters. Shortages of food, consumer goods and petrol were reported in some areas because damaged roads have made overland delivery impossible.

More than 10,000 troops have been deployed to run relief centres, distribute food and rebuild road and rail bridges washed away by the floods. Some 30,000 people in the southern provinces are being treated for flood-related diseases, mainly respiratory.

In a hard-hitting editorial, the Bangkok Postcriticised "the lack of proper weather forecasting" by the state meteorological department, which had "spent millions" on a super-computer and "fine new headquarters" for its staff in the east of Bangkok.

“The past two weeks of extreme weather has once again shown the truth of the old adage: For lack of a nail, a kingdom was lost”, the newspaper said. “With better disaster planning, attention can be fixed on helping the survivors instead of searching for the missing.”

Meanwhile, scientists warned in a new report yesterday that mangroves were being destroyed at an alarming rate despite their value as carbon sinks and also for coastal protection against storm surges.