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Forest Guardians, Forest Destroyers: The Politics of Environmental Knowledge in Northern Thailand
In this far-reaching examination of environmental problems and politics in northern Thailand, Tim Forsyth and Andrew Walker analyze deforestation, water supply, soil erosion, use of agrochemicals, and biodiversity in order to challenge popularly held notions of environmental crisis. They argue that such crises have been used to support political objectives of state expansion and control in the uplands. They have also been used to justify the alternative directions advocated by an array of NGOs.
In official and alternative discourses of economic development, the peoples living in Thailand's hill country are typically cast as either guardians or destroyers of forest resources, often depending on their ethnicity. Political and historical factors have created a simplistic, misleading, and often scientifically inaccurate environmental narrative: Hmong farmers, for example, are thought to exhibit environmentally destructive practices, whereas the Karen are seen as linked to and protective of their ancestral home. Forsyth and Walker reveal a much more complex relationship of hill farmers to the land, to other ethnic groups, and to the state. They conclude that current explanations fail to address the real causes of environmental problems and unnecessarily restrict the livelihoods of local people.
The authors' critical assessment of simplistic environmental narratives, as well as their suggestions for finding solutions, will be valuable in international policy discussions about environmental issues in rapidly developing countries. Moreover, their redefinition of northern Thailand's environmental problems, and their analysis of how political influences have reinforced inappropriate policies, demonstrate new ways of analyzing how environmental science and knowledge are important arenas for political control.
This book makes valuable contributions to Thai studies and more generally to the fields of environmental science, ecology, geography, anthropology, and political science, as well as to policy making and resource management in the developing world.
In official and alternative discourses of economic development, the peoples living in Thailand's hill country are typically cast as either guardians or destroyers of forest resources, often depending on their ethnicity. Political and historical factors have created a simplistic, misleading, and often scientifically inaccurate environmental narrative: Hmong farmers, for example, are thought to exhibit environmentally destructive practices, whereas the Karen are seen as linked to and protective of their ancestral home. Forsyth and Walker reveal a much more complex relationship of hill farmers to the land, to other ethnic groups, and to the state. They conclude that current explanations fail to address the real causes of environmental problems and unnecessarily restrict the livelihoods of local people.
The authors' critical assessment of simplistic environmental narratives, as well as their suggestions for finding solutions, will be valuable in international policy discussions about environmental issues in rapidly developing countries. Moreover, their redefinition of northern Thailand's environmental problems, and their analysis of how political influences have reinforced inappropriate policies, demonstrate new ways of analyzing how environmental science and knowledge are important arenas for political control.
This book makes valuable contributions to Thai studies and more generally to the fields of environmental science, ecology, geography, anthropology, and political science, as well as to policy making and resource management in the developing world.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
August 1, 2023
A must read for those interested in the forest vs man environmental debates, especially those that echo in the north of Thailand. The authors repeatedly caution that the prominent refrains in those debates, either the upland hilltribes are forest guardians or destroyers, are all politicized environmental narratives with insufficient scientific support. This book is so detailed and well-researched regarding the political contexts of both opposite claims and the research, both domestic and international, that surprisingly contradicts prevailing narratives - such as upland commercial agriculture is always bad for the environment. The book calls for a more critical position towards environmental claims and a more participatory and scientific approach towards environmental policies. By and large, it will at least provoke readers' scepticism about both conservationist and community-oriented narratives (although more of the former) for the reality is much more complex than the simplistic, and at times romanticized, accounts.
March 7, 2018
Interesting account of inaccurate ethnoenvironmental narratives surrounding deforestation in upper Thailand, upland lowland tensions, blaming Hmong, false scientific backing
April 2, 2020
Pretty good! Drags on a bit towards the end, but overall really strong demonstration of the power of narratives to negatively impact real conditions.
April 22, 2010
An incredibly well-researched book. But definitely requires some discipline in making it through it. Actually, I skipped two late chapters on Agrochemicals and Biodiversity.
The book's message, broadly: 1) Environmental narratives are not politically neutral, and 2) Environmental narratives stabilize and simplify complex concepts. This is an obvious thesis to a large extent. But dozens of counter-narratives and examples from case studies across northern Thailand give it particular salience and force. Conclusion: in Thailand, holding onto simplified and politically-motivated environmental narratives has led solutions that don't solve, and perpetuated ethnic stereotypes.
A great book to read as a primer on scrutinizing environmental narratives generally speaking. Also for information on ecosystems in northern Thailand.
The book's message, broadly: 1) Environmental narratives are not politically neutral, and 2) Environmental narratives stabilize and simplify complex concepts. This is an obvious thesis to a large extent. But dozens of counter-narratives and examples from case studies across northern Thailand give it particular salience and force. Conclusion: in Thailand, holding onto simplified and politically-motivated environmental narratives has led solutions that don't solve, and perpetuated ethnic stereotypes.
A great book to read as a primer on scrutinizing environmental narratives generally speaking. Also for information on ecosystems in northern Thailand.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews