Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Myanmar the scale has been huge since the 1989 ban. A great number of logs are illeg-
ally slipped over the border from these countries.
Despite Thailand being a signatory to Cites, all sorts of land species are still smuggled
out of Thailand, either alive or as body parts for traditional Chinese medicines. Tigers
may be protected by Thai law, but the kingdom remains the world's largest exporter of ti-
ger parts to China (tiger penis and bone are believed to have medicinal effects and to in-
crease libido). Other animal species are hunted (often illegally) to make souvenirs for
tourists, including elephants, jungle spiders, giant insects and butterflies; and along the
coast clams, shells and puffer fish.
The government has cracked down on restaurants serving
ah·hăhn Ъàh
(jungle food),
which includes endangered wildlife species such as barking deer, bears, pangolins, gib-
bons, civets and gaurs. A big problem is that national park officials are underpaid and un-
dertrained, yet are expected to confront armed poachers and mercenary armies funded by
rich and powerful godfathers.
The widely touted idea that ecotourism can act as a positive force for change has been
extensively put to the test in Thailand. In some instances tourism has definitely had posit-
ive effects. The expansion of Thailand's national parks has largely been driven by tour-
ism. In Khao Yai National Park, all hotel and golf-course facilities were removed to re-
duce damage to the park environment. As a result of government and private-sector pres-
sure on the fishing industry, coral dynamiting has been all but eliminated in the Similan
and Surin Islands, to preserve the area for tourists.
However, tourism can be a poisoned chalice. Massive developments around and fre-
quently in national parks have ridden roughshod over the local environment in their rush
to provide bungalows, luxury hotels, beach bars and boat services for tourists. Ko Phi-Phi
and Ko Samet are two national parks where business interests have definitely won out
over the environment. In both cases, the development began in areas set aside for
chow
lair
(also spelt
chao leh;
sea gypsies, the semi-nomadic people who migrate up and down
the coast). Ko Lipe in Ko Tarutao Marine National Park and Ko Muk in Hat Chao Mai
National Park now seem to be heading the same way.
Rubbish and sewage are growing problems in all populated areas, even more so in
heavily visited areas where an influx of tourists overtaxes the local infrastructure. One
encouraging development was the passing of the 1992 Environmental Act, which set en-
vironmental quality standards, designated conservation and pollution-control areas, and
