Land, Power and Forest Colonization in Thailand

"Prior to the twentieth century Thailand was three-quarters forested, and at the time of the Second World War, two-thirds forested. Since the 1950s, however, forest cover has declined rapidly, and now stands at perhaps 15%. Particularly severe has been the decline in the Central region and the Northeast where only a few scattered islands of forest remain...A more complete explanation of colonization requires examination of three additional, often concurrently effective factors: traditional incentives, economic and development mechanisms associated with increased state control of the countryside, and the use of forest areas as political safety valves." [1]

"As the logging era waned in the 1980s, the focus of the forestry establishment shifted toward commercial industrial tree plantations and forest conservation. But the pattern of internal colonialism remained, accompanied by growing local resistance to state hegemony over lands, including forests, used by millions of villagers." [2]
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1 - https://www.jstor.org/stable/2997768
2 - https://www.wrm.org.uy/bulletin-articles/forest-colonialism-in-thailand